Two Indian American attorneys have demanded an “on air” apology from Clear Channel Communications, owner of Power 99 (WUSL-FM) in Philadelphia where a morning show host berated an Indian call center operator with “racist” obscenities on Dec. 15, 2004.

The attorneys, Reema Desai and Sneha Desai, have sent a petition and letter to Mark P. Mays, president and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, and three others, saying although Power 99 issued a three-line apology on its Website, the parent company has not issued any kind of statement “to satisfy listeners of its radio stations that this kind of racist and hateful behavior will not be tolerated.”

Star, one of the two hosts Star and Buc Wild, known as “shock jocks,” called an Indian call center on Dec. 15, ostensibly about a product order, and then went on to call her a “bitch,” “dirty rat-eater,” “filthy rat-eater” and also threatened to “choke the eff out of her.”

The call sparked widespread revulsion among not just South Asian Americans but most mainstream Americans. Power 99 was forced to put a three-line apology that read “Star & Buc Wild Prides itself on being on the edge. On Dec. 15 we crossed.” Other than that neither Star himself nor Power 99 or its parent company has issued any apology.

The petition, signed by 1,500 “outraged” listeners, said in the past too, Clear Channel employees had used racist language against African Americans and Hispanics, leading to the indefinite suspension of a show host. However, in the case of Star and Buc Wild the action has been rather tame.

“What action did Clear Channel take against Star and Buc Wild for their incredibly offensive racist comments against Indians? The answer seems to be a resounding and unfortunate Nothing.”

“Let us remind you that Indian Americans, along with all other South Asian Americans, are highly motivated, successful and vocal as a group,” the petition said and pointed out that Asian Americans with a total income exceeding $100 billion a year constitute significant economic influence.

“As a group, we will gladly use all of our resources, particularly our financial resources, to bring about justice and to support your (your sponsors’) competitors if need be,” it said.

“We are now awaiting a response from Clear Channel. We want an on-air apology from Clear Channel. If that does not come through we will take the next step,” Reema Desai told News India-Times.

She said they planned to coordinate with other organizations to decide what that next step would be. Desai said they have also written to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that lays down and enforces the guidelines that govern broadcast content, both on radio and television. She said while the station had a clear policy about limits on sexual content, it did not seem to have focused on possible racist broadcasts.

The petition’s copies have also been sent to corporations such as T-Mobile, McDonald’s, Nissan North America Inc. Verizon Inc and Toyota Motor North America, Inc who advertise on the radio stations owned by Clear Channel. Desai said they had not yet thought of calling for a boycott of the station by advertisers but that could be an action the two might contemplate as well.