Hip-hop music commandeers Fayette subdivision's electronics

TYRONE - Residents of a Fayette County subdivision near Tyrone have all joined the listening audience for an Atlanta hip-hop radio station against their wishes. <br> <br> Radio frequency interference has caused the newly upgraded signal of WHTA-FM (Hot 107.9) to infiltrate televisions, telephones, answering machines, stereos, computers, CD players and radios in the Gaelic Glen subdivision. <br> <br> The signal originates from a transmission tower erected a few years ago next to the subdivision. When the station changed FM positions from 97.5 to 107.9, it started sending its more powerful signal from the tower. <br> <br> At some houses, the radio station is a whisper in the background of a telephone conversation. But at others, the beat of rap music drowns out the television and has caused some outrage over the lyrical content of many songs. <br> <br> ``When my daughter comes downstairs and says, `Daddy, I heard some words I don&#39;t think I should be hearing,&#39; that&#39;s when I get irate,&#39;&#39; said resident Wes Wilkinson, who plans to circulate a petition and ask local politicians for help. <br> <br> Ken Weinhardt, who lives in the subdivision with his wife and two children, said he became angry one night when he turned on a religious CD to help the kids sleep. The CD player, he said, produced a mix of soothing music and ``obscene rap.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Residents are hoping the station will use a different broadcast tower. <br> <br> ``It has been a pain,&#39;&#39; resident Angie Fruen said. ``We can&#39;t use two of our TVs because the signal comes in so strong.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Some teachers at Burch Elementary and Flat Rock Middle schools said they also receive the signal. Students are sometimes kept away from computers so they won&#39;t hear lyrics their parents might consider offensive. <br> <br> Wayne K. Brown, vice president for Radio One Broadcasting and the station&#39;s owner, said he is working with residents to fix the problem. The company has been sending technicians to install free filters on electronic devices. <br> <br> Brown said the company that owns the tower wants to raise the antenna height, which could solve the problem. But the tower is already 500 feet - the maximum height allowed by county commissioners.

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