JEFF SESSIONS
ALA.BAMA
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0104
November 15, 2012
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Re: Application for Review
Down Horne Broadcasting
DWCOX (AM) Camden, Alabama (FIN: 17480)
File Nos. BR-20120726AFY and BLSTA-201200726AFO
DWYVC (FM) Camden, Alabama (FIN: 17481)
File Nos. BRH-20120726AFR and BLSTA-20120726AFL
Dear Mr. Chairman:
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ARMED SERVICES
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBlIC WORKS
It is my understanding that you recently received an application for review from Down
Horne Broadcasting of Camden, Alabama regarding the renewal of the FCC licenses for WCOX
(AM) and WYVC (FM). These radio stations are important to the community, and I hope that
you and the Commission will give the application for review its due consideration.
Both WCOX and WYVC play an important role in the community, which has suffered
from a weak. economy and chronic high unemployment over the past decade. The stations
provide Camden, a small town in rural Alabama with approximately 2,000 residents, and the
surrounding area with important programming for the rural, and predominately elderly,
community. The town is currently home 10 only one non-commercial station, and the nearest
commercial station is located in Pine Hill, Alabama, approximately 20 miles away. The loss of
these stations will decrease the community's access to local news and programming and may
impact the local economy, currently suffering from an unemployment rate of 17.8 percent.
Having grown up near Camden, I am familiar with these primarily African-American
radio stations that provide many rural residents with their local news and religious programming.
The renewal applications appear to have been delayed due to oversight by counsel. This
situation is particularly unfortunate since Rev. Neolin Craig, the owner of Down Home
Broadcasting, made a significant investment in new equipment for the stations in early 2012. It
is my understanding that Rev. Craig has hired new counsel and submitted an application for
review to renew the licenses and continue operating.
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Page 2
November 13, 2012
I appreciate the Commission's attention to this matter and hope you give Down Home
Broadcasting's application a fair and thoughtful review and, if possible, accelerate the granting
of these station licenses.
Very truly yo rs,
/.rtl:e:s',esslons
United States Senator
cc: Robert M. McDowell, Commissioner
Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner
Ajit Pai, Commissioner
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