A recent article on Indymedia discussed the fact that CalAm is underwriting on KUSP. In fact, CalAm recieved a bit more benefit than meets the eye.

Last week, on Talk of the Bay, a CalAm representative was on air, talking about recent complaints in Monterey County that the company has lost more water than it is legally allowed.

This will be no surprise to those who have studied RWE Thames, CalAm's foreign owner. RWE is known around the world for maximizing corporate profit by allowing local water systems to deteriorate. See Public Citizens report at www.citizen.org/documents/RWEProfile.pdf

The CalAm representative on KUSP was given about half an hour to talk about how great his company was, and how it really wasn't their fault that the amount of lost water has increased. Then the phones were opened, where the public was allowed to comment and question, each for a few minutes, with a CalAm response.

To their credit, a Felton resident did call, but I would say that overall the show's host treated the CalAm representative with kid gloves, and that the show failed to provide an appropriate forum for the discussion of the issues, since no one from Monterey County was on the air to discuss the other side of the issue. CalAm always got the last word.

Everyone should call KUSP and DEMAND that underwriters not be treated with special access to the airwaves. Activists might also consider filing a complaint with the FCC on this matter. As a non-profit, public radio station, KUSP's duty is to the community, not its underwriters

Contact KUSP at:
(831) 476-2800
(800) 655-KUSP
(888) 549-6421


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KUSP Radio
P.O. Box 423
Santa Cruz, CA 95061

terryg (at) kusp.org Terry Green, General Manager