Skippert, I feel this requires a slightly more complicated conclusion than mere “party line politics”. Granted, the Dems would like to harness radio [they LOVE to harness ANYTHING]... The antithesis is the current “free-for-all” tolerated by the Bush Administration FCC, which has taken any facsimile of regulatory oversight off shameless self-promoting corporate radio. It is patently-obvious that neither is (or will) serve the public interest!
I purchased my first radio station at the beginning of the Fowler FCC. I celebrated my anticipated “liberation”, BUT I kept my new freedoms in tow. I conducted my business with the understanding that Mr. Fowler’s reg-loving predecessor was still my judge. I didn’t pursue extra liberties or “stretch” and convolute the rules. Clearly, corporate radio in this new millennium has NOT adopted or followed my logic! “Give an inch – and they’ll take a hundred miles” seems to be engrained in their culture. The losers are twofold – the people first – AND any aspirant to join the fraternity of broadcast ownership, second. The “Three Cs and then-some” have bid-up the entry fee for radio station ownership in much the same way that those who “trade” the gas you need to make your way to work and the grocery have. Who ends up unfulfilled and distressed? ...The “regular folks” – or in the radio case – the people living under the tower in a community that has been cast aside by corporate radio so they can enhance their cluster in the Big-Town.
A point will soon arrive where something HAS to give... The marketplace has NO long-term toleration for the superficial. Alas, big corporate radio is LOSING IT... Look at their stock value... Crash ‘n burn IS NOT beyond just a simple cliché when describing their miserable performance. Consider this irrefutable FACT: for the first time since Fibber McGee and Molly, they have failed to compel a youth demographic—essential to the current and future vitality of this industry. STOP blaming-it on the iPod – it’s simple incompetence and arrogance, Charlie!
I am opposed to the “man your rig 24/7 rule”, but I can’t dismiss the virtual monopoly in Fargo that decided NOT to pay an overnight operator when they were a PRIMARY EAS originator... This is a blatant case of Clear Channel living-up to their well-deserved reputation as “Cheap Channel”—all-the-while as the Mayes family makes millions. Should CCU’s violation of public trustee status mandate that tiny 1580 WIFE Connersville be forced to hire an operator while playing the Mamas ‘n Papas for all 100 fans working the third shift as that station cranks out a mere 5-watts? NOT! BTW, Connersville is in that predicament because their FM facility was hijacked, moved 60-miles, and downgraded so Radio One could add to its stable in Cincinnati. This is the most outrageous example of the FCC on a corporate radio-directed “coffee break”!
Neither do I agree that a rulemaking that mandates that ALL studios be moved back to their COLs could be productive. Pandora is out of that box, and I’d challenge anybody to put her back in and not invite unintended consequences. Earlier in this thread, Renda Broadcasting’s operation in Indiana County, Pennsylvania was cited. I am familiar with that scenario, and can assure you that the local markets there are being served well. Tony Renda later purchased his way into the Pittsburgh market off the profits of his “hometown service”. Since the 80’s, he has been a “player” in the ‘Burgh, but he has retained ownership in the market that gave him his start. Some trivia: Renda’s first station in metro-Pitt was 1360 WIXZ McKeesport [a Pitt suburb]... Back in the early 70s, this was the station that allowed Rush to liberate himself from the clutches of Withers Broadcasting in Cape GarageDoor, Missouri. Closer to home, let’s consider the operation of Lake Cities Broadcasting in Angola, Indiana. For THREE DECADES, WLKI has been a model for exemplary small-market radio. Later, they built stations in Lagrange, IN and Montpelier, OH [adjacent to Steuben County, IN]. They operate these stations from a BEAUTIFUL facility in Angola. Would you purpose that Lake Cities be forced to establish “independent operations” in markets that CAN’T support such? Confronted with that choice, Lake Cities just may say: “Hell with it” – sell the stations to ones that would run them from the unused bedroom of their house. WHAT would be gained in this? The culprits here ARE NOT Tony Renda or Lake Cities!
This whole proposal seeks to slap a poorly-adhesive band aide on a much bigger problem. My alternative suggestion is to reinstate retroactive ownership caps at the local AND NATIONAL level. CCU and Cloud – call in the brokers and sell-sell-sell – you're TOO big and insensitive to your markets. Let’s bring back the 80s and start enjoying the radio industry again!
