From: Bananaboy
<comrade@radiolink.net>
Subject: A Message to other community radio stations

Please forward as far and wide as possible
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Howdy all,

Since KO.OP has come out and publicly voiced our support for the workers at Pacifica’s station WBAI, KPFK, and KPFA, we’ve received several letters and messages of support for our actions. But the next step in defending real community radio from Pacifica’s heavy handedness is to create some sort of solidarity among local community oriented stations who are concerned with Pacifica’s attempts at stifling free speech radio.

This is especially important now that Pacifica is trying to force stations to sign a sort of “gag order” in order to keep Pacifica programming. I notice that several stations are concerned with this and are discussing how we can stand up to Pacifica. I believe that KO.OP would be willing to form a coalition with other community stations in an attempt at defending free speech radio from Pacifica’s totalitarian attitude to programming.

I’m interested in hearing from other community radio stations who also share our concerns. Pacifica has threatened our station in the past and I’m sure will continue to do so in the future.

One idea that was brought up at KO.OP’s Board of Trustees meeting this week was to form some sort of news and public affairs coalition to create a news program to possibly replace the Pacifica Network News. I would like to see several community stations work on news and public affairs programming for all the stations the are currently running the Pacifica Network News. Working together we could produce a news program the rivals Pacifica and cut the cost of carrying PNN in the event that Pacifica should drop us from their feed.

I cannot speak for all of KO.OP but I believe that we shouldn’t cower to Pacifica’s threats. We have an alternative and at the same time we will be acting as real community radio stations by building close links and solidarity with other local stations around the nation.

for more information please contact me either via e-mail at: tta@mail.utexas.edu, via phone @ (512)441-4701 or via snail mail at 4522 South 2nd. St. Austin, Texas 78745

Comrade Odekirk