Pittsburgh's Young Radio Talents

[kenhawk1160]

As for the small town DJ's they are a lot fewer these days. A live morning show and on the bird the rest of the day and night. I think there should always be one person on duty at your radio station if it's on the air but owners don't agree. A station owner in Texas said if the goverment mandated 24 hour staffing his station would have to go off the air at midnight. Maybe he should turn in his station license?

I half-agree with that, Mike. There should always be a duty operator present during regular business hours. That's just plain common sense. Do your morning show live and then, if local economic conditions dictate, (and they often do in small markets around here) then you can throw it on the bird for the rest of the day. You do need another body around to produce commercials and other staff-announcer relative duties.

I don't agree that a station should have to be 'manned' 24/7. We have technology possible that enables us to be in control of the station at all times, if it's installed properly. Sine system units can turn transmitters on and off, change antenna patterns, and even break into the audio chain all through a telephone. I'm not an owner, but I have been a GM and have been in the unenviable position of crunching numbers and looking for ways to stretch dimes into dollars.

I know the FCC is considering re-regulation that could mean disastrous consequences for small-market broadcasters. I'm urging those of you on this board to write your Congressman and present a prudent argument (as I have) of why reregulation could destroy small market radio. My own argument has been to include a provision in any policy change at the FCC which would exempt radio stations in markets ranked at 101 or lower AND are AMs less than 10,000 watts OR use a directional antenna pattern, and FMs less than 50,000 watts. It would essentially allow small market radio to survive, while still making larger companies with deeper pockets more accountable for the sticks they're obviously running as 'throwaways'.

There's TONS of lawmakers that depend on small market radio to get the word out about what they're doing in Harrisburg or Washington. They all have a vested interest in our future, and more often than not, they're willing to help. Jason Altmire, Phil English, Mary Jo White and Brian Ellis are all frequently heard on our stations and rarely turn down an opportunity for an interview.

It's up to us to make things happen, ladies and gentlemen. I for one, am done sitting on the sidelines and have been for years.