Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch today said he has approved -- with conditions -- the sale of radio station WRNI 1290 AM by Boston University's trustees to the non-profit Rhode Island Public Radio.

Rhode Island Public Radio succeeded the Foundation for Ocean State Public Radio, which was formed in 1997 to set up a public radio station. The foundation worked with Boston University through the WBUR Group to create WRNI 1290 AM as a public radio station in Rhode Island.

The foundation and the university agreed to sell for $2 million the license, "tangible property," contracts, station records, and "real property" to Rhode Island Public Radio, a price "significantly below" WRNI's appraised value, Lynch's office said in news release this afternoon.

Lynch said the sale is subject to:

* The WRNI Foundation obtaining Superior Court approval of what's called a cy pres petition for the proposed sale of WRNI and provides notice of the cy pres petition to the Attorney General.

* Rhode Island Public Radio establishing written criteria for the qualifications of board directors that meet the intent of the Public Radio Conversion Act.

* Rhode Island Public Radio annually and periodcially training board members about their fiduciary duties.

* WRNI setting up a community advisory council to provide advice to Rhode Island Public Radio about community needs and programming.

* Boston University, the WRNI Foundation and Rhode Island Public Radio meeting all obligations subject to a reimbursement agreement with the attorney general's office.

The attorney general's office reviewed the then-proposed sale in 2007, in accordance with Public Radio Conversions Act requirements and the attorney general's civil-law responsibilities to "preserve and protect charitable assets" in the state.

"The law says that we must find that the sale constitutes a community benefit, or else we shouldn't approve it," Lynch said in a statement announcing the approval. "Although on a common-sense level I've always known and appreciated WRNI's many benefits to Rhode Island, I'm very happy to say that after having looked into this matter exhaustively and checked all the boxes that the law requires, our answer is absolutely 'Yes, this is great for Rhode Island.' "

In 2004, Lynch asked Boston University to stop the sale until his office's concerns and those of WRNI's major contributors were addressed. Lynch closed his inquiry in November 2006, saying the university met its pledge to hire a full-time general manager for the Rhode Island station, to "re-engage with a local public radio advisory board," and to carry out "consistent allocation of Rhode Island charitable donations to WRNI," today's news release states.

"All documentation and evidence point to the sale as a vital factor in ensuring the success of public radio in our state," he said. "The sale supports and promotes an expansion of local programming -- in news, the arts, and culture -- on Rhode Island's only non-commercial radio station, while WBUR will continue to provide content from National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

 Tags  attorney general Boston University Patrick C. Lynch sale

Comments

dave from ashaway said:

I'm more right winged, but the public radio station here is actually not bad, not as left as I would have thought. Additionally, with an FM feed on 102.7, it makes its way to Washington county.

Link | September 27, 2008 7:42 AM
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