Direct from the horse’s mouth

  • Direct from the horse’s mouth — this is what the National Association of Broadcasters is telling the world about their crippling of LPFM:

    IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    STATEMENT OF NAB PRESIDENT/CEO EDWARD O. FRITTS ON PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION PROTECTING
    RADIO LISTENERS AGAINST INCREASED INTERFERENCE

    “We are pleased that Congress has protected radio listeners against additional interference that would have been caused by the FCC low-power FM radio initiative.
    “NABÂ’s central concern related to LPFM was the harm it would cause listeners through additional interference. Those concerns were echoed by other groups, including National Public Radio, the National Religious Broadcasters Association, and Radio Reading Services for the Blind. The compromise legislation allows LPFM to go forward, while minimizing interference for millions of radio listeners.”

    Contact: Dennis Wharton (202) 429-5350

    And this is what the NAB is telling their members (via an inside informant) reprinted entirely without permission from the NAB’s Radioweek fax, dated December 18:

    Broadcasters Win LPFM Fight

    NAB was pleased to report on Friday that Congress has, at long last, passed LPFM legislation that provides for a drastically scaled back version of the FCC’s ill conceived plan. NAB President/CEO Eddie Fritts commented on the Congressional ruling by saying, “We are pleased that Congress has protected radio listeners against additional interference that would have been caused by the FCC low-power FM radio initiative. NAB’s central concern related to LPFM was the harm it would cause listeners through additional interference. Those concerns were echoed by other groups, including National Public Radio, the National Religious Broadcasters Association, and Radio Reading Services for the Blind. The compromise legislation allows LPFM to go forward, while minimizing interference for millions of radio listeners.”

    The vote in Congress culminated a two-year effort by NAB to limit the damage caused by LPFM to listeners. Particularly effective in this effort was the NAB Spectrum Integrity Task Force, headed by Bonneville President/CEO Bruse Reese. Focusing on the inevitable interference the FCC plan would have caused, the task force recommended thorough and complete technical studies. Some of the nation’s best engineers, scientists and consultants provided irrefutable proof that the FCC plan was nothing less than an abdication of their responsibility as guardian of spectrum integrity.

    The engineering firm Moffet, Larson and Johnson developed testing methodologies for assessing interference immunity of modern FM radios. Carl T. Jones Corp. performed a thorough FM receiver study for NAB, and Dataworld produced hundreds of color-coded maps documenting interference predicted for station listeners as a result of LPFM. George Washington Univ. Professors Dr. Raymond Pickholtz and consultant Dr. Charles Jackson critiqued FM receiver tests done by proponents of LPFM, proving conclusively the validity of the NAB receiver studies. NAB also placed on the NAB Web site examples of real-world radio interference that occurs without third adjacent channel protection.

    National Public Radio, as well as religious broadcasters, joined broadcasters in vigorous opposition to the plan. The Radio Reading Services for the Blind had special concerns about the damage the FCC plan would have done to their ability to provide a million visually-impaired people with access to a daily newspaper read to them over the airwaves.

    Under the able leadership of Rep. Jonn Dingell (D-MI), Mike Oxley (R-OH), Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Heather Wilson (R-NM) and Hal Rogers (R-KY) in the House, and Rod Grams (R-MN), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) in the Senate, a bill was approved that preserves the critical third adjacent channel spacing and protects listeners against additional interference.

    Strong leadership, strong science and hundreds of broadcasters across the country demonstrated to Congress the harm that the FCC plan would have done to their constituients, and Congress responded wisely. Don’t fail to let your Senators and Representatives know that you appreciate this action.

    Thanks to the NAB, we know better who to blame. This is a grudge that should last until the next Congressional election in ’02–but why not start the letter and e-mail campagins now?


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