“The students have lost their voice,” murmured a disappointed radio student.

WPMD, the Cerritos College radio station was found in violation of the Communications Act and will no longer be running live shows.

The FCC sanctioned WPMD after a member had listened to what was supposed to be a traffic information station and found that there was too much talking and not enough information.

The violation was of the Federal Communications Commission Section 90.242 Amendment to the Communications Act of 1934, which reads:

“Travelers Information Stations shall transmit only noncommercial voice information pertaining to traffic and road conditions, traffic hazard and travel advisories, directions, availability of lodging, rest stops and service stations, and descriptions of local points of interest.”

A show that ran Tuesday afternoon was in violation of that.

The show was sent to the station and was not a student’s work.

Woody Skiba, computer programming, is a student at the station.

He says, “It is not fair, we’ve been on the air broadcasting for four years doing the same thing.”

Skiba doesn’t understand why the FCC cares now.

“Most schools don’t even have one. This was the best community college radio station. Now we’re going to be looping public service announcements.”

John Potter, another radio student says, “It’s nothing personal, but my show is dead.”

“Too many students take the station for granted,” Skiba said. “We need to fight for it. The only reason we even have a web station is because of the am.”

The am was a good way for students to get experience, Skiba explained. Experience is crucial to finding good internships after college.

“Before we could tell them, ‘I’ve been on the air for two years.’ We don’t have that anymore.”

Skiba drives to the essence to the program: “That is what is was all about. You left and you weren’t afraid to be on the air. You learned to do your shows. You learned what you need to do to be a professional.”

Across the office sounds of discontent can be heard over the prospect of looping public service announcements for WPMD’s content.

“It’s boring, no one listens to this,” Skiba says. “It’s like people are hungry and the march of dimes… well we need the march of WPMD.”

Changes in curriculum and how credit will be distributed have not been announced yet.

The web station is not yet slated for changes.