(1888PressRelease)
July 18, 2009 - The Digital Broadcasters Association (DBA) proudly announces complete support for the July 20th call-in day that it intended to raise congressional awareness of the importance of community radio. The DBA is working in connection with the Prometheus Radio Project with hopes of gaining support for the Local Community Radio Act (HR1147/S592).
The Local Community Radio Act has the potential to forever change the landscape of low power broadcasting. If passed, the act could open the door for thousand of new community radio stations to be started across the country, enriching communities nationwide.
Both the Digital Broadcasters Association and the Prometheus Radio Project support the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147/S592), but we need your help to get this legislation passed. Here is how you can help:
1. Identify your elected officials - If you do not already know who your elected officials are, you can find out by visiting congress.org. Click the “Officials” link to access the Congressional Directory.
2. Call your officials - Call the telephone number listed for your representatives in the Congressional Directory. You can also call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative by name.
3. Voice your support - Tell the person receiving the call that you are a voter in the representative’s constituency. Tell them that you support community radio and would like for your representative to support the Local Community Radio Act by voting yes on HR1147.
It is important for as many people as possible to call their representatives on Monday, July 20. Narrowing all calls to a specific day helps to express the seriousness of the situation and is more likely to gain the attention that is required for a positive vote. Only call before or after July 20 if it is your only option.
Call more than once. No one is recommending that you tie up the switchboard by calling repeatedly, but calling once in the morning and once in the afternoon is certainly acceptable. This will double the amount of attention that the politicians give to the matter.
Call other elected officials. They may tell you that they only take calls on these matters from those in their constituency. This is perfectly fine, but sending them extra calls does not hurt. It is hard to ignore thousands of telephone calls on a subject, regardless of where the callers are located.
The Digital Broadcasters Association will also be promoting the July 20 LPFM radio call-in day on Twitter. The association invites everyone to follow #lpfm on July 20, and hopes to make it a trending topic that day.
For additional information, please visit broadcastersassociation.org
About the Digital Broadcasters Association
The Digital Broadcasters Association (DBA) strives to serve the interests of the digital broadcasting community. The association promotes cooperation and understanding among it's members, which helps foster an environment of unity. The DBA also endorses and encourages the development of 21st century technologies that will enhance the scope of digital broadcasting. Additionally, the association presents a united effort to represent the interests of digital broadcasters in Government, by campaigning for favorable broadcast initiatives and lobbying against policies that restrict our members' ability to conduct business.
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