https://www.savewrth.com/petition
https://www.savewrth.com/
Help save radio station Earth-FM WRTH Greenville.
Save Earth-FM WRTH
What on Earth is this site about?
This site has a simple purpose: Provide information and resources about Earth-FM WRTH (and, to a lesser extent, its sister station 94.5 The Answer WGTK), which are pending sale from Salem Media Group to Educational Media Foundation.
Background
Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM) announced Aug. 23, 2023, that it entered into an agreement to transfer the ownership of its Greenville-Spartanburg stations, WGTK-FM, WRTH-FM, and WLTE-FM to Educational Media Foundation (EMF). Salem Media CEO David Santrella stated, “We have enjoyed our years in the Greenville-Spartanburg market but have made the strategic decision to divest our interests there. As we do, we are grateful to be able to place these signals in the hands of Educational Media Foundation (EMF) who share a like-minded mission with Salem through their music programming. We are also thankful to our Greenville-Spartanburg staff for their many years of service.”
EMF will pay $6,775,000 for the three stations with a network affiliation agreement to take place before closing. WGTK-FM will join EMF’s Christian AC “K-Love” network, while WRTH and WLTE will become Contemporary Worship “Air 1.“
How you can help
The first thing we should remember is to be kind and supportive of the on-air staff of Earth-FM. Offer positive comments on social media, and interact with them as the opportunity presents itself. That said, if there is any chance of saving Earth-FM, we will need 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.
Petition to Deny
What’s the goal? To petition our 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. But time is running out; there is only 30 days from the initial application (August 23, 2023) to do this.
The airwaves belong to the public
It may seem like we 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.
Time is tight. We need to collect names, and file a petition to deny if that is the course of action we decide to undertake.
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