Nationally, high school and college stations are coming under attack from commercial operations that want to spread the scope of their audience.

Recently, Collegiate Broadcasters Inc. reported that numerous stations were losing broadcasting rights because of FCC rules that state that any station broadcasting fewer than 12 hours a day could be forced to share its frequency if a nearby station owner files a challenge to the license.

The rule has exceptions for school radio stations — “stations licensed to educational institutions are not required to operate on Saturday or Sunday or to observe the minimum operating requirements during those days designated on the official school calendar as vacation or recess periods.”

During the academic year, WUTM 90.3 FM, “The Hawk” broadcasts from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, but falls silent on the weekends. The station does not broadcast, except for special circumstances, during the summer or breaks.

While we aren’t legal analysts, we certainly don’t want to share our frequency with another station. We call on the management of WUTM to look into this important issue, and safeguard our loaned airwaves.

If nothing else, we find it very frustrating to sit down in our cars and turn on the radio to realize that the station on your preset has fallen silent, or picks up the faint signal from a gospel station.

We suggest that WUTM consider broadcasting a feed from a local National Public Radio affiliate during the evening hours and during the breaks.

If there is one thing missing from the radio dial, it is quality news and information. Sure, our local radio stations have morning shows, but students seldom give two thoughts to what the Union City board voted on last night. We want to hear national news, sports and weather.