FCC Actions

The FCC has issued a proposed rulemaking to revise various regulations “to update our rules to better reflect current application processing requirements, clarify and harmonize provisions, and remove references to outdated procedures and legacy filing systems”.

The biggest change would eliminate the requirement that AM stations request at least a 20% increase in nominal power when proposing a power upgrade. Most of the other proposed changes are designed to clean up language in the rules such as replacing references to CDBS with LMS, updating form names, removing obsolete application processing language, revise the renewal application petition to deny rule, and revise the informal objection rule to require that pleasings be served upon the relevant applicant and objector.

The full rulemaking can be read here.

Pirate Actions

In November 2023, nine property owners in the Boston area were issued Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting due to they or tenants of theirs engaging in unauthorized broadcasts. In April, fines were proposed against six of them for violation of the PIRATE Act. Now the FCC is issuing Forfeiture Orders against three of the pirates in Brockton.

A $120,000 fine was issued to Renaldo David’s “Lotnivo FM” on 101.9 in Brockton. FCC agents first visited the site in July 2023 when David agreed to cease operation, but the station was then visited as operating in December 2023. $40,000 fines went to Djovany Pierre and Mario Turner’s “Radio Tele Brockton” and “Brockton Heat” 96.5 Brockton and Joao Vieira’s “Brockton FM” on 102.1 in Brockton. None of the operators responded to the FCC’s previous notices.

License Cancellations

Sherman Broadcasting Corporation’s 1030 WOSO San Juan PR has been cancelled following an FCC investigation into its operational status as part of its pending license renewal application.

FCC representatives visited the station’s studio and transmitter site in June noting it was off the air and the station’s phone line was no longer in service. In a response to an FCC letter, owner Sherman Wildman noted that the station’s studios were vandalized by the owner of the building in July 2020 and then ceased operations in August 2021 due to ongoing damage from natural disasters, lack of restored utilities, and his health conditions. The FCC noted that the station also made misrepresentations regarding its operating status in six STA extensions filed since July 2020, but since they are cancelling the license they will not pursue the matter, rather just requiring Sherman Broadcasting Corporation and its principals to alert the FCC of the matter in any application it files with for the next five years.

Notradio Spanish News/Talk 1300 WTIL Mayaguez has quickly applied for the WOSO call letters.

Montana State University – Billings has surrendered its Construction Permit for a Class C3 on 91.1 in West Glendive MT.

Silent Notifications

• Shields-Adkins Broadcasting’s 93.5 KBKG Corning AR (Financial considerations)
• Emerald Wave Media’s 1600 KTAP Santa Maria CA (Loss of tower site)
• Polnet Communications’ 1300 WRDZ La Grange IL (Transmitter inoperable)
• Alpha Media’s 1480 KLMS Lincoln NE (Loss of tower site)
• Reno Media Group’s 1270 KBZZ Sparks NV (Mouse infestation damaged transmitter power supply)
• Iglesia Pentecostal Vispera Del Fin’s 1060 KDYL South Salt Lake UT (Tower wiring & light replacement needed)

AM Changes

iHeartMedia’s “Fox Sports 940” WINZ Miami proposes