Two or three months ago, I asked Xpress to look into what was happening at MAIN.
I am grateful to see [the] Nov. 4 item about WPVM–FM [“Lost in Transmission: Amid Heated Controversy, WPVM Charts New Course”].
I have been a longtime subscriber to MAIN/indylink.org, and when I needed to contact tech help or reception, I became concerned about the lack of personnel or funding.
MAIN’s original purpose was to provide inexpensive Internet access to our rural communities.
It seems to me that the radio station, WPVM-FM, has become a distraction and a drain on the original purpose of MAIN. Certainly, founder Wally Bowen’s illness has contributed to this group’s drift from its original purpose.
I can’t really offer any solution, as I am on the outside of this business. I can only hope that those who are leading MAIN today remember the purpose it was founded for.
— Bob Carr
Leicester
Editor’s note: As reported in our Nov. 4 article, “Lost in Transmission: Amid Heated Controversy, WPVM Charts a New Course,” the low-power FM license for WPVM, 103.7 FM, was transferred from MAIN to Friends of WPVM on May 8. As the license holder, Friends of WPVM is now solely responsible for the management and finances of the station.
We apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from our publication of this letter without clarification. The letter does raise other points that may be of interest to readers.
Mr. Carr must be unaware that MAIN’s Board of Directors voted to divest of WPVM over a year ago, and has had little to do in terms of time with the station since MAIN’s Board of Directors voted to divest of the FCC license.
The recent smear campaigns against the station has more to do with competing media outlets fanning the flames of a few disgruntled former participants than anything to do what the reality of what WPVM is about.
Davyne – you’re mistaken, or you are talking out of the other side of your mouth. The “smear campaign” you mention isn’t (and wasn’t) that at all – if anyone is responsible for a smear campaign, it would be you and your legion of followers against people who were holding your feet to the fire over some exceptionally shady behavior. There is proof that YOU are continuing the “smear campaign” even to this day. There is abject proof that you acted outside the bylaws you (and the rightful members of WPVM’s board) set up and agreed to, and to say that a smear campaign was/is going on is a joke. You were legally responsible to act in accordance to those bylaws – and you knowingly contravened the bylaws and strong armed those who dared to speak up. There is video proof. There is written proof. YOU are the one responsible for the smear campaign.
Those allegations of “shady behavior” are just that, allegations, and will be handled legally in due time.
Meantime the accusation in the letter is that MAIN is hindered my WPVM, and that is impossible because WPVM and MAIN are two separate entities. And Mountain Xpress is well aware of this fact. So why is Mountain Xpress editor posting a lte that the editor knows has no basis in fact?
I have not been following the WPVM story as closely as others, and did not realize that the letter writer’s comments were out of date when I posted it.
We’ve just posted an editor’s note to help clarify the situation.
“Leon Kowalski” is a sock puppet.
And Illuminatti_01 is your given name?. And here I’ve been thinking you were Davyne’s sock puppet all this time!
Condolences to Wally Bowen’s family as he passed away today.
It’s worth noting that Wally Bowen vehemently opposed turning over the radio station he created to this new crowd.
It’s worth noting that Bary Summers was vehemently opposed to Mr. Wally Bowen for years. A sudden reversal in sentiment sure looks to have something to do with Barry’s current affiliation with AshevilleFM.
A simple Google search is most revealing.
https://www.google.com/#q=Barry+Summers+%2B+Wally+Bowen+WPVM
A) I am not currently “affiliated” with AshevilleFM. We did our show there for some months, but that ended nearly one year ago.
B) That Wally and I fell out over the future of WPVM six years ago doesn’t alter the fact that he opposed the transfer of the station, going so far as contacting the FCC and trying to stop it. He cited, among other things, that Davyne and crew didn’t represent the “community of interest” that the license was originally issued to serve, the lack of public notice that a transfer was in the works, MAIN’s failure to follow FCC rules, etc.
Honestly, your attempt to discredit me by bringing up my split with Wally, really has the opposite effect. The only thing that he & I agreed on in recent years was opposing this transfer.