Despite our repeated attempts to work out a plan that would have allowed "Off The Hook" to air on September 11, it appears that the program has been pre-empted yet again.

"Off The Hook" last aired on August 28. At that time we were told that we were being pre-empted both on September 4th and the 11th for "special programming." The program that aired on the 4th turned out to be nothing more than canned music when the host of the "special" failed to show up. We had been trying to work something out so that our program would air on the 11th, giving us the opportunity to do something special on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks which occurred mere blocks from our studios.

WBAI has scheduled an 11 hour special for that day which will end with a one hour summation scheduled for the precise time of "Off The Hook." We had suggested airing that summation during the 11 pm slot when a rebroadcast of the evening news is usually aired or during ANY other slot since no other program on that day had been subjected to the level of pre-emptions that we had been. As we've gotten no response at all to repeated calls and emails, we're forced to conclude that this won't be considered. Regardless, we are beyond the time period where we would be able to put together the special program we were planning. Ironically, "Off The Hook" appears to be the ONLY program on the entire WBAI schedule that will not air in the first two weeks of September.

This is particularly unfortunate since the events of September 11 have been of great significance to the hacker community and to those who take an interest in developing technology. Hackers have been designated as the third target in the newly redesigned Federal Bureau of Investigation. Only terrorists and spies are ranked as a higher threat to national security. Just today, the Homeland Security advisory system changed from "Yellow" to "Orange." On "Off The Hook," we have been following that system since its inception, waiting for such a moment. Unfortunately, the only time we seem to get to do special programming on such topics is during pledge drives when the subject matter is overshadowed by the need for funds.

We don't wish to second guess programming decisions on WBAI. But to consistently pre-empt our program, especially at such a critical time and not even TRY to work something out where our voices could be heard, tells us that these voices don't seem important to those running things. While other programmers are given multiple hours each week - sometimes each DAY - to focus on the issues that are important to them, we are forced to get by on the one hour a week we've been given. Now it seems that even that small amount of time is in jeopardy. This is unacceptable to us and we know it's unacceptable - and disrespectful - to our listeners. We apologize for your not being able to participate in what would have been a very historic and significant occasion.

As always, we welcome your comments on the show at oth@2600.com.