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Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980
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1979] UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 245 village of Cicero, near Chicago. This was the first such AM channel to be vacated in a major metropolitan area in many years, and the first A M or F M channel for which the University could apply that would permit service to an appreciable part of the Chicago metropolitan area. While questions of specific funding of construction and of the ultimate broadcast operation did not require immediate answers, the board and the administrative officers have been sensitive to them while the University's application went forward, and such matters have been the subject of continuing discussions among the officers of the Chicago Circle and Medical Center campuses and the general university. Although the University's application is believed to be a strong one, uncertainties and delays in the application process have affected the University's ability to maintain a high-priority commitment to this public service activity. Further, as numerous issues affecting the award of the license have been resolved, one has grown to major significance: stations broadcasting on this and nearby channels are exclusively commercial, and a direct contention between a public broadcaster, the University, and commercial applicants (at least two strong ones in the present instance) over a nominally commercial channel is without precedent. T h e counsel retained by the board has received an offer from certain of the commercial applicants which is the basis for the resolution that follows: I n return for seeking dismissal of its application for this license, the University would be reimbursed for its expenses to date (as determined in accordance with the procedures of the Federal Communications Commission); further, the board would be given a right of first refusal to purchase the interests of the presumably successful applicants for the license should they elect to dispose of it in the future. Settlement would allow early inauguration of commercial service attentive to the special needs of Cicero and nearby communities. In the meantime, the University will continue to explore the feasibility of improving its service to the Chicago region through expanded F M capability and other means. Therefore, the president of the University, with the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, recommends the adoption of the following resolution approving the withdrawal of the University's application and settlement of the matter on the terms indicated. Resolution Whereas, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois previously authorized the preparation, filing, and prosecution of an application for a construction permit for a new standard broadcast noncommercial educational station at Cicero, Illinois; Whereas, in authorizing that application the Board recognized a great need for public radio service in the Chicago area; Whereas, the application made by the Board has been forestalled by similar applications by parties proposing commercial operations and lengthy litigation has ensued, Whereas, the parties to that litigation have proposed a resolution of the pending litigation which will reimburse the Board for its expenses in that litigation, Whereas, the proposed resolution also provides an opportunity for earlier inauguration of commercial service attentive to the special needs of Cicero and nearby neighborhoods, and Whereas, the proposed resolution allows the Trustees to acquire the station if its operation is discontinued, Now, Therefore, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois hereby authorizes its Officers and Counsel to:
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