Criticism of Broward County May Keep Deal With Radio Station

Yesterday I mentioned the case of a potential decision by the Broward County Council to cancel a deal with a local radion station to provide emergency news updates because the station runs the highly rated Rush Limbaugh program.

Behold the power of the internet:

Radio station WIOD likely will remain Broward County's official channel for emergency information despite concerns it is also home to conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

County commissioners said they were deluged with complaints from throughout the country Wednesday after they questioned whether to cut their ties with the station because of their dislike for Limbaugh. By the end of the day, a majority of commissioners vowed to renew WIOD's agreement next week.

snip

Kristin Jacobs and Ilene Lieberman, commissioners who served as mayor during hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, came to the defense of WIOD. They were absent from Tuesday's meeting because they were in Tallahassee talking to state lawmakers about tax reform legislation.

"If your roof gets blown off, do you really care if the radio station that is giving you the information that you need also carries Rush Limbaugh?" Jacobs asked. "I don't think so. I don't agree with that man's philosophy and I don't listen to him, but I'm not going to not choose WIOD because of it."

Why did county staff recommend the radio station--not for political reasons, but because the radion station has a stronger signal and a sister FM station that would also broadcast emergency information.

At least someone in Broward County government is thinking.