(Washington, D.C.) – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today applauded legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would end years of stalling and waste regarding the creation of low power FM (LPFM) radio stations.  The Low Power Radio Act of 2004, S. 2505, would allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement its recommendation to create a venue for smaller, community-based radio stations that will provide local programming to compete with large corporate broadcasters.

“Since 1999, special interest groups representing large broadcasters have exerted their influence on Congress to stifle the development of LPFM,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “More than 3,400 LPFM applications were received by the FCC between May 1999 and May 2000, but to date, only 196 stations have been licensed.  Thankfully, Sen. McCain is representing small organizations that do not have the resources that the media conglomerates have on Capitol Hill.  LPFM stations provide a tremendous service to local communities and help open up competition, forcing other stations to offer similar programming.”

In 1999, the FCC began licensing LPFM stations, restricting them to non-individuals that currently did not have a broadcast license.  LPFM frequencies typically reach an audience within a radius of 3.5 miles, providing a low-cost media outlet for noncommercial, educational, community-based groups or public safety organizations to provide content for a target audience.  Such programming is often not available in many areas because radio stations owned by national corporations do not broadcast such local information.

Despite FCC findings that LPFM stations would not cause interference with regular radio stations, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convinced Congress in 2000 to limit the granting of LPFM licenses until a study on the issue could be completed.  Four years later, at a cost to taxpayers of more than $2 million, the FCC announced that the study confirmed their original findings. 

“This is just another example of how pandering to special interests costs taxpayers.  Congress has wasted valuable time and money on a study that proved nothing,” Schatz continued.  “Not to mention, listeners still do not have the options available to them on the radio that should have existed four years ago.”

S. 2505 would allow the FCC to grant LPFM licenses based on its recommendations.  Furthermore, it will eliminate another requirement mandating a study on the economic impact LPFM stations would have on full power stations.  Such a study would cost taxpayers another $800,000.

“Congress needs to pass S. 2505 and stop catering to special interests on Capitol Hill,” Schatz concluded.  “It will save taxpayers money and provide a valuable service to communities around the country.” 

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.