That work is part of SRG's larger effort to expand the system's delivery capacity. SRG was already at work when the WDCU situation arose. SRG tried to put together a consortium but its attempts faltered because the bidding deadline was too short for stations to deal with their licensees. Though several stations were interested, Thomas said, they lacked the time to develop a plan and deal with institutional or community licensees. One of the key lessons of the UDC matter had to do with timing, says consultant Mark Hand, who is leading SRG's effort to build system delivery capacity.
Licensees often decide to sell quickly and set a short deadline for transactions to be complete.
Public radio folks aren't accustomed to that, he says. Del Lewis, a prominent local businessman before joining NPR several years ago, made the last chance appeal to the city's financial control board. But a source at the board who asked not to be identified suggested the board was not interested in Lewis's arguments. The board will review the sale only to ensure it jibes with the city's financial goals, the source said. The board's statutory authority is limited in looking at the sale.