License Cancellations

The FCC cancelled the license of Beasley Media Group’s 93.1 WCHZ-FM Warrenton GA. The Augusta market rimshot went silent in January 2024 after its tower site was sold. Beasley never responded to an FCC inquiry to its operational status in March after the station had surpassed being silent for over 365 days. Prior to going silent, WCHZ-FM operated as Rhythmic Throwbacks “Hot 93.1” simulcasting on 95.5 W238AU/98.3 WHHD-HD2. The translator has since relocated to 97.7 W249EF and is now branded as “Hot 97.7“.

Texas Public Radio requested cancellation of its construction permit for 90.7 KTXQ Hebbronville TX.

The FCC also cancelled Delta Radio Network’s 101.1 W266BY Greenville MS and Dockins Communications’ 95.3 W237CN Perry FL for being silent over one year.

FCC Actions

Goodrich Radio’s Adult R&B “102.5 The Ride” 1680 WPRR Ada/Grand Rapids MI was issued a Notice of Violation for failing to maintain and review its EAS log.

An Order to Pay or Show Cause was issued to Sarah Fryar’s Christian Preaching 1490 WJOC Chattanooga TN for $16,752.12 in unpaid regulatory fees from 2016 and 2018 through 2024.

Pirate Actions

The FCC has affirmed a $2,391,097 fine proposed to Fabrice ‘DJ Paz’ Polynice in 2024 for operating “Radio Touche Douce” on 90.1 in Miami FL since at least 2012. Polynice and partners Harold and Veronise Sido were first issued a then-maximum $144,344 penalty in 2018. The commission first warned the trio in 2012 and seized their equipment and issued a Forfeiture Order against Polynice the following year.

In his response to the commission, Polynice did not dispute operating the station but claimed that he would be unable to pay later submitting three years of tax returns. The FCC commented, “Based on the record before us and in light of all the applicable statutory factors, we affirm the 2024 NAL’s findings that Polynice willfully and knowingly did or caused pirate radio broadcasting in violation of section 511 of the Act by operating an unauthorized radio station on 90.1 MHz in North Miami, Florida from February 5 through March 5, 2023. We further find that Polynice’s inability to pay is significantly outweighed by the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violations. Accordingly, we decline to cancel or reduce the forfeiture proposed in the 2024 NAL and assess the full forfeiture amount of $2,391,097.48.”

A Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting was issued to Ray Dolph Brown and Wilsonia Brown for a station operating on 91.3 in the Bronx NY.

Silent Notifications

• Southwest Broadcasting’s 1340 KPGE Page AZ (Loss of STA site)
• High Desert Broadcasting’s 106.9 KMVE California City CA (Undetermined cause)
• RZ Radio’s 610 KAVL Lancaster CA (Tranformer fire)
• Riverdale Broadcasting’s 98.3 KZLA Riverdale CA (Antenna rototiller damaged)
• Urban One Broadcasting Network’s 900 WMOP Ocala FL (Antenna problems)
• Gold Standard Broadcasting’s 101.9 WVLQ Port St. Joe FL (Awaiting modification grant)
• Best Country Broadcasting’s 92.9 KBOX-FM Varnado LA (Transmitter issues)
• Dick Broadcasting’s 960 WRNS Kinston NC (Financial constraints)
• Board of Education of the City of Albuquerque’s 88.7 KXNM Encino NM (Power access issues)
• Hometown Communications’ 1340 WIRY Plattsburgh NY (Financial reasons)
• Impact Radio LLC’s 1520 WQCT Bryan OH (Fire damage)
• Impact Radio LLC’s 100.9 WBNO-FM Bryan OH (Fire damage)
• iHeartMedia’s 1390 WLAN Lancaster PA (Loss of tower site)
• 97.5 Licensee TX’s 920 KQBU El Paso TX (Permitting issues & tower vandalism)
• KSOP Inc’s 1370 KSOP South Salt Lake UT (Financial reasons)
• Green Mountain Broadcasters’ 1490 WIKE Newport VT (Transmitter and antenna damage)

FM Changes

Gold Standard Broadcasting proposes to upgrade Silent 101.9 WVLQ Port St. Joe FL