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resposne from Sen Cantwell

1

101_9

Guest
Church and state are 1 People do something about this!!!
I wrote a letter 2 days ago (email) to our senator about C. Chapel filings on the numerous const. permits for lpfm. The content of the letter saying this is not local broadcast from Idaho,Utah. (edited) her response.....
She mentions NOTHING about the question I asked, (Do you consider this local?)

Dear Mr.Rxxxxxxxxx,


In the past, you contacted me in support of federal efforts to foster localism and encourage greater diversity in the media. I am writing to you today to reaffirm my commitment to make this form of community-based broadcasting available to all Americans.



On January 27, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released rules authorizing a new, affordable community radio service called "low power FM" or "LPFM". The objective was to create opportunities for new voices on the airwaves and to allow local groups, including schools, churches and other community-based organizations to provide programming responsive to local community needs and interests. The rules permitted the frequencies of FM radio stations to be more closely spaced, which, in turn, made available new frequencies for these local broadcasters to license stations on. These changes were particularly important for larger media markets where the existing rules for the frequency separation between radio stations made it virtually impossible to add any new stations.



Unfortunately, the following year Congress legislatively rolled back the FCC's rules regarding the spacing between stations, thus limiting the ability for LPFM radio service to be introduced into larger media markets. In the last Congress, I cosponsored legislation making the technical changes necessary to once again enable these low power FM stations to be licensed broadly. Although the bill was reported favorably out of the Commerce Committee with amendment, the full Senate did not act upon it before Congress adjourned. The legislation, sponsored by Senators McCain and Leahy, would have repealed the 2001 law.



Some believe that at least 1000 more LPFM stations could be licensed nationally if the bill passed. In Washington State, there are currently three low power FM stations in operation, with another 19 having licenses for construction permits. Additionally, there are 19 stations with applications pending. With the bill, Washington would have many more LPFM stations in communities all across our state. I have already signed on to cosponsor the bill when it is reintroduced in the coming weeks, and I will work during this Congress to ensure its passage.



Thank you again for your interest in this issue. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington State residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington State. If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov . Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.




Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html
 
Re: LPFM Comments Extended

> Church and state are 1 People do something about this!!!
> I wrote a letter 2 days ago (email) to our senator about C.
> Chapel filings on the numerous const. permits for lpfm. The
> content of the letter saying this is not local broadcast
> from Idaho,Utah. (edited) her response.....
> She mentions NOTHING about the question I asked, (Do you
> consider this local?)
>
> Dear Mr.Rxxxxxxxxx,
>
>
> In the past, you contacted me in support of federal efforts
> to foster localism and encourage greater diversity in the
> media. I am writing to you today to reaffirm my commitment
> to make this form of community-based broadcasting available
> to all Americans.
>
>
>
> On January 27, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission
> (FCC) released rules authorizing a new, affordable community
> radio service called "low power FM" or "LPFM". The objective
> was to create opportunities for new voices on the airwaves
> and to allow local groups, including schools, churches and
> other community-based organizations to provide programming
> responsive to local community needs and interests. The rules
> permitted the frequencies of FM radio stations to be more
> closely spaced, which, in turn, made available new
> frequencies for these local broadcasters to license stations
> on. These changes were particularly important for larger
> media markets where the existing rules for the frequency
> separation between radio stations made it virtually
> impossible to add any new stations.
>
>
>
> Unfortunately, the following year Congress legislatively
> rolled back the FCC's rules regarding the spacing between
> stations, thus limiting the ability for LPFM radio service
> to be introduced into larger media markets. In the last
> Congress, I cosponsored legislation making the technical
> changes necessary to once again enable these low power FM
> stations to be licensed broadly. Although the bill was
> reported favorably out of the Commerce Committee with
> amendment, the full Senate did not act upon it before
> Congress adjourned. The legislation, sponsored by Senators
> McCain and Leahy, would have repealed the 2001 law.
>
>
>
> Some believe that at least 1000 more LPFM stations could be
> licensed nationally if the bill passed. In Washington State,
> there are currently three low power FM stations in
> operation, with another 19 having licenses for construction
> permits. Additionally, there are 19 stations with
> applications pending. With the bill, Washington would have
> many more LPFM stations in communities all across our state.
> I have already signed on to cosponsor the bill when it is
> reintroduced in the coming weeks, and I will work during
> this Congress to ensure its passage.
>
>
>
> Thank you again for your interest in this issue. Finally,
> you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for
> Washington State residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief
> outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance
> to Washington State. If you are interested in subscribing to
> this update, please visit my website at
> http://cantwell.senate.gov . Please do not hesitate to
> contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Maria Cantwell
> United States Senator
>
> For future correspondence with my office, please visit my
> website at
> http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html
>
Comment window on LPFM has been extended. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2253A1.pdf
 
Of course your question wasn't answered. More than likely a staffer in her office answered the letter. Bet she never even saw the letter.

I understand with the volume of mail a Senator recieves form letters are needed. However, not even addressing the question posed and replying with a generic form letter. Doesn't inspire one does it? You'd think they could add on 3 sentences answering or at least acknowledging the question.

3 LPFMs in operation? I'm aware the letter writer throws in the CP LPFM stations too. I'm too lazy to go check the fcc's site as its close to bedtime, but on the surface seems out of date to me.
 
Sounds like a canned answer

> She mentions NOTHING about the question I asked, (Do you
> consider this local?)

Probably an e-mail auto-responder. As I understand, some of them work by looking for keywords in your letter (i.e., LPFM), and provide an pre-approved, "PC," generic response to the e-mail. There is a good chance nobody ever read your e-mail (or ever will).<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=492543&Board=askus>RIP Doug Fleming</a></P>
 
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