At a time when many radio stations sound the same and few are of the same people they're for, the FCC has the perfect opportunity to change the status quo for the better by creating a microstation radio broadcasting service. (See comments of Nickolaus Leggett, Judith Leggett, and Donald Schellhardt, Esq., RM-9208). By allowing citizens to broadcast over frequencies that aren't even being used anyway, the FCC win encourage the greatest access to the airwaves possible. In our democracy, this seems like one of the most important things the FCC could do.

Especially since enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, an unprecendented consolidation of radio stations has occurred which has put station ownership even farther beyond the reach of most Americans. Where current trends promote listener passivity and alienation, a multitude of human-scale stations would foster participation and engagement. The profusion of voices on arts, culture, information, politics on a large scale and particularly a small one, would enrich present radio broadcasting and possibly change our understanding of what radio can be.

All the evidence is that this service can be accomodated in a way that does not interfere with existing radio services. Given that, and microbroadcasting's embodiment of democratic values, the FCC has an obligation to launch a public proceeding to consider rules and policies on microbroadcasting.
 

SIGNED this 26th day of April, 1998,
 
 

Karen Loew
6812 Lamp Post Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306