Revisioning LPFM Radio
By Autumn Labbé-Renault
Special to The Enterprise

I’ve had ample reason this past week to reflect on my involvement with Low-Power FM (LPFM) radio. Since the term LPFM first came to my attention in 2000, I’ve been involved with the  efforts that organized, and ultimately launched, KDRT-LP, 101.5 FM here in Davis.

From the high of launching the station in 2004 to the ongoing discomfort as we await our fate via an FCC ruling, I’ve experienced moments of euphoria, coupled with doubts about the workload and the payoff. But a few things last week reminded me of the power of LPFM to connect communities and change lives.

First, I spent last Friday morning guest hosting a segment of Art+, a radio show produced by Davis resident Labiba Boyd that airs Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on KDRT. Labiba had invited me to interview Amy Ray, of the band Indigo Girls.

Apart from being one of my favorite musicians, Ray and musical partner Emily Saliers had recently joined a coalition of advocates seeking to expand LPFM service in this country. Ray says that as a musician, it’s disheartening to see what’s happened to radio across the country. As media ownership has consolidated, it’s become increasingly difficult for musicians to get air time or access. The gatekeepers are manifold and independent artists are often left out in the cold.

In June, bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate, followed by Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Lee Terry (R-NE) in the House, in what is now known as the Local Radio Act 0f 2007. Though other pro-LPFM legislation has been introduced in previous years, this bill is the first with such strong bipartisan support.

Other supporters include religious groups, radio broadcasters and public-interest groups. To give you an idea of the widespread appeal of LPFM, groups as disparate as Free Press and the Christian Coalition are among its supporters.
 
The Act seeks, in part, to right some of the wrongs that occurred in 2000 when the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio lobbied the FCC and cited fears of interference from 100-watt (or less) LPFM stations. Their lobbying was successful, and the number of LPFM licenses awarded was more than halved as a result. KDRT was one of the lucky few to be awarded a license during that window.

Still flush with success after a great interview, I found myself cheering from my couch Friday night as I watched Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. Moyers’ guests were journalist Rick Karr, Hannah J. Sassaman of the Prometheus Radio Project, and FCC Commissioner Michael Kopps. Sassaman was the keynote speaker at the 2005 LPFM Radio Roundup, a regional conference KDRT volunteers organized in 2005, and she was incredibly helpful to us as we built the station.