AM 1280  KPRV FM 92.5
COLEMAN BROADCASTING SERVICE
P.O. Box 368
Poteau, Oklahoma 74953
(918) 647-3221

April 27, 1998

Federal Communications Commission

Washington D.C 20554

RE: RM-9208 and  RM-9242

Dear Sir or Madam:

This correspondence is in reference to the proposed low-power pirate radio stations.

I realize that the deadline for this correspondence may have past. I did not notice the proposed action until this morning. But here goes anyway.

We are in a small community which has been served by our AM Station since 1953. Our FM has been on the air since 1989. We have served the needs of our community with free time to anyone and all organizations that have a legitimate statement to make or cause to promote. This has been done in the shadow of 32 other broadcast channels coming into our area. Needless to say it has been difficult financially to keep things going considering that there are so many stations in our neighboring town who try to find revenues to keep themselves alive. A non-profit religious station was allowed in our city at a higher power than our station and have effectively taken away our ability to sell religious programming because people can listen to them without having to hear commercials.

While we have no pirate stations on the air at present, I believe it would be a mistake to allow this to happen. Naturally, I am selfish in the matter. But, after you pay the bills there is little left. I'm afraid that if the listenership is divides up much more our advertising will become ineffective and revenues will drop below the level required to sustain us.

Until now we have been able to donate one full day every year to the local Kiwanis Club to raise an average of $3500.00 per year which goes to finance community projects for children of all classes, races, gender, etc. One day per year for a neighboring town to raise one the average of $2500.00 to finance the same kind of services in their town. One day a year for the Poteau Noon Lyons Club to raise an average of $3000.00 per year for service to the elderly and to finance their "white cane" and eyeglass project for the blind. We ourselves are Native American and do promote Native American projects in our area.

There are many other minor projects which find us and use our facilities to promote themselves.
 
I don't ask for protection against competition in the marketplace. If; however, there are so many outlets, you take away the audience and effectively take away revenue.

1 thank you for taking time to read this.
 

Sincerely,

LeRoy Billy