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FCC fines student radio station at Framingham State

D

DavidZ

The FCC has levied a $1,200 civil penalty against the student radio station, WDJM-FM, at Framingham State University.

"The school reached a settlement Dec. 31 with the FCC that allows it to renew its broadcasting license and keep the radio station, WDJM-FM, on the air.

The settlement also resolves a potential violation of the FCC’s guidelines for noncommercial radio and television stations, which are required to document the amount of public service programming they air. Between 2006 and 2013, the school failed to maintain adequate information in its public file, according to the settlement."

While I believe no one should be above the law, why does the FCC go after a student run radio station and all of the pirates in Worcester, Boston, et all are still on the air. :(

Here is the full article from the Metrowest Daily News - http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20150113/NEWS/150119167/11362/NEWS
 
The FCC went after 7 watt 91.5 WZLY for not having EAS, and if you read the field actions (http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/) you will see in December they went after a pirate in Worcester and Brockton (again)

Until the law changes that lets the FCC walk onto the private property of an alleged pirate and confiscate equipment without the help of the U S Marshals, Pirates are going to be around... that and EBAY selling non type accepted transmitters out of China.

I think New York State is the only state that lets local law enforcement work to shut down pirates (http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/23/4548878/pirate-radio-dies-hard-in-brooklyn-and-the-bronx)
 
I believe Florida has a similar statue but under interference....CBers have been cited and shut down for running illegal power (causing interference to consumer devices)....Since pirates are not technically under the FCC arm, states can take action against them..
 
The student radio station I was involved with had a similar issue several years back. In our case, though, we got our act together, asked the FCC for forgiveness, and showed them our new procedures long before any fine was levied.

Key in a setting like WDJM where student positions turn over every semester/year, and the entire staff turns over every four years, is for the faculty adviser to put procedures in place and put in due diligence (not babysitting) to make sure that they are followed -- especially when the integrity of the license is at stake. It's clear that this wasn't happening, and if the adviser's quote is "they're students, so mistakes will happen", the wrong mindset is in place.
 
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