The Federal Communications Commission's decision to fill blank spaces on the FM radio spectrum with low-power stations has tapped a gusher of grass-roots enthusiasm and provoked a broadcasting industry campaign to cap it....

Although half of the license applicants are churches or groups with religious affiliation, the other half is diverse: school districts; ethnic, theatrical and musical groups; chambers of commerce; community self-help organizations; and many individuals, including former "pirate" station operators. They share the conviction that commercial stations and National Public Radio are delivering bland, homogenous, unsatisfying content badly in need of cogent programming and informational nourishment.

Both the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio oppose creation of so many low-power FM stations.

The NAB argues that implementing the FCC decision would jam the airwaves and interfere with full-power broadcasters and aviation frequencies. The "CB-ization" of radio would be impossible to regulate, according to the NAB. NPR says that the broadcast spectrum is already too congested and that the new stations would not foster the diversity of voices claimed by the FCC.

"All the criticism is a red herring," said FCC spokesman David Fiske. "We will not license where interference will occur." The broadcasting industry has another agenda, he said. "We are neutral judges. This debate has been to try to reduce the (technical) expertise role of the
FCC."