You know you are getting to them when they change their voicemail.

NAB phone message by jcstearns

We have nearly passed a bill that will bring new choices and voices to the radio dial, but a powerful lobby is blocking the vote. The Local Community Radio Act would put thousands of new community radio stations on the air. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a lobbying group that represents commercial broadcasters, wants to keep the public airwaves to itself.

These lobbyists don't care that the bill has broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. They don't care about bringing democracy to the airwaves. Instead, the NAB is pulling strings and calling in favors to get a small handful of senators to place secret holds on the bill.

So we worked with our allies on got more than 1,000 people to call NAB President Gordon Smith and tell him: "Stop blocking better radio. Let Congress pass the Local Community Radio Act." A number of citizens actually got through and got to talk with Smith himself.

Today we found out that the NAB changed their voicemail to deal with all the incoming calls. Listen to their new message.

Do you want to add your voice? Here is the phone number: 202-429-5449

Here's what you can say:

“I am calling to urge Gordon Smith and the National Association of Broadcasters to support community radio in my town by allowing Congress to pass the Local Community Radio Act.

If we overcome this industry-backed obstacle and pass the Local Community Radio Act, we can finally build the independent radio stations our communities need.

Time is running out. Please call today.