FCC Rejects Challenge To WMAL License Renewal

Challenge Rejected

The FCC has rejected the challenge of KEVIN M. RAYMOND to the license renewal of CUMULUS Talk WMAL-A/WASHINGTON.  RAYMOND objected on the basis of the station having "an 'incessant bias' against the government throughout all its programs and the station broadcasts 'blatant lies on each program' that cannot be considered protected by the right to free speech." 

The Commission pointed out that it does not get involved in content decisions and that RAYMOND offered no specific evidence other than to direct the agency to listen to the station itself.  "RAYMOND seeks the denial of the Station’s license renewal because he disagrees with its programming choices and the political views expressed on its programs," the ruling said, adding that the Commission does not get involved in censorship.

The Commission also denied EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION's petition for reconsideration of the dismissal of its application to modify the facilities of W267AT/ONEONTA, NY, refusing to grant a waiver to the rule that a move of a translator without the new and old 60 dBu contours overlapping is a major change.  The difference between this case and the MATTOON waiver case, the Commission noted, is that in the MATTOON case, the translator proposed rebroadcasting an AM station, “consistent with our continued efforts to revitalize the AM service and to make the most efficient use of limited spectrum,” while EMF would rebroadcast an FM station.

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