FCC Report 1/5: Townsquare Seeks St. George Upgrade

FCC Actions

The FCC has entered into a Consent Decree with the Trisha Hart led 2 Bits Family Trust for an unauthorized transfer of control of Route 66 Broadcasting LLC’s Oldies 103.3 KZKE Seligman and Grand Canyon Gateway Broadcasting LLC’s Classic Country 1170 KYET/92.3 K222CZ Kingman AZ. Agreeing to a $7500 civil penalty, the illegal transfer came Joseph and Rhonda Hart transferring their interests in those companies to a trust in November 2012 without seeking FCC approval. The couple served as co-trustees of the trust until Joseph’s death in September 2022 with his daughter Trisha appointed co-trustee with her mother. Their filing of the transfer in December 2022 notes that they were unaware of transfer of the stations into the trust in 2012 required a transfer of control application filing until after conversations with their counsel following his death. The trust also owns two LPTVs and 50% of New West Broadcasting Systems Inc.’s “Super Country 100.1” KGMN Kingman.

Unido Para Cristo Inc.’s 1060 KIJN Farwell TX has been issued an Order to Pay or to Show Cause for failure to pay delinquent regulatory fees and associated interest, administrative costs, and penalties owed to the FCC from 2013 through 2024. Owing a total of $27,492.48, the order gives the licensee 60 days to show full payment of all outstanding regulatory fee debt has been made or show cause why the payment is inapplicable or should be waived or deferred. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the station’s license.

Pirate Actions

A pair of Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting were sent to property owners in Ohio.

Trustees Silver Randall and Cynthia DiCarlo were notified about a station operating on 99.1 in Painesville OH northeast of Cleveland. FCC agents used direction finding techniques to identify broadcasting coming from the location on June 22 and July 14, 2023.

Down in Piqua, John D. Scarbrough III was issued a notice for broadcasts emanating from his property on both 99.5 and 100.3 on May 21 and June 11, 2024.

License Cancellations

Townsquare Media surrendered the license of 1210 KHKR Washington UT. KHKR had been the parent signal for “ESPN 97.7” K249EQ St. George. That translator is now being fed by 106.1 KDXU-HD2.

Townsquare also requested the cancellation of 1470 WFNT Flint MI. WFNT had gone silent at the start of 2024.

Crain Media Group turned in the license of 1300 KSMD Searcy AR.

Benny Carle Broadcasting requested cancellation of News/Talk 1240 WBCF Florence AL

The following construction permits were surrendered ahead of their expiration:

David Ingles Ministries Church Inc.’s 91.5 Aydlett NC
Lucky Boy Educational Media Inc.’s 90.5 KQMB Bishop CA
Nevada Public Radio’s 89.5 Bishop CA
Nevada Public Radio’s 91.7 Wadsworth NV
Nevada Public Radio’s 89.7 KDCR-FM West Wendover NV
Nevada Public Radio’s 90.3 Winnemucca NV
Radio Catskill’s 90.3 Hamlin PA
Radio Catskill’s 89.5 Livingston Manor NY

Silent Notifications

Open Sky Radio Corp’s 91.5 KDAN Marshall CA (Weather damage)
The Power Foundation’s 102.9 WQTS Statesboro GA (Antenna replacement)
Brothers Broadcasting Corporation’s 1560 WRIN Rensselaer IN (Transmitter failure)
WDKR Inc.’s 107.3 WDKR Maroa IL (Financing and staff retention issues)
Technicom Inc.’s 99.3 WXFM-FM Mount Zion IL (Financing and staff retention issues)
Horizon Christian Fellowship’s 90.1 WRYP Wellfleet MA (Transmitter power supply issue)
The Zone Corporation’s 620 WZON Bangor ME (Financial reasons)
The Zone Corporation’s 103.1 WZLO Dover-Foxcroft ME (Financial reasons)
Open Sky Radio Corp.’s 89.5 KLAP Gerlach NV (Weather damage)
Great Eastern Radio’s 1400 WTSL Hanover NH (Loss of site lease)
Townsquare Media’s 1270 WDLA Walton NY (Economic conditions)
Townsquare Media’s 92.1 WDLA-FM Walton NY (Economic conditions)
Arcangel Broadcasting Foundation’s 88.9 WLRY Rushville OH (Pending sale)
San Antonio College’s 90.1 KSYM-FM San Antonio TX (Tower/Coax replacement until January 17)
Mount Rushmore Broadcasting’s 1240 KRAL Rawlins WY (Financial distress)
Mount Rushmore Broadcasting’s 92.7 KIQZ Rawlins WY (Financial distress)