Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, today called on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate threatening comments made on a radio program in Philadelphia during a phone conversation with a call center operator in India. The New Jersey congressman made the request in a formal letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell.

The incident occurred last month when two morning "shock jock" radio hosts at WUSL-FM Power 99 in Philadelphia, PA phoned a corporate call center in India. The conversation included offensive, racist comments and a threat to "choke" the call center operator.

"I am appalled by this confrontation that took place on the radio and moreover, I am particularly disturbed that a woman from India was the unfortunate victim," Pallone wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Powell. "Examples of the incident that took place only serve to undermine efforts to maintain strong relations between the United States and India and to perpetuate racism and hate against a community that has only strengthened the backbone of and added to the success of our nation."

In the letter, Pallone expressed his support for a claim filed by the Indian American community and urged the FCC to take immediate action.

"The Indian-American community in the United States is outraged by this incident and has filed a legal complaint with your agency," Pallone wrote. "I support this complaint and respectfully urge you to review the situation immediately and enact appropriate penalties and related punitive measures against WUSL-FM."