[Kzyxtalk] Complain to the FCC -- Or not? (typos corrected

[sako4 at comcast.net]

Indeed, it is the right for any member of the public to petition any regulator that is federal agency. It is the right for any member of the public to petition for a remedy or to make a complaint. That's why some federal agencies are called "regulators" -- they regulate. 

For the record, it's also the right of any member of the public to file a lawsuit. 

In my case, I haven't sued -- yet. I've taken the high road. I petitioned both the FCC and the CPB. 

I petitioned these regulators for a remedy for problems that I, and others, perceived to be seriously wrong at KZYX and that resist remedy at the local level of station governance. 

These problems resist remedy precisely, because KZYX has no true governance. Instead, we have a history of weak Boards of Directors and strong Executive Directors. Business at KZYX is conducted very much like one individual running like a private club -- almost like a king and his court. 

I repeat: KZYX doesn't have a governing Board of Directors. We have a Board that has ceded all control over operations to the General Manager who is also the Executive Director. It's in John Coate's contract --- he is the Executive Director. 

A king and his court. 

If KZYX fails, its failure will be ultimately traced back to this king-and--his-court structure of governance here at KZYX. The king-and-his-court has resulted in the following: 


    * Hidden and suspicious policies (i.e., the decision to purge programmers who speak out, and the decision to not make investments in replacing failing broadcast equipment, and the decision to not disclose staff salaries, and the decision to spend money stipulated for a Ukiah studio on staff salaries instead), 
    * Fraudulently overstated claims (i.e. the claim that Coate is a financial "wizard" who saved the station), 
    * The marginalization of membership (i.e. every roadblock is thrown up to prevent members from communicating among themselves), 
    * The centralization of control (i.e. Mary Aigner has sole control over programming), and 
    * The failure to conduct a formal external management audit that could have brought into laser-like focus a long-building and widespread critique not only of top management but also of a cozy Board of Directors that can be viewed as cheerleaders for a strong-willed chief executive -- a Board willing to approve actions without exercising due diligence. 

By way of a very recent example of what's seriously wrong at KZYX, I have not yet received a ballot. 

My home in Ukiah is the only place I should receive mail from KZYX. Its been my residence since 2000. I've always received mail from KZYX at this address. In fact, I received a fundraising plea from KZYX at my home at the end of 2014. It was during the Christmas season, I think. So, one may surmise KZYX has my correct address. 

I think Dennis O'Brien and Marco McClean may have also not received ballots. 

By virtue of my volunteer status on the Board of Directors, and by virtue of my volunteer status for also producing a biweekly show last year through July, I'm due a ballot, and have this fact confirmed in an email from Stuart Campbell. 

So why no ballot? 

I've complain to the Board of Directors. No response. No response from Stuart Campbell. 

Do I now complain to the FCC and CPB? 

Someone please tell me. 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Doug McKenty" <dougmck at gmail.com> 
To: "kzyxtalk" <kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org> 
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2015 12:32:14 PM 
Subject: [Kzyxtalk] Last nights debate 

Last night was fun and I appreciated the moderation by Lorainne Dechter. I wanted to say that though I answered the question about filing complaints to the FCC in the negative, stating that I believe the station's problems should be resolved in house, I really appreciated Dennis' answer. We all have the right to petition the government when feeling wronged. It is unfortunate that 5 members of our listening audience felt they had to take it to that level. Instead of attacking those who complained, the station should be wondering how and why those people felt the need to go outside its process in the first place. Maybe its because that process isn't working... 

Sent from my iPhone 
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