FCC Rejects License Challenge Over 'Ultra-Conservative' Programming

It turns out that airing "ultra-conservative Republican" views is not grounds to deny a station's license renewal, and so the FCC has rejected JOHN CULLEN's objection to the renewal of the license for TRIAD Talk WMBD-A/PEORIA. CULLEN complained that the station airs seven straight hours per day of "ultra-conservative" programming, but the FCC pointed out that it does not intervene in programming decisions unless a licensee abuses its discretion to use its freedom of speech to serve the public.

The Commission also denied JAMES CRYSTAL ENTERPRISES' application to modify the daytime pattern of its Talk WFTL-A/WEST PALM BEACH-FORT LAUDERDALE, rejecting an interference agreement with WABA-A/AGUADILLA, PR as increasing interference to WABA to the extent that the net effect would not reduce interference on the AM band overall.

In other rulings, the FCC dismissed the LPFM applications of FAITH MUSIC MINISTRIES in DERBY, KS and AZALEA GARDEN CHURCH OF GOD for NORTH VIRGINIA BEACH, VA on the grounds that the applicants do not qualify as local applicants under the LPFM rules, and the Commission denied a petition by JOSE J. ARZUAGA, JR. (OCEAN COMMUNICATIONS) for reconsideration of its allotment of a new FM at RINCON, PR, rejecting the argument that the allocation places the new station's transmitter site in the DESECHEO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, making federal approval of a tower there unlikely. It also rejected the petition for reconsideration by WISCONSIN ACADEMY of the dismissal of its LPFM application at COLUMBUS, WI on the grounds that three of the school's seven directors impermissibly hold interests in other LPFM applications, and approved a settlement that will lead to WILLIAM KONOPNICKI being awarded a new commercial FM at PINETOP, AZ over the objections of another station owner in the area.

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