PROVIDENCE, RI - In response to a press release issued Friday by Rhode
Island Public Radio (RIPR) regarding the future of Latino Public Radio
(LPR), Reynaldo Almonte, CEO, President and General Manager of LPR is
invoking The Public Radio Conversions Act in an effort to save the
station’s signal at 1290 AM.
The Public Radio Conversions Act, enacted in Rhode Island in 2005, prevents
the sale of a nonprofit public radio to a private, for-profit or commercial
organization. In 2008, RIPR used the Act to prevent Boston University’s
WBUR Group from selling its signal.
Almonte also wants to set the record straight about the failed negotiations
to secure the station which has been a valuable community resource for 22
years.
“We are disappointed with Rhode Island Public Radio’s decision to end
negotiations that would have enabled Latino Public Radio to continue
broadcasting on 1290 AM for the foreseeable future,” Almonte said.
“We were prepared to enter a 10-year financing agreement with Rhode Island
Public Radio to purchase 1290 AM. The decision by Rhode Island Public Radio
to sell the station instead of finalize the agreement is a blow for the
Latino community who relies on us for news and public service
announcements,” Almonte continued. “Rhode Island Public Radio refused to
negotiate with me directly to pursue a mutually beneficial agreement to
save the station for the Latino community.”
LPR is a lifeline for much of Rhode Island’s large Spanish-speaking Latino
community. As a nonprofit organization, raising money has been a challenge
for the station due in part to the economic realities faced by many in the
community it serves. LPR counted on RIPR as a faithful partner with the
shared mission to serve the public with information free from commercial
advertising and corporate influence.
While LPR will continue to broadcast on the internet, losing 1290 AM will
severely hamper the station’s ability to reach the community. Almonte
firmly believes that good faith discussions between LPR and RIPR would
result in a mutually beneficial agreement to keep the station on the air
and satisfy its financial needs through a reasonably negotiated financing
plan.
