Jenny Lizak writesPlease Make Some Calls For Community Radio

UPDATE: If you didn’t get to make your calls on Monday, or if you tried and didn’t get through, you can still call in today with the same requests you see below. Thanks!

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This Monday, July 20th, the Chicago Independent Radio Project asks you to join people from across the country to tell Congress to open up the airwaves by passing the Local Community Radio Act.

There are currently over 800 LPFM stations operated by schools, churches, civic groups, and other nonprofit organizations across the country – but, because of limitations imposed by Congress in 2000, there are still many more groups like CHIRP who are waiting for LPFM service to be expanded so we can have a chance to apply for a station too.

It is time for Congress to lift their restrictions so that more communities across the country to have the opportunity to operate their own local radio stations. The Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (HR 1147 / S 592) would expand Low Power FM radio stations and open the airwaves up to potentially tens of thousands of new community radio stations across the country.

Help CHIRP have a chance at a low power FM signal by asking your Senators and Representative to pass the Act. It takes just a few minutes to make three phone calls following the instructions below, and you’ll be joining in a national action with thousands of people across America who also support Local Community Radio!

Action Steps For National LPFM Call In Day:
Part One – Call Your Representative

1. Look up your Congressional Representative. Go to [url=http://www.congress.org]http://www.congress.org[/url] if you don’t know who your Representative is.
2. Find out if he or she is a co-sponsor of the Local Community Radio Act.
3. Call your representative and follow the appropriate script below.

For your convenience, we have provided a list of Illinois-area representatives, their phone numbers, and where they stand on the Act.

Already Co-Sponsors

“Hi, my name is (NAME) and I’m calling from Chicago, Illinois. I’m calling Representative (NAME) today to thank her/him for her/his support of the Local Community Radio Act, HR 1147. This bill is important to me because I am a supporter of the Chicago Independent Radio Project, a group working to bring a low power FM community radio station to Chicago. This Local Community Radio Act will expand low power FM radio service to hundreds of community organizations, churches and other groups like CHIRP across the country. I thank the Representative for taking leadership on this issue, and hope that she/he will continue to do everything possible to help this Act pass in 2009. Will you please pass along my feelings to the Representative? Thank you.”

District 4 Rep. Gutierrez, Luis – (202) 225-8203
District 17 Rep. Hare, Phil – (202) 225-5905
District 15 Rep. Johnson, Timothy – 202-225-2371
District 9 Rep. Schakowsky, Janice – (202) 225-2111

Not Current Co-Sponsors

“Hi, my name is (NAME) and I’m calling from Chicago, Illinois. I’m calling Representative (NAME) today to thank her/him for her/his support of the Local Community Radio Act, HR 1147. This bill is important to me because I am a supporter of the Chicago Independent Radio Project, a group working to bring a low power FM community radio station to Chicago. This Local Community Radio Act will expand low power FM radio service to hundreds of community organizations, churches and other groups like CHIRP across the country. I am asking Representative (NAME) to join with his/her colleagues in signing on as a co-sponsor of the Act. Will you please pass along my feelings to the Representative? Thank you.”

District 1 Rep. Rush, Bobby – 202-225-4372
District 2 Rep. Jackson, Jesse – (202) 225-0773 (previous co-sponsor in 2007)
District 3 Rep. Lipinski, Daniel – (202) 225-5701
District 5 Rep. Quigley, Mike – 202.225.4061 (CHIRP’s office is in his district)
District 6 Rep. Roskam, Peter – (202) 225-4561]
District 7 Rep. Davis, Danny 202/225-5006
District 8 Rep. Bean, Melissa 202-225-3711
District 10 Rep. Kirk, Mark 202-225-4835
District 11 Rep. Halvorson, Deborah (202) 225-3635
District 12 Rep. Costello, Jerry (202) 225-5661
District 13 Rep. Biggert, Judy 202-225-3515
District 14 Rep. Foster, Bill (202) 225-2976 (previous co-sponsor in 2007)
District 16 Rep. Manzullo, Donald (202) 225-5676
District 18 Rep. Schock, Aaron 202.225.6201

District 19 Rep. Shimkus, John (202) 225-5271

Part Two – Call Senator Durbin

Senator Durbin is already a co-sponsor of the Act, and is one of the most influential and powerful members of Congress. Call Senator Durbin’s office at (202) 224-2152. Here is a sample script to use –

“Hi, my name is (NAME) and I’m calling from Chicago, Illinois. I’m calling Senator Durbin today to thank him for his support of the Local Community Radio Act, Senate Bill 592. This bill is important to me because I am a supporter of the Chicago Independent Radio Project, a group working to bring a low power FM community radio station to Chicago. This Local Community Radio Act will expand low power FM radio service to hundreds of community organizations, churches and other groups like CHIRP across the country. I am asking Senator Durbin to do everything in his power to help this bill pass in 2009. I thank the Senator in advance for his leadership on this issue. Will you please tell him for me? Thank you.”

Part Three – Call Senator Burris

Senator Burris is NOT a current co-sponsor of the Act. We will ask him to sign on as a co-sponsor. Call Senator Burris’ office at 202-224-2854. Here is a sample script to use –

“Hi, my name is (NAME) and I’m calling from Chicago, Illinois. I’m calling Senator Burris today to ask him to sign on as a co-sponsor for the Local Community Radio Act, Senate Bill 592. This bill is important to me because I am a supporter of the Chicago Independent Radio Project, a group working to bring a low power FM community radio station to Chicago. This Local Community Radio Act will expand low power FM radio service to hundreds of community organizations, churches and other groups like CHIRP across the country. I am asking Senator Burris to join with his colleagues in signing on as a co-sponsor of the Act. I thank the Senator in advance for his leadership on this issue. Will you please tell him for me? Thank you.”

If you’re from outside Illinois, you can find your elected officials and their contact information at congress.org.

General Tips For Calling Congress

• Call during regular business hours (between 9am and 6pm), when Congressional offices are open.
• You’ll most likely be speaking with an assistant to the Congressperson who will take down your name, address, and a note about what bill you are calling about, which side of the position you are on, and what you are asking the Congressperson to do. Speak clearly and slowly so they can understand you.
• Always be polite! Your call is a reflection on all supporters, and loosing your head could hurt our cause. Remember that the staffer who answers the phone may be busy, overworked, or unfamiliar with the issue.
• Add in your personal connection to the Act – tell your Congressperson why this issue affects you. For example, if you are a musician, you may want to talk about how your band could get more exposure on an LPFM radio station.
• Keep your call brief, no more than five minutes.
• If you are transferred to a voicemail, leave your name, address (including zip code) and one or two sentences about the bill and what you are asking the Congressperson to do.
• When you’re finished, hand the phone to a friend, roommate, family member or co-worker, and ask them to call too. The more calls in one day, the more impact!