New York and other states consider privacy laws about radio-controlled drones. Prometheus Radio maps out where new LPFM stations may get created in the United States. The Brooklyn transmitter farmer Aereo can keep its thousands of mini-TV antennae tuned to local television. WBAI's "Off The Hook" discusses release of Aaron Swartz, internet activist, legal documents. And more. The Sacremento Bee reports that 80 proposals related to radio-controlled drones in 39 statehouses across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In New York, two Brooklyn Assemblymen introduced bills in Albany this past week. Christopher Robbins in Gothamist reports about Bronx Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda's bill, which prohibits drone use to gather evidence, "except when authorized under a warrant issued by a court of record or justified by lawful exception to the warrant requirement." Sepúlveda released a statement, saying that he plans several other drone bills, "Banning drones from being armed; clearly defining what constitutes a drone; restricting the use of drones by private citizens; and streamlining the mechanisms to secure permits for responsible drone usage concerning its commercial applications." Tom Precious in The Buffalo News reports that Assemblyman Nick Perry’s legislation, would “protect New York state residents from unwarranted and unauthorized use of drones or other unmanned aircrafts to conduct surveillance upon them inside their homes or place of worship or within the closed confines of their property or other locations where a person would have an expectation of privacy.’’ The Buffalo News says the bill exempts patrols along the Canadian border to prevent illegal entry of people or drugs and other substances, and to counter a "high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization based on credible intelligence determined by the commissioner of homeland security and emergency services.'' His proposal includes individual use for "lawful purposes, including recreational or hobby purposes.''

Philadelphia-based radio access advocacy group Prometheus Radio Project says there might be 21 new low-power FM radio frequencies available in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy market. There's an October deadline for non-profit organizations to apply for low-power FM licenses that can cover entire towns. "Not all channels are usable in real-world conditions, and not all channels are in locations with actual demand for community radio," the group says. "These numbers are not gospel -- they are informed guesses made by the Prometheus technical team using FCC tools." In New York State, here are some possibilities: Rochester, up to 32 new stations; Catskill, one; Hudson, two, Kingston, four; Saugerties, three. See more information at Prometheus Radio Project.

The Brooklyn transmitter farmer Aereo can keep its thousands of mini-TV antennae tuned to local television. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York affirmed Mon., April 1 an earlier ruling allowing the company's business plan to continue. Subscribers rent out a mini-antenna, and can tune in it via an online hook-up instead of purchasing cable television.