LPFM bill clears first vote.

The House Communications Subcommittee today unanimously approved a bill that would allow low-power FM to be expanded.  The proposed Local Community Radio Act would abolish third-channel protections.  Sponsor Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) says the bill has a "long way to go" but he's optimistic it will win approval.  All five FCC commissioners support expanding the LPFM service.

Doyle says, "The many benefits that more community radio stations would provide are clear.  The technical issues have been resolved.  There’s no reason now not to fix the mistaken policy Congress imposed on the FCC in 2000.”

The 200 Radio Broadcast Preservation Act compelled the FCC to issue LPFM licenses only to low-power radio stations that were at least four intervals on the radio dial away from existing full-power stations out of concern that the new stations would cause interference with the existing stations’ signals.  But LFPM supporters say that effectively banned low-power FM stations from the 50 largest media markets in the country.

“LPFM provides an exciting new platform for citizens to communicate with one another within their local communities,” says Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), co-sponsor of the bill. “I do believe this legislation will help empower individuals who are devoted to fulfilling the interests and needs within their community.”

The Local Community Radio Act (H.R. 1147) goes on to the full Commerce Committee for a vote that would send it to the House floor.  Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John McCain (R-AZ).