STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS
Re:  In the Matter of Creation of a Low Power Radio Service
It often seems like those of us troubled by media consolidation are relegated to playing defense.
The big media companies are nothing if not persistent: lobbying for the elimination or relaxation of 
ownership limits, seeking waivers of existing rules, proposing merger upon merger and daring regulators 
to draw the line. In radio, the results have been particularly distressing. Runaway consolidation since the 
1996 Act has left us with homogenized content, national play lists, outsourced news, a dumbed-down 
civic dialogue, and shameful levels of minority and female ownership.
That’s why low power radio is such a breath of fresh air. It is a positive response to what ails us.
These are truly local stations run by local organizations. They provide an outlet for local voices and local 
talent. They cover issues of importance to local and very often under-served communities. Low power is 
truly radio of the people, by the people, and for the people. We cannot let it perish from the earth.
This item makes good progress in putting LPFM on a firmer foundation. In particular, I welcome 
the decisions on ownership and eligibility that will ensure that LPFM retains its local character; the initial 
steps we take to limit the preclusive effect of existing translator applications on LPFM; and the initial 
steps we take to protect LPFM from full-power station encroachment. But we have a lot of work ahead of 
us. In this regard, I am pleased that my colleagues have committed to further addressing some of the key 
issues within the next six months, including the priority between LPFM and translator stations, full-power 
encroachment, and a proposal to permit LPFM stations to use a more flexible contour-based methodology 
for locating available channels. These proposals—especially if Congress adopts the important 
recommendation in this item to remove the third adjacency restrictions—could vastly expand licensing 
opportunities for LPFM stations. Our united goal should be to clear away obstacles to low power and to 
open a window to license many more such stations as soon as we can.
As important as LPFM is, however, let’s never allow ourselves to see it as a complete substitute 
for full power service. Nor should we ever be lulled into a mind-set that says, “Well, let low power cover 
that stuff and let the full power stations continue on their happy way.” The American people still rely on 
full power stations for much of their news, information and entertainment. And those full power stations 
are on the air because they pledged to serve the public interest in return for being allowed to make what is 
still a very good living. The emergence and strengthening of LPFM does not affect our duty, in any 
shape, manner or form, to ensure that all broadcasters serve the core public interest goals of localism, 
competition and diversity.
I am pleased to support this as a good step forward, I thank my colleagues and the Bureau for 
their work. And I want to commend all those many dedicated members of the low power community who 
have worked so hard and accomplished so much in an environment that has been far less friendly towards 
them than it should have been.