A group of rock musicians plans to send a letter to the Federal

Communications Commission on Thursday (Sept. 16) supporting low-power

radio stations, according to former Tsunami singer Jenny Toomey,

an organizer of the effort. Signers include the Indigo Girls'

Amy Ray, ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt, Fugazi's

Ian MacKaye and Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye.

"Fans of critical genres including classical, jazz, bluegrass, reggae,

opera, folk or punk are regularly left out of [current radio] programming

— not to mention the myriad ... artists whose music does not fit

into any ... format," the letter reads. The FCC is studying a proposal

to license a new breed of small, community-based stations, ranging from

1 to 1,000 watts power. The Low Power Radio Coalition of musicians is

also planning a series of concerts across the country Oct. 14–24

called "Left Off the Dial: Ten Days for Low Power Radio."