The worst airport delays in the history of Brazilian air travel are said to possibly be caused by miscommunication as a result of pirate radio. Click here to read about the problems that pirate radio caused as it interfered with communications between controllers and pilots. It turns out that a maintenance error caused this incident which lead to the death of 154 people.
This article in U.S.A. Today is interesting because it touches on a different use for Low Power FM. Click here to read how Baltimore/Washington International Airport uses LPFM station to tell drivers which garages are closed.
This article is very informative regarding the “most heated broadcasting issue of the year 2000.” Click here to learn about the debates that occurred regarding low power FM and policy making.
This article discusses the noncommercial LPFM and its hopeful addition to the radio spectrum. It explores the idea of adding the LPFM stations between high power stations but also makes note of the problems that will occur with this change. Senator John McCain (2000) attempted to revoke a decision made by Congress to curtail LPFM.
This article from the Mueseum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Radio discusses what LPFM or microradio benefits. The article covers everything from the origin to how it has developed. The article discusses how LPFM was a great political movement and has been used for minority, women, and religious groups to discuss issues and topics inside of small communities. Overall this is a good article that discusses the legality and the issues LPFM has faced over the years.
This is an article by Marc Fisher in the American Journalism review from October of 2000. This article talks about the simplicity of starting a radio station, and that in the 50’s it was a generational urge to start and operate your own radio station. The author continues by showing public radios diminshing use by the atual public. The author states that radio is no longer being used for what is made for.
A bill introduced on February 12th by Rep. Gene Green (D) and Chip Pickering (R) titled “Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act of 2007″ seeks to preserve some aspects of local radio. Although this bill isn’t around for the first time, it still persists to offer local news, traffic reports and weather programming, especially in times of emergencies. You can view another article through the Washington Times.
In this article from March 5, 2007 India Today Newspaper, low power FM radio is becoming popular as a way of reaching out to villagers in small communities. These low power community radio stations have been empowering people and changing their lives. Click here to learn about low power FM radio in India.
People want news that is relevant to themselves, but often times, are unable to get it. In 2003, a pirated low power station was created in East Village, New York, by a sort of local celebrity,Frank Prisinzano. Prisinzano owns many restaurants in the area and wanted to develop a station that played a variety of entertainment from music to political talk. You can access the New York Times article here.
After the commission gave XM and Sirius licences for satellite radio services in the 1990’s, under the condition that they never merge, they now would like to merge. Of course, the F.C.C. is questioning the companies’ motives as they attempt to convince them that this is in the best interest of their customers. Click here