McCain Moves on LPFM

On Friday Senator John McCain (R-AZ), along with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced a bill to restore the FCC’s original vision of LPFM. My favorite line from the text of the legislation (S. 2505) is, “After years and the expenditure of $2,193,343 in taxpayer dollars to conduct [a study on interference involving LPFM stations], the broadcasters’ concerns were demonstrated to be unsubstantiated.”
Now we shall see if it moves. Promises kept in word are one thing; deeds are quite different, especially in D.C.

Dept. of Corrections On A Roll

Check these new tracks from one of the most prolific artists doing Truthful Translations. These don’t quite fit there, but are definitely worth sharing:
Memorial Day Mix 2004 (MP3, 5:56, 4.8 MB) – Not for warmongers; features George C. Scott, System of a Down, George Carlin, Willem Dafoe, the Fearless Leader….and ear-opening news on unit casualties and depleted uranium contamination in Iraq.
Unit 227 – (MP3, 1:23, 1.2 MB) – The D.O.C. vs. NBC in Afghanistan, with cinema-clip zingers. Definitely not for warmongers.

Low Power Radio Legislation Afoot?

It appears there may be some movement in D.C. on some sort of legislation involving low power FM radio stations. It’s a curious thing: Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) plans to sponsor a bill to upgrade several old “Class D” FM educational stations.
The move stems from a controversy involving a high school whose 25-year old station might be bumped off the air by a commercial station who wants to move its transmitter to reach a larger audience.
While the FCC phased out Class D educational FM licenses in 1980, several dozen stations are still on the air. As part of the phase-out, they had to move out of the educational band of the FM dial (88.1-91.9 MHz). They also were endowed with “secondary” status: post-1980, if a commercial station wanted their frequency, the Class D station had to either find a new frequency or go off the air. Mercer Island High School’s station will probably have to shut down unless Sen. Cantwell’s legislation becomes law. Continue reading “Low Power Radio Legislation Afoot?”