FM Micro-Radio Dealt a Setback by Lawmakers

The hopes of colleges, churches and community groups to have their own little radio stations were dealt a setback by lawmakers, who, urged on by commercial broadcasters, curtailed a government plan to create a new FM service.

A provision in the massive spending measure that Congress sent to President Clinton curbs the development of a new micro-radio service that regulators and public interest groups had hailed as a way to add voices to the airwaves amid increasing consolidation.

But the nation’s broadcasting lobby and public radio have opposed the Federal Communications Commission effort because it calls for relaxing some buffers that surround FM stations.

Critics argued that consumers would experience more interference with existing full-power FM stations and that special reading services for the blind--delivered on special channels--could be interrupted as well.

FCC Chairman William Kennard said he was disappointed by the congressional action.

“Low-power FM radio will allow new voices to serve small niche community markets not currently being served by existing radio stations,” he said in a statement. “Thus I regret that so many of our nation’s schools, churches and community-based organizations will not have the benefit of this opportunity.”

The provision in the bill awaiting Clinton’s signature bars the FCC from removing the cushions that protect FM stations, except in nine test markets. In those areas, the commission can authorize the new low-power stations, which operate at 10 watts and 100 watts, covering four miles to seven miles.

A study of any resulting economic effect would be submitted to Congress so lawmakers could decide whether to introduce new legislation allowing the agency to authorize more micro-radio stations.