Congress should give radio back to listeners

THE wait could soon be over for communities starved for locally produced radio. The U.S. Congress can provide a big boost for radio and its listeners by passing the Local Community Radio Act of 2009.

This bill might have a shot at passing, unlike similar bills that died in the last Congress. President Obama co-sponsored a Low-Power FM, or LPFM, bill while in the Senate and this year's version of the bill has strong bipartisan support. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Spokane, and Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, have signed on as sponsors. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, voted for it last time and should do so again.

The Radio Act allows LPFM stations of 100 watts or less to use empty space on the radio dial. The stations would not reach more than a few miles but would open up a world of opportunities for listeners and communities because the programming would be produced locally.

Local radio took a big hit with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That piece of legislation allowed for massive consolidation of radio. The result was that most towns were left with a couple big conglomerates owning most everything transmitted over the airwaves.

Congress can help give radio back to listeners by dedicating these unused airwaves to local producers. The new voices can only strengthen communities.