Re: An argument for Class D

[Dib9@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-07-21 00:20:21 EDT, you write:

<< Something else which frustrates me: A public (read: taxpayer-funded)
 college owning a station, yet not making it accessible to the community. Of
 course, a prime example is WUMB. Talk about a station which is isolated
 from the community. Does not keep in touch in all with all of the
 community, except of course for its "patrons". (Wouldn't it be nice if some
 of the kids who paid $6,000 to $12,000 per year to the state received some
 of the benefits from a radio station they are paying for?) >>

The University of Southern Maine station is similiar.  They are licensed to
the university and funded primarily through student activity fees, but they
see themselves as a "community" station and make it hard for students to get
involved with the station.  When I was a student at USM, most of the regular
on-air talent are radio want-to-bees and students could only get on the air
late at night.  It didn't matter to me because I was already working
full-time in radio, but other students were denied the chance to try there
hand at radio.  I'm all for community radio (WERU Blue Hill is a great
example), but if college students are paying for a station, they ought to be
able to run it.  (With some guidance.)

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

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