RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WFCR

WHEREAS, WFCR 88.5 FM is a public radio station broadcasting from and licensed to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

WHEREAS, in January 2007 WFCR

1. Eliminated 2 hours of ¡Tertulia! (a locally produced program on Latin American culture).

2. Canceled Afropop Worldwide (a program presenting music and culture of the African Diaspora).

3. Canceled Valley Folk (a locally produced folk music program running for more than 25 years that actively promoted local performers and venues).

4. Canceled Thistle and Shamrock (a Celtic music program).

WHEREAS, WFCR replaced cut programs with additional classical music and jazz, creating a schedule with 65 hours of classical music and 21 hours of jazz per week.

WHEREAS, WFCR’s programming changes have reduced the diversity of genres and cultural representation, diminished local content, and were made without inviting review or input by the WFCR listening area.

WHEREAS, WFCR has acted inconsistently with its mission “… to provide the area with diverse news, information, music and cultural programs ...”

WHEREAS, WFCR receives a portion of its funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

WHEREAS, all privately-owned CPB-funded public radio stations and many state-owned stations have representative Community Advisory Boards which hold meetings open to the public.

WHEREAS, the community is not well-represented by WFCR’s current Advisory Committee, and the WFCR Advisory Committee does not advise on programming.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Amherst Representative Town Meeting hereby implores the University of Massachusetts to actively

1. Transform the existing WFCR Advisory Committee into a Community Advisory Board that

a. Represents the ethnic, cultural and geographic diversity of the listening area.

b. Has an open application process for board members.

c. Is empowered to review and influence WFCR programming decisions.

d. Holds well-publicized open meetings and allows public access to meeting minutes.

2. Reconsider 2007 WFCR programming cuts..

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the Select Board to urge the Town Manager to present Amherst Town Meeting’s position to the University of Massachusetts.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Deval Patrick, Federal Communications Commission Chair Kevin J. Martin, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Chair Cheryl Halpern, U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, U.S. Representative John Olver, Massachusetts State Senator Stanley Rosenberg, Massachusetts State Representative Ellen Story, University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson, University of Massachusetts Chancellor John Lombardi, Vice Provost for University Outreach Sharon Fross, and WFCR General Manager Martin Miller.