Reaction to Shutdown of WLFM's FM Broadcast

We, the undersigned, wish to express our disappointment regarding the decision to shut down WLFMs FM signal and convert the station to an internet-only broadcast. College radio is critically important in todays climate, in which radio has become increasingly homogenized as large corporations like Clear Channel now control thousands of stations. Without college radio, non-mainstream programming is completely locked out of the airwaves.

WLFM provided one of the only ways for Lawrence to reach out into the community in a positive way. In a time when Lawrence should be working to improve its relationship with the community, shutting down the stations FM broadcast sends the message that interaction with the community is expendable. This is especially important for the Fox Valleys minority Hmong and Hispanic communities, for whom WLFM has hosted cultural-themed radio shows for many years. With the shutdown of the FM signal, these groups will lose their only local media representation. The internet broadcast will be of little help to many of these families who do not have access to computers and internet connections for financial reasons.

The decision to broadcast exclusively over the internet will also greatly limit the support that WLFM receives from record labels and could cause major technical difficulties in running the annual Midwest Trivia Contest, a long-standing tradition that brings Lawrence national recognition. Attracting listeners will also be difficult given the level of competition from the thousands of other broadcasters.

As an alternative to shutting down the FM broadcast altogether, Lawrence should have considered operating the FM broadcast apart from Wisconsin Public Radio, as was done before 1990. This would require a very reasonable level of financial support, as most college stations in the U.S. exist on a budget less than the tuition of a single Lawrence student. Many receive less than $10,000 yearly. Lawrence spends much more on other campus activities and could easily afford this level of support to keep one of its greatest traditions alive. We are disappointed that no attempt was made to organize fund raisers that could have helped pay for equipment upgrades. WLFM could have dealt with any future equipment failure by purchasing low-cost used equipment on web sites like eBay and craigslist, as most college stations with limited budgets do.

We also feel strongly that Lawrence students and local community members should have been consulted regarding the decision, and we hope this does not set a precedent for how the Lawrence administration deals with student and community issues in the future.