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Community radio manager urges restoration of $205,000 grant for emergency broadcasting
Summary
A Bellows Falls community radio manager asked the committee to restore a one‑time $205,000 community radio grant (section 9 of H.397 as introduced) to upgrade transmitters and emergency gear after the appropriation was removed by Appropriations. Manager described stations' role during recent floods.
Lou Mulvaney Stanek, station manager for multiple Vermont community radio stations, told the Government Operations committee that low‑power community stations served as first-line information sources in recent floods and urged restoration of a one‑time $205,000 grant that had been removed from the House Appropriations version of H.397.
Stanek said community stations pivoted to emergency coverage during the 2023 and 2024 floods when cell service and internet were degraded, providing listeners with localized safety messaging, mutual-aid notices, guidance on FEMA and SBA resources, and live call-in help. "When the cell phones stopped…
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