From the Corner Office

Hello Everyone,

As we continue to work diligently to prevent the proposed XM-Sirius monopoly from becoming a reality, I have to ask the question that is slowly dawning on me:  why doesn’t Washington like free radio?

I have been spending a lot of time lately calling on members of Congress to explain to them why, despite FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin’s recommendation to approve the proposed transaction, a merger to monopoly of the only two satellite radio companies will be so devastating both to terrestrial broadcasters and to the public interest.  Not only would approval directly contradict the FCC’s own determinations about the competitive landscape for audio entertainment, but it would stand in opposition to everything free radio stands for.

Radio is the voice of vital information and safety, the voice of comfort and hope, and the voice of collective action and change.  From supporting our soldiers to sustaining our local food pantries, we are embedded deeply into the fabric of our communities.  Our political leaders obviously understand the breadth of our reach and the depth of our impact on our audience in a given day. Why else would they buy time on our stations to get elected to office?

But somehow, instead of working with us, some  members of Congress and the FCC continue to challenge the radio industry to prove that we are “worthy” of keeping our licenses.  I find it absurd.  I challenge them to leave the beltway for a day and go into the heartland.  I invite them to visit Iowa and New Orleans and see firsthand where our listeners live and the beneficial role radio serves in providing a lifeline to the people.

While I have been heartened by the Commissioners and Representatives who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to meet with me and my industry colleagues in person, I am weary from listening to the many politicians and bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who do not appreciate the contributions our industry makes to our communities or the problems we face in this challenging economy. Washington is willing to ignore the many transgressions of the satellite radio companies, who have violated with impunity almost every law and rule that ever applied to them, but wants to impose a raft of new legislation and regulations  to dictate the programming and outreach decisions of local, free radio.  Washington wants to give our competitor an unrestricted and virtually unregulated monopoly, so Howard Stern can disparage Dolly Parton with impunity, but will fine local radio stations $325,000 when a guest or caller accidentally says “the s-word.”  And yet, when the politicians really need to reach their constituencies, they turn to local, free radio.  And we deliver.

Local, free radio represents every demographic and every community in the nation.  We employ hundreds of thousands of dedicated and talented individuals, from every city and town in America.  We deliver local news, weather, traffic, and sports updates every hour, every day, 365 days a year.  We raise hundreds of millions of dollars every year for local and national charities and people in need. 

How in the world did we become the bad guys?

Please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "Ask Peter" icon posted below. I would love to hear your feedback or answer any questions you may have.