FCC Report 9/8: Ozarks Licensee Fined For Two Unauthorized

FCC Actions

Mountain Lakes Broadcasting Corp. has entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC and agreed to an $8000 civil penalty for a pair of unauthorized transfers of control.

The licensee of Standards 97.9 KTLO-FM Mountain Home AR, Country “99.7 The Boot” KBOD Gainesville MO, “Classic Hits 101.7” KCTT-FM Yellville AR, and Classic Country “Real Country 1240” KTLO Mountain Home AR failed to disclose the death of Vivian Sue Knight in February 2020 and Bob Knight in October 2021. The death of Vivian Knight gave Bob Knight controlling interest in the company with 50% of its common stock. That share was then transferred to Heather Caroline Loftis following his death. A belated transfer of control application was filed in April 2024.

The FCC has also entered a Consent Decree with Panther Communications Classic Hits “100.9 The Cub” KWIA Newell/Storm Lake IA for failing to maintain its Online Public File.

The commission is proposing a $3000 fine against Cobra Broadcasting LLC’s 95.9 KBRA Freer TX for failing to timely file its license renewal application. KBRA was required to file its license renewal application by April 1, 2021 ahead of its August 1 expiration date, but did not do so until July 19, 2021.

An application for the renewal of the Station’s license should have been filed by April 1, 2021, the first day of the fourth full calendar month prior to the Station’s August 1, 2021, license expiration date.5 The Application was not filed until July 19, 2021.

The commission is requesting an amendment to UM Enterprise LLC’s application to change community of license on 1110 WTOF Bay Minette AL to Spanish Fork as paret of its application to diplex at the site of Cumulus Media’s 660 WXQW Fairhope with 10kW day and 2.2kW critical hours.

UM Enterprise had claimed in its original application that the COL change would be considered an intra-urbanized area proposal since both communities are in the Mobile metropolitan area. FCC engineering analysis counters that Bay Minette is not part of any urbanized area and Spanish Fort is located within the Fairhope-Daphne urbanized area making it rural to urban moved. The FCC asks for additional evidence sufficient to establish that the proposed community of license modification constitutes a preferential arrangement of allotments.

Licence Cancellations

Just ahead of the one year mark of silence caused by the loss of its tower site, Great Eastern Radio has turned in the license of 1450 WSNO Barre VT. When WSNO went off-the-air, its translator 105.7 W289CH Barre began rebroadcasting 100.9 WWFY-HD2 Berlin continuing to operate as Hot AC “The Penguin” simulcasting 97.9 WSNO-FM Au Sable NY.

A month after taking 920 WYBY Cortland NY silent for technical reasons, Bible Broadcasting Network has requested cancellation of the station’s license.

With its CP set to expire in early November, Tracy Wood has turned in 93.5 KXRL Earlmart CA as he noted the landowners decided it was not in their best interest to proceed with the needed tower lease and suggested lease rates made the proposed station not economically viable.

Quachita Broadcasting surrendered the license of Gospel 1450 KENA Mena AR.

Cedar Cove Broadcasting requested cancellation of its CP for 88.1 KJAR Laramie WY as it was unable to negotiate acceptable rental terms at the only available tower site.

San Tan Educational Media surrendered its CP for 89.5 KYHI Alma CO.