FCC Dismisses Two Texas Noncomm Applications For Lack Of Tower Site Assurance

Dismissals

The FCC has dismissed applications by CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES OF EL PASO, INC. and OPEN ARMS COMMUNITY OF EL PASO for new noncommercial educational FMs in HORIZON CITY, TX after a 5 year battle including opposition by SIN FRONTERAS ORGANIZING PROJECT; all three parties were in a mutually-exclusive group of applications, and SIN FRONTERAS alleged that neither of the other applicants had a reasonable assurance that they could use their proposed tower sites. In addition, OPEN ARMS was subsequently awarded two points for diversity of ownership, then saw the points taken away after further review of the bylaws, and the Commission rejected CMEP's attempt to amend its application to specify a site for which it could show reasonable assurance.

In other actions and filings at the FCC, the BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION have turned in the license for K236AU/DENIO, NV.

The Commission approved ALPHA MEDIA's acquisition of the DIGITY stations for $264 million.  Closing remains dependent on Justice Department review of anti-trust considerations.

THE POWER FOUNDATION has requested an extension of its Silent STA for WABB-A/BELTON, SC due to damage from copper thieves.

BIRACH BROADCASTING CORP. has filed for an extension of its Silent STA for WKGE-A/JOHNSTOWN, PA due to "continued transmitter failure." BIRACH has also applied for extensions of Silent STAs for WVAB-A/VIRGINIA BEACH, VA and WBVA-A/BAYSIDE, VA while awaiting zoning approval for a new site, and for KJMU-A/SAND SPRINGS-TULSA, OK "while the licensee looks for station staff replacement and a new source of programming."

And THOMAS MOLLEN, SR. has closed on the sale of his 75% voting stock and other members of his family (PATRICIA MOLLEN, THOMAS MOLLEN JR., LAURA COMERFORD, and KEVIN MOLLEN) have closed on the sale of their 75% of the non-voting stock of GM BROADCASTING, INC., licensee of AC WLTB (MAGIC 101.7)/JOHNSON CITY-BINGHAMTON, NY and W273AB/OWEGO, NY, to 25% owner STEVEN J. GILINSKY, who ends up with 100% of the company, for $250,000.

Commission To Texas Noncomm Translator Operator: No Satellite Feed For You

The Commission also rejected EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY's bid for a waiver to allow    K258AO/MIDLAND, TX to be fed by satellite, as it has been for several years in inadvertent violation of the rules, rather than an over-the-air signal.   After years of being fed programming from ENMU's KENW/PORTALES, NM via repeater KMTH/MAIJAMAR, TX and its translator K215BG/ANDREWS, TX, K215BG's signal was blocked by the sign-on of LA PROMESA Religion KVDG/MIDLAND, necessitating a satellite feed to maintain programming.  (ENMU turned in the license for K215BG in 2011.)  But K258AO, then K204BJ, was displaced by the sign-on of EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION's Contemporary Christian KLVW (K-LOVE)/MIDLAND and moved to the commercial band, unaware that the rules for translators in that portion of the FM dial prohibit satellite feeds for programming.  

ENMU stated in its APRIL 2013 license renewal application for K258AO that it was being fed KENW via satellite; only in the grant of a permit for K258AO to move its antenna did the FCC attach a Special Operation Condition requiring the station to be fed by over-the-air means.  But the Commission said that its "prior actions leave no room for waiver of the delivery rule for the operation of other area translators in the absence of a white area showing."

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