FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             News Media Contact:
March 30, 2000                     Steve Adamske (202) 418-8221

        MARYLAND CHOSEN TO INAUGURATE LOW POWER FM RADIO
State is one of 10 to be first in the nation to apply for 100 watt Low Power FM licenses
                                
     Washington, DC   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has selected
Maryland to be among the first group of jurisdictions to be allowed to apply for the exciting new
Low Power FM radio stations.  Others in the first group are Alaska, California, the District of
Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mariana Islands, Maine, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and
Utah.  In late April the FCC will announce the date by which the applications must be filed and
the applications will be due 30 days later.

     William E. Kennard, chairman of the FCC, and FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani
conducted a lottery on Monday, March 27, that determined the order in which applications would
be accepted nationwide.

     The Low Power FM Service will allow non-commercial groups such as schools, churches,
municipalities, and libraries to broadcast at power below 100 watts.  The new service will cause
no significant interference to current FM stations.

     As he kicked off the lottery and application process, Chairman Kennard said, "Six months
from today, the first low power radio stations may be on the air.  We are beginning a process that
offers access to the airwaves to many Americans   such as members of schools, churches,
minority groups, public safety agencies, volunteer fire departments and other local community
groups.  I look forward to the FCC's soon receiving applications from many groups that, through
short-range, low power stations, will have a voice to serve their local communities."

     The new Low Power FM Service will consist of two classes of stations with maximum
levels of 10 to 100 watts.  The 10 watt stations would reach an area with a radius of between one
and two miles and the 100 watt stations would reach an area with a radius of approximately three
and a half miles.  The 100 watt stations will be authorized first.

     FCC estimates indicate that up to four 100 watt low power stations could be licensed to
Baltimore, MD.


Further information on applying for one of these stations is on the FCC's website:
www.fcc.gov.

     The FCC has received 42 comments from groups in Maryland, and those comments can be
found by going to www.fcc.gov and selecting e-filing.

                            - FCC -