An Open Letter to WPHR I write this letter to document serious concerns with the actions of Syracuse radio station WPHR 106.9 in temporarily abandoning its Adult Urban format for Young Country without any advance notice or communication with its listeners. Not only does this action demonstrate unacceptable disrespect for a demographic that is severely underserved in the local radio and television marketplace and an audience that has been loyal to and profitable for WPHR for years, but it is just the most recent of a long line of events that severely calls into question whether Power 106.9 is operating "in the public interest," as all FCC broadcast licensees are required to do. WPHR listeners-especially African Americans in the Central New York region-have long been frustrated by inconsistencies in the station's practices and the repeated claims Mr. Joel Delmonico has made that the station would "superserve the African American community." Even before the switch to Young Country, the station eliminated almost all local programming in favor of canned, syndicated shows, released a popular program director with 30 years experience and knowledge of the radio industry and the local market, and has refused to hire African American talent in sales and other departments of the business, with Mr. Delmonico claiming that "if you show me where they are, I'll hire them." The station replaced one syndicated radio show that was immensely popular, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which was a force in promoting community building, awareness of local and national events, and activism, with another that was highly offensive to many listeners, and refused to consider a change even after many segments of the community protested the change. The station has also suffered from a weak signal that results in reception that fades in and out depending on what street one lives or drives on, and does not have a standing community advisory board, as recommended by the Federal Communications Commission. The station has claimed that the switch to the Young Country was only a temporary move, but the replacement of the Adult Urban format, without a reasonable explanation for past conduct and a commitment of better programming, hiring, and community relations going forward, is not an acceptable response from WPHR. When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted by Congress, companies were allowed to purchase multiple stations in a local market with the condition that they ensure that the interests of those local communities are still represented with radio programming. I believe WPHR must take several steps to address these concerns and begin to demonstrate that it is genuinely interested in its audience and committed to serving Syracuse's African American community, as Mr. Delmonico continually asserts. Beyond maintaining the current Adult Urban format, WPHR should: "
Commit to offering more locally-based programming instead of basing its programming
almost entirely on syndicated shows that the local community feels is merely "canned
radio" It is my position that changes in communications law allowing huge corporations to purchase many radio stations in individual markets has severely diminished the overall quality of radio programming for everyone and that this decline has been devastating to African American communities, which are still woefully underserved and underrepresented in television and radio-not to mention an internet landscape still marked by a wide digital divide. I ask you to not only affirm your receipt of this letter but your response to the concerns I raise here. Sincerely,
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