Double Trouble
Too Many 'Commercials' on KUT
RECEIVED Mon., Feb. 1, 2010
Dear Editor,
"Support for KUT is brought to you by ______." Fill in the audio blank. Listeners to KUT may cringe when they hear that intro, knowing it means another commercial from their nonprofit, noncommercial local radio station of the University of Texas at Austin (the license held by the university regents). These nonstop, irritating commercials, prerecorded and live, are a violation of FCC rule CFR 47, Section 73.503 which prohibits commercials on noncommercial "educational" public stations such as KUT. The station management and the university are well aware of it but have the attitude that "everybody's doing it." The new FCC, under Obama, may take a different view, if it hears enough complaints from listeners. Complaints can be very easily registered online or in writing. Check the FCC website. The station is still controlled by Bush-Perry Republican regents at UT, but even they are subject to FCC licensing rules.
"Support for KUT is brought to you by ______." Fill in the audio blank. Listeners to KUT may cringe when they hear that intro, knowing it means another commercial from their nonprofit, noncommercial local radio station of the University of Texas at Austin (the license held by the university regents). These nonstop, irritating commercials, prerecorded and live, are a violation of FCC rule CFR 47, Section 73.503 which prohibits commercials on noncommercial "educational" public stations such as KUT. The station management and the university are well aware of it but have the attitude that "everybody's doing it." The new FCC, under Obama, may take a different view, if it hears enough complaints from listeners. Complaints can be very easily registered online or in writing. Check the FCC website. The station is still controlled by Bush-Perry Republican regents at UT, but even they are subject to FCC licensing rules.
John Callaghan