Jay Dickey: “despite objections raised from many corners, the FCC has charged ahead with plans to immediately implement low-power FM.…”

“despite objections raised from many corners, the FCC has charged ahead with plans to immediately implement low-power FM. In the process it has ignored legitimate concerns about interference and the continued viability of small and independent commercial stations and existing public stations. H.R. 3439, the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act, pulls the FCC back from the edge without completely halting its authority to pursue low-power FM. The potential for interference has been a primary concern from the beginning. The available spectrum only stretches so far. While the FCC claims its plan will not cause interference on car radios and high-fidelity stereo component systems, it does admit some interference will occur on clock radios and portable radios like the boombox and walkman. Considering these types of radios account for 65 percent of all radios in America, it makes sense that we should step back, take a breath and carefully consider all the consequences before taking drastic actions. We must also ensure that in its haste to implement low-power FM, the FCC does not overlook the impact on inexpensive and older radios, which are highly vulnerable to interference and are most commonly used by low-income and elderly individuals. H.R. 3439, therefore, requires a test of nine markets be conducted by an independent third party to determine how low-power FM without third-adjacent channel protections would affect current listening audiences.”