When public radio was created (and funded) in the 60s it was meant to be "an alternative" to commercial radio. That meant decisions were to be made by direct community ascertainment, not Arbitron ratings and consultants. Since the de-regulation and the defunded mandate for public radio, since l980 to the present, these stations "use" the public name for fundraisers but in fact some, such as WFCR, are not so "public" anymore.

But for a lot of us listeners it is not just about an alternative music taste. It is also about political values and freedom of expression. The shows that were eliminated or cut take the guts of diversity out of the WFCR listening line-up. They eliminate the voice of social struggle embedded in the music and locally produced shows. And where is the venue for citizen input for voicing local concerns? In the CPB Mission statement below it is clear that one function of PBS stations is to be a voice for underserved populations. Where can the listening community have input to the station?