The longtime Florida radio and TV host Rob Lorei has died at the age of 70. He was among the founding members of WMNF Community Radio in Tampa, where he worked for over 35 years. He appeared on Democracy Now! a number of times, including in 2009 when we broadcasted Democracy Now! from Tampa.

Rob Lorei: “So, you know, frankly, I wonder about the model of public broadcasting, whether or not relying on those local donations, relying on CPB funding for a small fraction of the funding, whether or not that’s a good model. I often look over at England and look at those licenses that people pay for radio and television, and think, ’Wouldn’t that be a better way to fund broadcasting?’ We wouldn’t have to go hat in hand to Congress every year and ask for a small appropriation.”