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FCC Complaint

S

spindoctor1

I know of a station that has no working phones, no fax, no business license for 3 years, no articles of incorporation for at least 2 years on the license, not paid ANY taxes since 2007, no ownership report for years etc, etc, etc. Why is this station permitted to keep it's FCC license?
Please someone help me here.
 
I'd like to find out why this station is permitted to stay in "business" when so many bust their butt everyday to remain compliant AND do what is required by law. Several complaints have been made to the FCC but nothing has been done.
 
Honestly, and I'm not being facetious or anything, but the FCC really has little interest in doing things by the book anymore. I know of stations who over modulate, refuse to change antenna patterns and such and the commission just does not care about. However, if you can prove some way that they are not following the EAS and/or public file rules, you'll get the full force and might of the Enforcement Bureau down on them.

It has been made very obvious to me that the EAS and public files are all they care about.
 
A very, very big one since about January 2009 has been EEO violations. If they haven't been doing that stuff right you can probably get an inspector there by Friday.
 
Problem is. The owner NEVER opens the station anymore. Does a quick news recording for the morning and THAT'S it. Nothing live. He is currently hiding from the bank and those he owes money too. How do you make an inspection when the doors never open? He also rents the land the tower is on from the previous owner of this station and hasn't paid rent for over 3 years. The previous owner told me they are shutting him out AND off the end of the month.
Why even go through the motions with the FCC only to have them ignore complaint after complaint?
 
Call letters or facility number(s), please! Who is this violator who, according to everything described, forfeited the license? It's a crying shame that the FCC is so far off their enforcement game.
 
I can name several stations that have no one there during business hours so that is not just an isolated occurrence. One station has actually has a sign on the door telling you to go to another town for help with the station. The owing of money to other people has nothing to do with the FCC. They could care less of how far in debt you are unless you owe it to them. Legally if you don't pay your rent (I'm not a lawyer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once) they can't just shut you out that will get you sued quickly but they would have to serve notice and do all the hoop jumping through the courts to get you evicted, so to speak.
 
SHEESH! With this guy's problems, what's the point of even showing up to blab the news? I'm surprised with everybody he's pissed off thus far that anyone's even listening.....

Gives new bite to the old tag "Newsman At Large"

But what really surprises me is why the previous landlord/owner let him get away with this for THREE years......and why did he sell it to someone with absolutely no clue?
 
spindoctor1 said:
Problem is. The owner NEVER opens the station anymore. Does a quick news recording for the morning and THAT'S it. Nothing live. He is currently hiding from the bank and those he owes money too. How do you make an inspection when the doors never open? He also rents the land the tower is on from the previous owner of this station and hasn't paid rent for over 3 years. The previous owner told me they are shutting him out AND off the end of the month.
Why even go through the motions with the FCC only to have them ignore complaint after complaint?
Click to expand...

Keeping the doors closed does not exempt you from inspection by the FCC.


§ 73.1225 Station inspections by FCC.
(a) The licensee of a broadcast station shall make the station available for inspection by representatives of the FCC during the station's business hours, or at any time it is in operation.

(b) In the course of an inspection or investigation, an FCC representative may require special equipment tests, program tests or operation with nighttime or presunrise facilities during daytime hours pursuant to §0.314, part 0, of the FCC rules.

(c) The following records shall be made available by all broadcast stations upon request by representatives of the FCC.

(1) Equipment performance measurements required by §§73.1590 and 73.1690.

(2) The written designations for chief operators and, when applicable, the contracts for chief operators engaged on a contract basis.

(3) Application for modification of the transmission system made pursuant to §73.1690(c).

(4) Informal statements or drawings depicting any transmitter modification made pursuant to §73.1690(e).

(5) Station logs and special technical records.
Click to expand...


You must have on file with the FCC your contact information, and the FCC can demand to see your facility at any time. If they can't get ahold of you, that too is a violation of the above rule and will subject the station owner to forfeiture.
 
That's OK...I know for a fact thet there's a person at each FCC field office whose job includes monitoring the broadcasting sites on the Internet. They're probably double-checking to identify the violator(s) before they move on the worst ones first-and this operator sounds like he's at the top of the stack!
 
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