The FCC has designated Birach Broadcasting’s 1450 WBVA Bayside and 1550 WVAB Virginia Beach for a license renewal hearing.

Since Birach acquired WBVA and WVAB in 2008, both stations have been off the air most of the time as the stations lost their former facility due to vandalism in March 2008. From a term running from when Birach closed on its purchase on 4/1/08 through 11/30/17 WBVA operated for a total of 66 days from a temporary facility with 30 watts. WVAB has been on for 357 days during that same period with a 6 watt STA. The stations both applied for a new permanent facility in 2013 but their Construction Permits expired unbuilt.

In hearings like this the burden of proof is on Birach to tell the commission why it should be granted renewals of its licenses. The licensee must prove that the stations served the public interest, convenience, and necessity; whether there has been violations of the FCC rules; and whether the renewals should be granted.