Former Alabama Speaker of the House and Auburn Networks owner Michael Hubbard’s stations have been designated for a license revocation hearing over whether Hubbard should remain qualified to hold an FCC license.
Hubbard was convicted in July 2016 of six felony charges for misusing his office for personal gain and had his appeal denied last August. Hubbard filed in September to sell the broadcast assets to Lee Perryman’s Auburn Networks LLC for $775,000.
The sale filing requested an exception to the FCC’s “Jefferson Radio policy”, which generally prohibits the assignment or transfer of a station license when character qualification issues are pending against the licensee. The FCC has determined that an exception here is not warranted under existing precedent and is holding the transfer in abeyance pending the resolution of the proceeding.
Perryman will continue to operate Classic Hits “Wings 94.3” WGZZ Waverly, News/Talk 1400 WANI Opelika/98.7 W254AY Auburn, Sports “ESPN Auburn” 106.7 W294AR Auburn/WGZZ-HD3, Soft AC “96.3 WLEE” W242AX/WGZZ-HD4 via LMA through the proceedings. Auburn Networks also owns a pending application for a translator on 105.1 Auburn and a CP for low-power TV WHBD-LD Auburn.
The FCC has issued fines to three operators for failing to file timely license renewals.
Blount County Broadcasting Company’s 1470 WBCR Alcoa TN was fined $3000 for not filing before April 1, 2020. Its application was not filed until July 27, four days ahead of its August 1 expiration.
Iglesia Sinai Pentecostes’s 105.9 WLDC-LP Goshen IN and Gerard Media LLC’s 106.7 W294CY Valparaiso IN were each fined $1500 for not filing before the April 1 deadline. WLDC-LP filed its renewal on June 25, while W294CY did not file until July 23.
The FCC continues to reach consent decrees with operators over missing documents from their online political files. Each of the groups have agreed to admission of liability and compliance plans:
- Bott Communications, Inc. licensee of KLTE Kirksville MO
- Maquoketa Broadcasting Company licensee of KMAQ and KMAQ-FM Maquoketa IA
- Powell Broadcasting Company licensee of KKMA and KLEM Le Mars and KQNU Onawa IA
- River City Radio, Inc. licensee of of KCJJ Iowa City IA
- Times-Citizen Communications, Inc. licensee of KIFG and KIFG-FM Iowa Falls IA
- Trending Media, Inc. licensee of KFJB and KXIA Marshalltown IA
- Zimmer Radio, Inc. licensee of KSYN and KZYM Joplin and KJMK and KXDG Joplin MO
