Is Hawaii Public Radio threatened?

I love public radio. I was addicted to it in the Bay Area. I'm not quite as enamored with the Public Radio that we get in Hilo; because it is heavy on classical music and short on news, interviews and talk shows. Still all the same, the commercial airwaves contain such slanted propaganda and lack the researched reporting to educate the public to be able to mull over complex questions generally. Public Radio news in the mornings and evenings is my only reliable source for balanced and in-depth reporting on daily news. (We're off-grid and have no access to Cable TV and even broadcast television is limited from our home.) The Hawaii Tribune Herald came out in this last election exclusively endorsing a full Republican slate. They failed to report the Primary Congressional Candidate Forum held at the Palace Theater in Hilo this fall in 2006; and they gave the 2002 President Bill Clinton visit in Hilo a small front page space compared to same day a full two page interview spread for republican Linda Lingle. Therefore, I have concluded that they are unreliable for fairness in political news coverage for reporting the "day-after" news. (I still subsribe to the Trib, I read it daily, and I in fact advertise in the Trib., but I know they leave out a lot of news that I consider essential.) I believe the citizens of Hawaii--especially East Hawaii on the Big Island would be severely harmed if we lost Public Radio news here.

That is why the Dec. 27, 2006 report by Chad Blair concerns me greatly. He is saying that the Automatic Renewal of our Hawaii Public Radio Station is no longer secure. Per a new move by the DCCA, it will now be competing with big commercial radio stations. To me Public Radio access is sacred and should not have to 'compete' on the same playing field with big corporate interests. If you share my concern, I urge you to listen to Chad Blair's report on: www.hawaiipublicradio.org/blair/cb1.htm If you believe as I do, that this is something to be concerned about, I urge you contact your Hawaii government representatives immediately and voice or pen your concerns. We don't want to wait until it is too late.