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Clear Channel Tagged $12K for Fargo Phoner

T

The Beave

Guest
Ckear Channel-Fargo, ND news/talker KFGO-AM was fined today $12,000.00 for broadcasting a phone conversation without permission. Sandy Blount had called and left a messages for a on-air host on his business paid-for cellular phone.

The FCC has ruled that calls to private phones are protected. Both the Host (Joel Heitkamp) and producer (Tank McNamera) in question both appeared during Heitkamp's wednesday show to discuss the issue with listeners.

It is believed that calling any radio station owned phone is considered fair play, Where the FCC may not know the fact... that it was initially reported to be a private cellular phone on the complaint to the FCC.

KFGO-AM/Clear Channel will appeal the ruling.

Your Thoughts???
 
I'm sure in these deregulated days there are no rules...but in the "bad" old days you used to have to "notify" (by actually telling them) that their call to your station might be edited and re-broadcast.

What a concept: full disclosure.
 
justareporter said:
I'm sure in these deregulated days there are no rules...but in the "bad" old days you used to have to "notify" (by actually telling them) that their call to your station might be edited and re-broadcast.

What a concept: full disclosure.
Click to expand...

Did the caller know that it was a company owned phone and not the host's personal phone? Was there a resonable expectation on the part of the caller that the call was to a private phone and wouldn't be aired? Was the call business-related, or was it personal? Was the caller identified when the recording was aired?

I would think such details would be important to know in order to have an informed opinion about the whole deal.
 
Just because it hasn't been noted yet: KFGO is, of course, now owned by Mr. Ingstad. Clear Channel sold it back to him not that long ago.

Mr. Heitkamp is still on the air, though in a different time slot (PM drive) since "Big Eddie"'s return to his local midday show.

As the licensee of the station at the time, Clear Channel got the FCC's attention.
 
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