The Gantt Report - Protests are flying at the Federal Communications Commission about the lack of ownership by Blacks and women of American radio and television stations.

“Women and people of color have been left off the dial because the FCC has pursued policies that are far off the mark,” according to FCC Commissioner Johnathan Adelstein. “It is our legal and moral obligation to promote diversity in the public airwaves. But as a landmark report shows, misguided policies have concentrated radio station ownership in a few hands and denied two-thirds of the American people an opportunity to serve the needs of their communities. The Commission needs to thoroughly study this report and develop a comprehensive strategy to remedy this injustice.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, says, “All day, all night, all white, clearly does not represent the diversity of American culture. When people of color own just 7.7 percent of radio stations but make up 33 percent of the population, we see how poor public policy decisions continue to lock more of the ‘Rainbow’ out of opportunities.

To me, if public policy decisions are the “locks” that keep Blacks out of broadcasting, what is the key that will open more broadcasting doors for us?

I don’t see any problems with Black broadcast ownership that money can’t solve. Difficulty in obtaining working capital and the intelligence to use money properly is far more damaging to Black broadcasters than the FCC.

What do I know about this issue? I know a little.

I once owned a construction permit to build a radio station in Tallahassee.

Someone wanted the station more than I did so I sold the construction permit for a quarter of a million dollars.

Many African-Americans feel all they have to do is get a license to broadcast and white folks, and Blacks, will just flood their office with dollars.

Not so fast my friends, everybody is not like African-American female Cathy Hughes, who had an extensive media career before she became a broadcast facility owner. Many Black people owning and operating radio and television stations in 2007 are doctors, lawyers and other inexperienced media owners that don’t have a clue about how to generate revenue in broadcasting.

Attorney Willie Gary, boxer Evander Holifield and their partners have more money than I’ll ever see but they still couldn’t keep their minority-owned television network from being sold.

The problem with Blacks in broadcasting is an example of business problems throughout the Black community.

Blacks who have a little money think Blacks that can’t inherit or access capital don’t know a damn thing!

It’s easy for white folks that have money to seek out and hire people that have the knowledge and talent to make more money. Bill Gates doesn’t design every piece of Microsoft Hardware; he has employees that design most things for him. George Steinbrenner has money but he has sense to go out and hire people to manage his sports teams and his Yankee TV network.

Many Blacks that own broadcast facilities made bad business decisions, failed to generate community support and let their egos get in the way of their businesses.

When I stumble or fail at a business endeavor, I blame myself first. Yes, I had to sell my radio station construction permit but I didn’t blame what happened on the FCC. I made a dumb move designed to get rid of my non-Black partners and to obtain sole radio station ownership.

If you don’t know how to generate advertising and community support, don’t be too vain to seek help from people with media wisdom.

Blame game all you want but some radio and TV stations are making a lot of money.

Broadcast curiosity killed the cat! (Gantt’s new book “Beast Too: Dead Man Writing” is coming soon. Contact Lucius at www.allworldconsultants.net)