Multilingual Radio Act of 1989

Multilingual Radio Act of 1989 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to begin procedures to prescribe regulations to: (1) establish demonstration frequencies to provide multilingual frequency modulation radio broadcasting services to large metropolitan areas with large multilingual populations; (2) require such demonstration frequency to be licensed in the New York City area; (3) create other demonstration frequencies, if possible, in other large metropolitan areas with large multilingual populations; (4) make such frequencies available through the use of directional antennas, allowing for coexistence with existing radio or television frequencies; and (5) require the licensee of such a multilingual operation to devote a specified amount of air time in programming other than English per day and per week, and a specified amount of time per day in instructional English.

Directs the FCC to establish such frequencies as not-for-profit operations and award the license for such frequencies by comparative hearing to nonprofit groups with substantial experience in serving the needs of the multilingual and multiethnic communities.