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Pai Plans Harvey Visit; Radio Fundraising Rolls

Chairman is adjusting Texas trip plans

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai is planning to inspect damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and to meet with people involved in recovery efforts.

He was already scheduled to be in Texas next week for the Radio Show in Austin. Now he has another purpose for the trip. Revised travel plans are being arranged. “Working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, the FCC will do everything it can to help restore communications services after this terrible storm,” Pai said in a statement. 

More items from around the world of radio in response to Harvey:

In Houston, Cumulus Media 104.1 KRBE Program Director Leslie Whittle described a city entering the recovery phase, in a press release from the company. Whittle was quoted: “The whole crew is at the station, so Kevin Quinn, Freddy Cruz, Corinna Delgado and Phoenix (who have all been on the air since Sunday morning), are finally able to get some rest.” Whittle said one of the station’s services was to provide road closure and high water updates at least twice an hour.

Scripps Media in Springfield, Mo., said its stations raised about $7,100 collecting donations for Convoy of Hope.

Fundraisers around the country continue.

In Birmingham, Ala., station106.9 The Eagle WBPT announced a Pay to Play on-air donation drive for late today, Wednesday, soliciting listeners to call to make a $25 minimum donation along with a request; the effort benefits the American Red Cross and is 100% tax deductible. ”No matter the request or genre, if the station can find the songs, they will play the music,” according to the announcement.

Scripps Media in Springfield, Mo., said its stations raised about $7,100 collecting donations for Convoy of Hope, as described in our coverage yesterday. The station team is seen in the accompanying photo.

In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia’s “Bobby Bones Show” kicked off its annual Joy Week celebration; in the first two days it raised $150,000 to benefit the Harvey relief effort in Texas through the sale of #PimpinJoy apparel, as well as $50,000 benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Maren Morris, shown, kicked off the week-long benefit. “Country stars join the show cast in encouraging listeners to choose joy, spread happiness and do good things for others.”

Maren Morris

#PimpinJoy was created by the show “to celebrate people who may be going through a rough time, but choose to spread joy in their daily lives.”

Meanwhile, as of Tuesday midday, the FCC said seven radio stations were off the air due to the storm, down from nine the day before, though some stations were added and others removed from the list. We’ll update the number as new information becomes available.

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