Comments from the petition: Page 10

A better option would be to replace SOME of the music programming with talk
programs, but to keep a variety of different types of music programming on the
air. Talk programming all day will be overkill. Intervals of music, including
classic, jazz, soul, folk, rhythm and blues, would stimulate greater
appreciation, and listening, of both the talk and the music.
I have contributed for twenty years primarily to support NRP morning edition,
and classical music, including opera. I am not interested in supporting a
talk-only format, nor do I wish to listen to a classical-music only format on HD
radio. A mix of programming is key. That will also be the best training for
students.

We do not find this high-handed, arbitrary action exciting at all!
Have you polled the listeners who have contributed hundreds of dollars each year
to Classic 89? We will be reassessing our future contributions.
This is shabby treatment of your classical music listeners.

Did the good dean who made this decision ask for any input from classical music
listeners who may be outside the range of the HD broadcast? To receive the new
classical music channel in Lake City, I will have to choose options that will
cost more than my current pledge to WUFT-FM...Hmmmm, where will I get such
money? Ah, I think I know where I can get part of that money.
It will be interesting to see if the pledges to the new format will surpass
those of the music lovers.

As a contributor since WUFT-FM began, and a protester when it added more news
and racket to the original all-classical programming, I deplore the
short-sighted decision to make WUFT just like all the other dumbed-down stations
cluttering the airwaves. No more support from this family!

I address this to Dean Wright & Pres. Machen: What arrogance and stupidity!!
As a higher learning educational university, you want to eliminate a time
honored, time proven higher order of inspiration and educational content for our
public audience!! Talk & "News" all-the-time shows are available in
abundance 24-7 elsewhere. And do we really need more "communication experts" who
are learning how to report on and interview biased, prejudicial & ignorant
human beings by incessantly repeating the same "news content", over & over?
My access is in my car and in my home office. Your alternative of HD
broadcasting is totally unacceptable!!

I want all programming currently on WUFT during the final week of July 2009 to
be the basis of continued programming on WUFT-FM HD1/analog broadcast. Until
such time as it is reestablished, my annual contribution will be reduced
90%-99%. I also intend to write the CPB and other outlets to express my
displeasure at this recent decision devoid of majority membership input and
based solely on "we've got to make changes & and let's let the consultants
tell us what to do". None of the arguments "for" the change as published in the
newspaper make any logical sense when examined closely, several of the facts
stated to support the decision are suspect with other data being ignored and,
taken together, only seem only to be purposed toward an arbitrary decision of UF
and College of Journalism administrators to demolish a major component of
Gainesville's aural personality and sense of place. Of particular note is the
very few letters that have been published in favor of the change --where are
those hordes just clamoring to get on the air and jibber-jabber? Besides many
other arguments that have been made about the drawbacks of HD radio broadcasts,
the bottom line is that no one in the outlying areas will be able to listen to
HD radio on an HD radio as it has limited range. It seems that before UF decided
to change everything, the "experiment" of talk/news programming should have been
tried on the HD channel with all of those who apparently "really want it" having
to fork out the dough for new gadgetry that the rest of us don't want, and with
all of it's manifold drawbacks and other gadgetry one would have to have to
listen to it seemlessly from home to car to work in the current broadcast radius
of North Central Florida from east to west coasts and from Orlando to South
Georgia. I want my UFT and I want it the way it is.

I love this radio station! There are plenty of news-only oriented radio stations
on the AM frequencies, but only one classical station. As a UF student, I listen
to 89.1 when I study and it transforms my environment into a relaxing space. The
variety of programming is also appreciated- the Thistle and Shamrock on Sunday
afternoons is wonderful, as well as the world music programming. The
expectations of the university for a student to spend more money to buy HD radio
equipment is irrational, and spending more money the university does not have to
buy programming the station does not need also defys logic. For the benefit of
our students as well as the community, please reconsider!

I am not against more news programming. I am opposed to the total and complete
removal of classical music programming. I feel betrayed that we were told
during the pledge drive that our contributions would assure the continuation of
those programs we value. Obviously, this did not happen.
Most of my listening is on the radio in my car. I checked on getting an HD
portable radio -- but it would require using a headset -- not a safe option
while driving.

Classic89 is a unique resource which needs to be preserved as a part of
the university's duty to promote education for the state in arts and science.
An educated person should obtain much of his or her culture from scholars in
our universities.
The arguments for removing Classic 89 in its present form are not based on
facts:
1. The drop of the listeners when classic music starts in the morning is not
due totally to a lack of interest more than due to commuters arriving at an office
where the car radio is no longer present.
2. The financial argument is also faulty ... Support from listeners will
decrease drastically and the new programming will cost even more
money.
3. I have participated in fund drives for many years as a member of the civic
chorus in answering telephones for the fund drive. I, and others, will no
longer participate or encourage my friends to donate.
4. The move to digital radio does not interest me. Although the technology has
been available for some time, it has not been readily accepted. The digital radios I
have found on the web for sale are much more expensive than the $75 quoted. I
did find one small portable radio for $50 with questionable quality. Why upgrade to a
supposedly better reception with a poor radio? I would have to buy a new radio
for my car, probably not available for my 1997 Audi and a separate tuner for my
home sound system.
I have been a listener since the beginning of WUFT and feel it is a real shame
to lose this resource.

Surely you have completed significant studies that show your audience approves
the planned WUFT format change away from classical music. I for one will go
elsewhere if classical music is moved from your on-air FM station. I hope your
studies were correct... or your listening and contributing audience will go
elsewhere with me, and there are a lot of choices. Good luck on your next fund
raiser.