1/13/25 – The FCC Media Bureau has a new chief, Rosemary Howard. One of her first acts was to put Cobra Broadcasting, LLC, Licensee of KBRA(FM), Freer, TX on notice that they must pay $7,553.84 in regulatory fees dating back to 2014 or lose their license. 

1/8/25 – The FCC EB continues to focus on EAS violations, assessing an NALF for $369, 190 against KCWX(TV) in Fredriksberg, TX.  The station filed to properly run the NPT in 2018, 2019, and 2021, filing incorrect or misleading information on the ETRS. 

The station claimed the staff did not know how to do it correctly – and, surprise! – the FCC did not accept the excuse.

1/3/25 – During a wildfire in 2021, Jason Frawley, a ham operator, used the US Forest Service VHF frequency to make six transmissions. Frawley claims they were in good faith, but the FCC issued a Forfeit Order for $34k, saying his transmissions put the fire fighters and public safety in danger. 

1/2/25 – In the past couple of weeks, the efforts agains pirate broadcasting have produced more than a half dozen letters sent to landowners in MA, OH, and CT, warning them about fines for having pirates on their property.

At the same time, pirates were directly attacked and assessed fines of $40k to $60k .

12/27/24 – The FCC EB has settled with Paramount Global for misuse of EAS tones. The Consent Decree and Order for $244,952 and the implementation of a compliance program relates to three broadcasts in 2023 and 2024, with Paramount Global admitting to two of the occasions and some facts relating to the third.

12/19/24 – 1.1151 – The FCC has put another station on notice that it must pay its regulatory fees or lose its license. The Order to Pay or Show Cause was issued to  KIJN(AM) in Farwell, Texas has not paid since 2013 and owes the FCC a total of $27,492.48, plus interest.

12/17/24 – The FCC EB has settled with KHQ Inc, for failures to file forms on time for its three TV stations. The Consent Decree and Order for $29k covers both the late and missing files, as well as the indication on the last License Renewal that all such forms were loaded on time. 

The stations have corrected the issues and the FCC has closed the matter.

12/11/24 – The FCC continues to issue fines to pirate operators. This time, three from Boston were tagged, with a total of $200k in fines.

11/22/24 – 2.911 – When you supply information to the FCC, they expect it to be correct and honest. That does not seem like a lot, but some folks do not seem to feel it is important. Eken, a company that makes doorbell cameras and other home devices, has netted an NALF for $734,872  for failing to respond to the Commission inquiries and apparently listing as it address a place where  no one existed, nor could the field agents locate any company headquarters or executive. While not particularly broadcast oriented, the principle and the FCC’s readiness to fine makes it a good example of which to take note. 

11/12/24 – 73.1745 – When a CP is completed, a station is required to seek authorization to commence normal operations. Failure to do so  normally results in a $3500 fine. 

WEYW-LP, Key West, FL filed for the License to Cover two and a half years later, essentially operating without a license. The NALF was for $6500, in respect to the verrrry late filing. 

10/17/24 – 11.45 – The FCC continues to respond more and more strongly to the misuse of EAS tones. 

A Public Notice recounts a total of six promotional spots run on ESPN networks in October 20-24, 2023. The network  eventually admitted the violation, not having reported it as soon as it knew about it. That, combined with two previous EAS violations by ESPN brought the FCC to an NALF of $146,976.

10/15/24 – 73.3527 – All full power stations are required to upload the Issues & Programs files on time. Being non-commercial does not give those stations a pass.  KALO, Honolulu, HI received an NALF for $20k, based on filing over 20 lists late, about half of them more than a year late. The managers either did not know there was a deadline or did not knoe of the requirement at all. 

9/24/24 – It may take some time, but the EB is clearly taking notice of stations that have not paid their regulatory fees. In addition to holding up any applications, stations may well lose their licenses.

This time it is WKMB(AM), Stirling, New Jersey that was discovered not to have paid over $32k in fees over the last 14 years. The Order To Pay or Show Cause notes that the FCC took the demand back from the Treaury Department, so they could use the license deletion option if the station fails to respond. 

If you like to stay in the know – the BDR Newsletter is a weekly reminder of what is going on.
The one-time-a-week newsletter is available here. 

9/12/24 – Now that the EB is getting more and more familiar with the Online Public Information File  (OPIF) contents, it is becoming more common to see license renewal applications held up when the requirements of 73.3526 are not being met. Most recently, KCHQ(FM) Soda Springs, Idaho and  KJNT(AM) Jackson, Wyoming received notices that they had to respond to issues with their OPIFs

9/10/24 – We nave noted a couple of times that stations need to be where the FCC expects to see them. A few feet is one thing, but an NOV issued to WRHB-LP Mifflinville, PA notes the  station’s antenna operating from coordinates located approximately 5.5 miles from the location authorized by the station’s FCC license, and approximately 0.9 miles from the location authorized by the Construction.

The station is supposed to explain this one – but recent decisions might even delete this station as being “off” for over a year. 
Permit. 

really wants to know who controls a station – and expects to be notified of changes so they can approve.

Mountain Lakes broadcasting in Arkansas and Missouri had two changes of ownership when two principles died and the license was transferred from one trust on another to a third person. This was in 2020 nad 2021.

The FCC’s ORDER, concluded the matter with an $8k fine. 

8/27/24 – The FCC really wants to know who controls a station – and expects to be notified of changes so they can approve.

Mountain Lakes broadcasting in Arkansas and Missouri had two changes of ownership when two principles died and the license was transferred from one trust on another to a third person. This was in 2020 nad 2021.

The FCC’s ORDER, concluded the matter with an $8k fine. 

8/27/24 – KBDA, Freer, TX,  was three months late in filing for renewal in 2021. The usual fine, $3k, was issued by the NALF.

8/11/24 – It might take some time, but the FCC generally gets around to ensuring stations pay their regulatory fees.

A pair of stations in Mississippi ran up an unpaid total of some $18,887.29 since 2015, with more interest and penalty fees accruing. 

So it is that WAGR-FM, Lexington, MS and WXTN(AM), Benton, MS received the Order To Pay Or To Show Cause, with the potential loss of licenses, if they do not act promptly.

8/9/24 – 73.1216 The FCC expects contests to be conducted as advertised. Stations – and groups – should announce winners and award prizes as promised.

Audacy has been issued an NALF related to a  contest held in March and April 2021. Despite several excuses – inluding blaming errors on an employee –  the EB found the company liable and assessed a fine of $14k (much less than the $612k possible). 

7/29/24 – When you are late, it is not good. When you are four years late, the FCC pretty much certainly will issue fines.

Carolina University’s W234CZ, Chattanooga, TN and Marion R. Williams’ W288DU, Canton, MI, each drew a $6500 find for not turning in their renewal applications on time – and still operating, as pirates. 

7/11/24 – Each quarter, most stations are required to report – on the OPIF – the latest file of Issues and Programs.  A problem comes up when a network of stations, such as the Mississippi Authority for Public TV – eight stations. 

In the last renewal cycle, a number of I&P files were loaded late, some over a year. However, the FCC did note that since all the stations were “linked” in this regard, they settled for a fine of only $5625

7/9/24 – The FCC is getting more and more unforgiving of excuses, even for NCE stations. KFTS, Klamath Falls, OR; and KSYS,  Medford, OR. received an Order for $16.500 for failue to post the Issue & Programs lists on time. The stations claimed it was “employee errors.” The FCC responded that  “employee acts or omissions” were not acceptable – the Licensee is responsible.

7/2/24 – The FCC has made it clear they expect regulatory fees to be paid. The recent $25k fine to WJUP-LP is not the only such case. WEKC-AM in Williamsburg, KY is now DWKEC (see 2/7/23 below), despite several petitions for reconsideration. And now, KVOZ(AM), Del Mar Hills, Texas has been issued an Order To Pay Or Show Cause due to not paying $3300 in regulatory fees. License cancellation is a definite possibility. 

Also, WHOD(FM), Jackson, Alabama and WBMH(FM), Grove Hill, Alabama received an Order To Pay Or Show Cause, due to some $12k of unpaid regulatory fees. The stations are directed to pay up or potentially be stripped of their licenses.  

6/18/24 – It is among the worst things a station can do; ignore the Rules and/or refuse to cooperate when an Agent calls to inspect a station. This was the base for the Enforcement Bureau confirming an NALF fine for $25,000 against WJUP-LP an LPFM station in  Jupiter, Florida.

6/16/24 – While the current series of applications being rejected are mostly for LPFM stations, the FCC has been very specific about the accuracy of information on applications, and has refused to reinstate several applications rejected for typos and other errors. 

6/18/24 – 11.11(a), 73.840, 73.845, and 73.878(a) – It is among the worst things a station can do; ignore the Rules and/or refuse to cooperate when an Agent calls to inspect a station. This was the base for the Enforcement Bureau confirming an Memorandum and Order for $25,000 against an LPFM station in Florida. The station admitted a number of violations, including unauthorized operations, lack of an EAS receiver, and failure to make the station available for inspection. Four years later, after seeking a reduction, the station again failed to cooperate with field agents. The EB was not amused and confirmed the fine assessed in 2020.

5/9/24 – The FCC is usually pretty helpful when stations have trouble or otherwise find themselves needed to operate “at variance.” However, the STAs are not permanent. Radio Hogar’s KASA in Phoenix ended up on a longwire due to a property sale. They went on STA, even at a lower power than usual. 

But, five years after, they were still on the “temporary” longwire antenna … and failed to renew the STA. The FCC considers the station no longer authorized and after a year, the license is cancelled. 

4/23/24 – 73.503, 73.1212– Non-Commercial stations are prohibited from commercial messages, expecially those with “action” words, WBAI, New York received a $25k fins, a two-year license, and more in the Consent Decree in an Order affecting all Pacifica Foundation stations. 

4/12/24 – 73.1216 – When stations run contests, they are expected to obey their own rules, as published. KXOL, Los Angeles ran a contest in October 2019, and failed to deliver a $396 prize – and 97 others – within 30 days as promised. In fact, the prizes were not fully delivered until  May 2021.

The station admitted the delay, but claimed it was due to the pandemic and a hacking incident. The Commission noted the stated delays came after the promised prize distribution date and issued an  increased NALF for $8k. 

4/10/24 – 1.17, 73.1635,  73.1745 – We see another station that decided on its own how to operate in recovering from some damage. An STA was originlly obtained, but then the station operated at variance for 6-8 years without further authorization. The Commission ordered Shelby Broadcast Associated of Tarrant, AL, operator of W2352BE to pay $10,000.

The station claimed economic hardship,  butt the FCC noted the stations was in the process of being sold, and issued a Forfeiture Order for $16,500.

4/2/24 – It is fairly well-known that the FCC takes its role in policing station owners’ reputations seriously – especially when it becomes aware of a felony conviction. Roger Wahl, owner of WQZS(FM), Meyersdale, PA was convicted in November 2020, and when the FCC became awamre, it revoked the station’s license. 

Despite appeals and attempts to explain, in a Review on Order,  the Commission held firm and confirmed the revocation. 

3/26/24 – 73.3539 – The FCC grants a lot of leeway to LPFMs, acknowledging their makeup and operational challenges. However, even LPFMs need  to file applications on time. The Mendocino Environmental Center’s KMEC-LP in Ukiah CA received an Order acknowledging the financial hardship and admonishing them for a late renewal, and cancelling the potential – this time.

3/15/24 – 73.1015, 73.1350,  73.1635, 73.1740, 73.1745, and 72.3540 – Southern Media Interactive LLC in Bruswick, GA has has a difficult time. Silent periods, operating from unauthorized locations, unauthorized transfer of control, failure to operate, failure to respond fully to an NOI or provide logs and other ducumentation, and more brought an NALF for $16.2k, reduced from a possible $30k. 

3/11/24 – A failure of “administrative oversight” is not an acceptable reason for turning in a “License to Cover” about two years after the Construction Permit expired … and four years after construction was actually completed. 

The FCC noted that Word of God Fellowship’s KUMO-LD, St. Louis, Missouri could have been fined $26k for up to six years of unauthorized opertation, but the NALF cut it to $9,500 in light of the station’s situation.  The discussion is here. 

1/25/24 – The FCC has issued a report on the status of its efforts to increase personnel and specialized equipment in order to locate more illegal radio broadcasters, finding the properties where they originate and warning property owners under the PIRATE Act (Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement). The EB has identified a number of illegal stations, some operating for years

The FCC’s  efforts under The PIRATE Act to locate and city pirate broadcasters recently swept in the area around Miami, Florida, where more warnings to landlords of fines of over $2 million were issued.  Five personal citations (totaling over $3.5 million) were issued to operators who were said to have been broadcasting for years without a license. Most eye-popping: the maximum – $2,391,097 – issued to Fabrice Polynice, who had been cited at least twice before in the past 10 years.

1/19/24 – Section 312 – Not every station can operate from a tree. But it is possible. On the other hand, “moving to an adjacent tree” without permission – coupled with some long spans of being silen – brought an “D” to KQCF(FM), Chiloquin OR,  now DKQCF(FM).

1/18/24 – 73.1212, 73.1943 – In one of the largest fines levelled at a broadcsat company, the FCC issued a Consent Decree with Townsquare Media for $500k. The issue had to do with a pair of Idaho stations (KLIX and KIDO) the Commission was investigating regarding on-air sponsor identification and the Political File uploads required by the Rules. The Consent Decree closes the case. 

1/16/24 – The US Court of Appeals denied the petition from WEKC to reinstate the license deleted last February (2/7/23, below). 

1/16/24 –73.2080 , 73.3526 – FCC has fined Cumulus Licensing LLC  for violations of EEO rules at five former stations in Georgia. The Forfeiture Order is for $26k. The EB noted that the fine was more than doubled from the base – $12k  – due to previous similar violations (2008, 2017, etc) by Cumulus holdings. The exacerbating point: the report was nine months late.