BY TAMECA JOHNSON
Freelance Writer

30 days. That’s the goal set by those working to return R&B and community talk show programming to the Tampa area.  The group overseeing the mission is hustling around the clock to make it happen.

The Tampa Organization of Black Affairs has spent the past month facilitating talks with potential investors to revive R&B, Classic Soul and community informational programming.

“Our goal is to wrap up in a 30 day window, if it is going to be done,” says James Ransom, spokesperson for TOBA.

WTMP was the area’s R&B leader for 57 years.  Original programming was abruptly brought to a stop five weeks ago when Davidson Media Group took over the lease of the station, along with the call letters, website, FM 96.1 and AM 1150 dials.

Ransom says it appears the quickest and least expensive way to get a format similar to the original WTMP back on the air is to enter into a Lease Management Agreement on another AM dial.  According to Ransom, “It literally takes seven to 10 days to get back on the air once everything is in place.”

Meanwhile, TOBA is still receiving letters of interest from potential investors.  Those letters should be mail to: TOBA – Economic Development Committee, P. O. Box 3485, Tampa, Florida 33601.