As the FCC prepares to conduct Auction 109 of 136 FM signals and 4 AM signals on July 27, the agency has set the timetable and ground rules for the auction. A short-form filing window for potential bidders to specify their qualifications to participate and identify which properties they seek to bid on will take place from April 28 through May 11. That window will include a freeze on all minor change applications for any full-powered FM to prevent any overlap and contour protection changes to existing licenses. All upfront payments for the auction will be due on June 16.
The full instruction set can be read here and the list of available allocations and their minimum bids are here.
FCC Actions
The FCC has terminated the Designation Order for a license renewal hearing for NIA Broadcasting’s 1490 WSYL Sylvania GA after the company surrendered its license. WSYL’s license was designated for a hearing last month due to its record of extended periods of silence since NIA became the licensee in 2018.
Vandalia Media Partners 2’s 990 WJEH Gallipolis OH has been designated for a license renewal hearing for either being silent or operating via STA outside of 28 days since Vandalia took control of the station in December 2019. A sale of WJEH to Zack Media South for $4,000 is pending.
Immanuel Broadcasting Network, Inc.’s 102.1 W271CV Atlanta and 96.1 W241AF Rossville GA were granted their license renewals but are required to pay their application fee and 25 percent late payment penalty for the applications following an objection from Triangle Access Broadcasting arguing that they don’t qualify to those exemptions because both translators rebroadcast commercial signals..
Inversely, a similar order against Radio Training Network’s 95.1 W236CA Durham and 95.3 W237BZ Clayton NC was rescinded after RTN argued that because they are recognized as a nonprofit by the IRS denying Triangle’s informal objection.
The FCC has entered into Consent Decrees with multiple operators over their license renewals.
Perry County Educational Media’s 91.9 KWQX Perryville AR, Grace Life Church of Lake City Inc.’s 90.1 WPGT Lake City FL, Simpson College’s 88.9 KSTM Indianola IA, Salisbury Educational B/C Foundation’s 90.3 WDIH Salisbury MD, and Shaw’s Broadcasting Co. 1560 WBOL and 94.7 WOJG Bolivar TN all have entered consent decrees with compliance plans over violations with their online public file maintenance.
Crawford County Broadcasting Corp’s 1530 KDSN and 104.9 KDSN-FM Denison IA is the latest group to enter a consent decree over their political file obligations.
Deletions
In addition to WSYL, Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer has turned in their license for 90.1 KWEZ-FM Caney OK.
FM Changes
Intrepid Companies’ pending acquisition 96.9 KDVB Effingham KS applies to move-in to Topeka
