Landrieu Introduces Broadcaster Bill

Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) introduced a bill this week that classifies broadcasters among first responders in the event of an emergency.

"For more than 50 years, we have required local broadcasters to be on that front line, sounding the alarm," said Landrieu, who revealed her intention to introduce the bill last week at NAB2007 in Las Vegas.

S.1223, The First Response Broadcast Act of 2007, would assure that TV and radio broadcasters have fuel, food and water during emergencies.

Emergency services, hospitals, nursing homes and public utilities would still have priority for the federally provided necessities, but the bill would protect broadcasters stores from federal seizure except in dire cases.

"There were several Gulf Coast broadcasters after the hurricanes that could not stay on the air simply because the government took the fuel away," Landrieu said. "This bill protects the critical resources broadcasters need to stay on the air."

The bill would also set up a matching grant program funded at $10 million a year for broadcaster disaster preparedness.