[Mpls] RE: Should the Mpls Schools be operating a radiostation?

[WJKAHN at aol.com]

      I actually listen to KBEM quite a bit. When I'm not otherwise occupied, 
I'll listen to the "Bluegrass Saturday Morning Show," because it is about the 
only way to hear this sort of music on a regular basis. I listen to the usual 
jazz formats as well. What I do not hear, except on the rare occasion that I 
have the station tuned in post-rush hour, is students or student produced 
programs. I'll admit that my attention to KBEM is sporadic, but it seems to me 
that MPS has always under utilized this educational resource. I guess I'll have 
to fork over some dough to them now.
      With existing technology--existing within MPS--I believe that this 
station can be retooled to benefit far more students in the district than it has 
in its history without tapping out the limited MPS resources available. Add to 
the existing partnerships with business and nonprofit groups in the 
geographical broadcast area and you can exceed what potential exists today, I hope.
      Keep in mind this is coming from an old mechanic; I never throw out a 
tool unless it is broken beyond repair or beyond redesign to another 
purpose--it is the kind of industry that Homo sapiens sapiens evolved to do and what our 
culture has derailed in favor of wasting both opportunity and resource for a 
bizarre and abstract notion of "the bottom line." We've all got to start 
thinking in the long term and value sustainability over generations for millennia 
to come. Holding on to KBEM is a good first step in learning to use everything 
we've got until it is unusable.
     As far as the KBEM metro traffic report contract with MNDOT, we have yet 
to hear how MNDOT will insure that Metro drivers will get reliable updates 
over their radios except for what other public and commercial stations happen to 
dole out for free as a neighbor points out in a recent Star Tribune letter. 
Are we all supposed to get cellphones, dial 511, and spin off the road in 
distraction? It seems that such updates are thought unnecessary. We're about to 
start this years legislative session, and I hope this topic gets some discussion. 
Given the anti-Minneapolis bias in the House, perhaps the sale and 
relicensure of KBEM or another station to a broader group of education concerns with 
direction and input from MNDOT, MN Department of Education, and the Metropoliton 
Council as a resource for a greater number of state school districts should be 
considered. Or, in our time of controversy over Federal Communications 
Commission regulation of the air waves, it is time for Minnesota to clearly define 
what is required of stations to serve the public good instead of leaving it up 
to the whims of station owners and managment. The air is ours and our public 
needs count. If we can't get information vital for the good of society when and 
where we need to have it, our democracy doesn't count for much. As usual our 
legislature and state bureacracies have much to define, discuss, and perhaps 
do something about this issue. From MNDOT plans it appears that after the KBEM 
contract expires in March, Twin Cities traffic information on the radio is 
something with which they will no longer concern themselves. Kudos to Governor 
Pawlenty and his MNDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau for this happy state of 
affairs; I'm as certain as they are that the market will will provide us what traffic 
information that we need when we need it on the radio. They made the right 
decision, right? ......Right.

Bill Kahn
Prospect Park