From Staff Reports

The Federal Communications Commission recently dismissed a challenge to license renewal for WCQS-FM (88.1) in Asheville and renewed the local public radio station’s broadcast license.

The petition was filed late last year by the Ad Hoc Committee for Responsible Public Radio, headed by Weaverville resident Fred Flaxman, a retired public radio executive and producer. About 30 people signed the petition.

Flaxman said in the petition that he had volunteered to serve on the station’s community advisory board, but learned that it did not have one. This, he noted, is a violation of the Public Broadcasting Act.

When the station’s management did establish a board, it was “tightly controlled to make sure that no critics of the station or its policies are allowed to serve,” Flaxman contended.

He also complained in the petition that WCQS did not carry programs by local independent producers, including himself.

Specifically, Flaxman complained of what he termed “radical changes” made by Jody Evans, executive director of WNC Public Radio, after assuming her duties. For instance, he cited her cancellation of long-time local programs, such as “Conversations,” “Byline” and “Evening Rounds.”

In its response, the FCC said that the station “has served the public interest, convenience and necessity during the subject license term, there have been no serious violations of the (Public Broadcasting Act) or the rules, and there have been no other violations, which taken together, constitute a pattern of abuse.” 

In an Aug. 4 email to the Daily Planet, Flaxman said, “Of course, I think it was a bad decision. If a public radio station that violates the Public Broadcasting Act for more than a decade doesn’t deserve to have its application for license renewal denied, what station does? How is breaking the law evidence of operating in the public interest?”

Further, Flaxman asserted, “Unfortunately, as we have seen in other areas, such as banking, deregulation and cutting back on government employees make it easier and less work for government agencies, such as the FCC, to keep renewing licenses rather than opening them up to competition for new ownership.”

In its response to the petition, WCQS said that “that by ‘local, independent producers or radio programming,’ Mr. Flaxman is thinking primarily of Mr. Flaxman.”

The station also said in its response that it is now in compliance with rules for receiving support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In response to a request from the Daily Planet for WCQS’ reaction to the FCC decision, Evans on Aug. 21 emailed the following statement to the newspaper:

“The FCC has renewed the broadcast license for WCQS-FM and its translator stations in Clyde, Cullowee, Sylva, Brevard, Hazelwood and Black Mountain,” Evans noted.

“We are extremely pleased with the FCC’s decision,’ she said. ‘For 30 years, WCQS has brought NPR (National Public Radio) news and information, classical music and local programs to the people of Western North Carolina. We take this responsibility seriously and are gratified with the FCC’s decision.”

Evans noted that in the past two years, WCQS has increased staff reporting on regional issues and concerns. “We did this because our listerners asked for it and because we believe that knowing what’s happeing in Cherokee, Franklin, Hendersonville or Burnsville is just as important as knowing what’s happening in Asheville. Clearly, so does the FCC.”

WCQS and its translator stations serve more than 80,000 people in 12 counties, Evans said, adding that it is governed by an 18-member volunteer board of directors, with input from a 20-member Community Advisory Board that reflects the region’s ethnic and cultural diversity.