It’s Our Loss

Earth FM WRTH
80s AND 90s THROWBACKS

The airwaves belong to the public

It may seem like listeners are powerless. But are we?

Unlike other businesses, such as restaurants or even newspapers, one cannot simply start a radio station. For one thing, there are only so many frequencies available, and those are allocated to specific regions or cities. While a city like New York may have dozens of allocations, a small town may have just one or two. In short, the pool is not endless.

Further, radio stations are supposed to serve the public interest. Years ago, this was taken much more seriously than it is today, but maybe a little pushback to the FCC and our representatives could make a difference.

Consider that the introduction of the FCC’s manual, “The Public and Broadcasting,” states:

In exchange for obtaining a valuable license to operate a broadcast station using the public airwaves, each radio and television licensee is required by law to operate its station in the “public interest, convenience and necessity.” Generally, this means it must air programming that is responsive to the needs and problems of its local community of license. To do this, each non-exempt station licensee must identify the needs and problems and then specifically treat these local matters in the news, public affairs, political and other programming that it airs.

Further, in the section titled, “The FCC and its Regulatory Authority,” it is stated that:

The FCC allocates a portion of the broadcast spectrum to new broadcast stations based upon both the relative needs of various communities…

So how do we protest?

Per the FCC, the public can protest:

You can also participate in the application process by filing a petition to deny when someone applies for a new station, when a station is being sold (technically called an “assignment” of the licensee), when its licensee is undergoing a major transfer of stock or other ownership or control (technically called a “transfer of control”), or the station proposes major facility changes. When filing these types of applications, the applicant is required to publish a series of notices, generally in a local newspaper, containing information similar to that noted above regarding renewal applications. Once the application is received, the FCC will issue a Public Notice and begin a 30-day period during which petitions to deny the application can be filed.

It continues

The loss of Earth FM and WGTK The Answer will have a significant impact on the Upstate South Carolina community. But this is not an isolated incident. Educational Media Foundation is buying up stations like a hungry bear moving through a forest. If the public doesn’t take action, we will lose our valuable airwaves to this (and similar) organizations.

Why this sale harms the community

Our view: Broadly, this pending application of assignment would harm us (the listeners, advertisers and supporters) and the general community at large by eliminating two locally operated broadcast stations that provide news, information and engagement focused on the local communities in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina. New ownership will rebroadcast satellite programming already available via the Internet and eliminate local content and programming, as well as local business operations.

Specifically, if approved, this assignment eliminates two local broadcast outlets, and harm us, and the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina, in a number of specific ways:

  • Elimination of local programming: The loss of local programming from these two stations will eliminate sources of local entertainment, news and information for the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina.

    • WRTH/WLTE was the only in-market station to provide live, local programming (music, announcers) in all key dayparts (morning drive, middays and afternoons). The remaining weekday dayparts (evening and overnights) — are voiced with local talent. No out-of-market personalities are heard during weekday dayparts on Earth FM, and Saturday dayparts are also local, and live during mornings and afternoons. Programming is hyper-local and provides significant entertainment value that is connected to the community through listener engagement (on-air listener calls, texts, email discussions). Contests encourage listener participation. Local programming includes news updates, traffic, weather and other updates continually throughout the day, keeping residents informed — often in real time — of impending storms and traffic accidents.

    • WGTK has live, local programming (talk shows) in some dayparts, and provides full newscasts, traffic, weather, business news and other updates continually throughout the day. The station’s format also provides opportunities for local community leaders to discuss issues of local importance on air. Further, while much of the broadcast day includes syndicated talk shows, WGTK also broadcast the Mike Gallagher show; Gallagher is a former resident of Greenville, South Carolina, and has a strong connection to the local community through broadcasting and theater.

  • Loss of local engagement: The loss of these two stations terminates station support of local organizations and station involvement with community activities such as festivals, fairs, concerts and charitable events. This engagement allows listeners and community members to connect with station personalities and staff but benefits the community as a whole.

    • WRTH, WLTE and WGTK have engaged with the community by promoting local events. This support of local events cannot be underestimated. Promoting events, especially nonprofit events, provides invaluable promotion that informs the community at large, increases event turnout and provides significant support for the organizations holding such events. Specific examples of past engagement include Spartanburg Spring Fling, Clemson University’s Eclipse Over Clemson, Gaffney Station Farmers Market, Hejaz Shrine Circus, Earth Day, Mid-City Shrine Club Motorcycle Rally, Spartanburg International Festival and Centre Stage Theater Earth Nights.

    • WRTH, WLTE and WGTK have engaged with the community by supporting local organizations, including the Greenville Humane Society, Centre Stage Theater and local community nonprofits and charities.

    • WRTH, WLTE and WGTK have engaged with the community by actively participating in local community-wide events such as community Christmas parades.

  • Elimination of local advertising opportunities: Upon assignment to the Educational Media Foundation, a nonprofit organization, no local advertising will be sold. This removes two (WGTK, WRTH/WLTE) local advertising opportunities for businesses in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina. This would harm us, and the local community, in several ways.

    • Reduced opportunity: There would be fewer radio stations selling advertising, thus providing businesses fewer choices for advertising their goods and services and reaching residents of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina.

    • Reduced competition: By removing these local stations and the advertising time they sell, there would be less competition. This could harm businesses if other stations raise their advertising rates.

  • Elimination of local jobs: The proposed assignee, Educational Media Foundation, essentially operates transmitters to retransmit their format feeds. There is no local air staff, and because EMF is nonprofit, no need for a local sales team. Without air staff or sales staff, there is no need for local management. This harms the local community in several ways.

    • Under Salem’s ownership, a local air, sales and management staff was employed, and put dollars back into the local economy. These individuals lived and worked in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area of South Carolina. EMF will eliminate all jobs.

    • Local staff equals local accountability and responsiveness to the community.

How we asked for help

The first thing to remember is to be kind and supportive of the on-air staff of Earth FM, even after the station has gone off the air. Offer positive comments on social media, and interact with them as the opportunity presents itself.

That said, if there was any chance of saving Earth FM, we needed to unify our voices by signing the public purpose petition. A public purpose petition collects names and minimal information to petition elected officials and governmental bodies. As of November 1, the petition is closed. But we did collect a lot of names, and we did share them with relevant government representatives. The plan is to also share them, when appropriate, with the Earth FM staff to show them the support of Earthlings.

Petition to Deny

What was the goal? To petition legislators at the state and federal level to recommend the Federal Communications Commission not approve the application of assignment of ownership of WGTK, WRTH and WLTE from Salem Communications Holding Corp. to Educational Media Foundation. We can also petition the FCC directly; this is called a Petition to Deny.

There is only 30 days from an initial application (August 23, 2023, in this case) to file.

Please note that as of November 1, the petition is closed.