Debbie Dingell: “Mr. Chairman, the bill under consideration today, H.R. 3439, represents an extremely constructive and wise compromise…”

“Mr. Chairman, the bill under consideration today, H.R. 3439, represents an extremely constructive and wise compromise reached in the Committee on Commerce over the future of low-power FM radio service. I particularly want to commend my colleagues, the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Bliley), as well as my good friend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) for a reasonable, common sense solution to the problem which existed. The compromise, which was entirely bipartisan, allows some low-power stations to be licensed under existing interference standards immediately, some 70, and it then requires the FCC to establish a pilot program in a limited number of markets to determine precisely what the effects would be if these interference standards are relaxed in the future. This is to protect broadcasters. It is to protect licensees. And it is, above all else, to protect the listeners of the FM radio spectrum.”