FCC Extends Due Date For Ownership Reports Again

Extension

The FCC has extended the Form 323 biennial Ownership Report deadline a second time, from DECEMBER 2nd to DECEMBER 20th.  The move was in response to an NAB request, intended to "avoid a convergence of filing deadlines" on the earlier date.  The Commission extended the original OCTOBER 1st deadline due to the government shutdown.

FCC Nixes Appeal Of Translator Permit Expiration

The Commission also denied GRADY MOATES' Petition for Reconsideration of the deletion of his construction permit for FM translator W286BA/BLOXHAM, FL.  The Commission said that it did not receive an application for a license to cover the permit or any waiver or tolling request before the permit expired on NOVEMBER 9, 2007; MOATES filed his Petition for Reconsideration of the automatic expiration on DECEMBER 10, 2007, asserting that the delay was due to waiting for pending changes in the rules governing rebroadcasting of AM stations on FM translators.  "MOATES’s decision to refrain from constructing his station,: the Commission concluded, "was the result of his private business calculations, including apparent procrastination until the end of the initial three-year construction period and his preference to use the FM translator to rebroadcast an AM station, which the Rules did not allow either when MOATES applied for the construction permit for the Station or at any point during the Permit’s three-year term."

AM Closed Auction Announced

In addition, the Commission announced a closed auction of AM construction permits (AM Auction 84) starting MAY 6th, with comments on the auction procedures due DECEMBER 6th and replies due DECEMBER 20th.  The auction is intended to resolve pending groups of mutually exclusive applications for AM stations and is only open to the applicants thereof.  

Fine Proposed Against Texas AM Trio

The Commission also proposed an $18,000 fine against ENCINO BROADCASTING, LLC for late license renewal applications and unauthorized operation subsequent to license expiration at a trio of AUSTIN-area AMs, Spanish Religion KELG-A (LA PALABRA 1440 AM)/MANOR, TX, Regional Mexican KOKE-A (PURO NORTENO 1600 AM)/PFLUGERVILLE, TX, and Tejano KTXZ-A/WEST LAKE HILLS, TX.  The licensee attributed the late filing (by two weeks) to "serious and debilitating illnesses" suffered by owner JOSE J. GARCIA, JR., but the Commission proposed a fine in any event.

FCC Nixes Reinstatement Of New Hampshire FM

And the FCC also denied SILVER FISH BROADCASTING, INC.'s appeal of the expiration of its construction permit for WTTT/STRATFORD, NH.  SILVER FISH bought the permit just before expiration and got 18 more months to build, pursuant to Commission policy.  The station was built and licensed in 2011, but then taken off the air the day after licensing when a challenge by WHITE MOUNTAINS BROADCASTING alleged that the station did not adequately cover its community of license.  SILVER FISH filed for a modification and it was granted, but did not resume operations within a year as required, telling the Commission that the site owner had been foreclosed upon.  The Commission ruled that going dark when WHITE MOUNTAINS filed its petition was a business decision.

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