FM Changes

Spanish Broadcasting Systems’ Spanish AC “93.1 Amor” WPAT-FM Paterson NJ has operated under STA from the Empire State Building since the station’s antenna atop the World Trade Center was destroyed on 9/11/2001. While other stations such as 89.9 WKCR-FM and 103.5 WKTU found new permanent sites years ago, WPAT-FM had to deal with pre-1964 short-spacing to 92.9 WMGS Wilkes-Barre PA, 93.1 WHYN-FM Springfield MA and 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia. Applications in 2002 and 2019 sought to operate WPAT-FM with 6kW/415m, but both were dismissed due to the interference it would cause to WHYN-FM after the FCC denied the waiver SBS sought to “re‐establish a technical facility at ESB equivalent to the technical facility destroyed by terrorists on WTC.”

Now SBS seeks to convert the facilities used by WPAT-FM via its long-running STA into the permanent facilities with 4.8kW/415m.

FCC Actions

The FCC is opening a comment period from May 10 to May 24 on iHeartMedia’s request to allow Global Media & Entertainment to hold up to a 9.99% stake in the company.

The FCC has denied Triangle Access Broadcasting’s objection to the license renewal of Educational Media Foundation’s 96.1 W241AI Gorgas, 102.1 W271BN Birmingham and 106.5 W293CM Graysville AL. Much like other objections filed in recent years by Triangle Access Broadcasting, they attested that EMF had not paid required application and regulatory fees for the translators. EMF countered that it paid the required application fees and is exempt from paying regulatory fees because it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which the FCC agreed with.

Metropolitan Management Corporation of Tennessee’s 1580 WNPZ Knoxville TN has entered a consent decree for compliance with the Public File Rule.

Deletions

The FCC deleted Omni Broadcasting’s 1480 WKGC Southport/Panama City FL after the agency inquired into the station’s operating status. WKGC’s license was listed as expiring on November 5, 2020 following one year of silence. The FCC states that after sending Omni owner Ron Hale a letter in December, they did not respond but filed a notice of resumption of operation without any explanation of the circumstances of resumption. After revoking that notice, the FCC gave two more attempts to provide the documentation they required, but none of which established that the station resumed operation timely.

Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer’s 90.1 KWEZ-FM Caney OK was deleted for being silent of 365 days.

Self Retire Inc.’s Homng “Minority Radio 1600” Watertown MN and 3G Learning Solutions’ 88.7 KMKZ Red Feather Lakes CO were deleted for failing to timely file a license renewal application.

More FM Changes

Family Life Ministries applies for the move of its pending acquisition of Classic Rock “101 The Met” 100.9 WMTT-FM Horseheads NY into the Ithaca market.