> With very few exceptions it's a sham and everyone knows it.
For your amusement, look at Exhibits 5 and 11 on WSNR's renewal application (I reproduce them below after converting them to mixed case). Also, I did check the renewal applications for SNR O&O's WWZN (Boston) and KMPC (L.A.) which did not contain the settlement agreement disclosure (which is kind of funny because they are both still sports stations).
Exhibit 5
Description: Settlement Agreement
On January 19, 2006, Vulcan Sports Media, Inc. d/b/a the Sporting News ('TSN'), an entity commonly controlled with the licensee, entered into a settlement agreement and release of claim to property (the 'settlement agreement') with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Under the Settlement Agreement, TSN paid certain monetary sums to the government and committed to a public service advertising campaign in settlement of alleged violations of the federal wire wager act, federal wagering excise tax laws, and various states' statutes and municipal laws regarding gambling, in connection with the advertising of offshore gambling enterprises on print and radio media. The Settlement Agreement does not constitute any admission of misconduct by TSN, and thus does not constitute an adjudicated finding of misconduct under the commission's character policies. Nonetheless, this information is being provided in an abundance of caution.
Attachment 5
Exhibit 11
Description: Local Public File
In the course of preparing its renewal application, the Applicant conducted an audit of the wsnr public inspection file and determined that certain documents had not been placed in the file at the appropriate time. In particular the authorizations section of the file, though otherwise complete, did not contain a copy of CP No. BMP-20011203AAM; the applications section of the file contained pending CP Modification BMP-20040326ALI, as required, but was missing some related supplemental exhibits filed subsequently; and the stations current contour map was missing. All of these documents were located and placed in the file.
In addition, Applicant found that letters and emails from the public had not been placed in the file. Based on available email records and a review of files, Applicant reconstructed these files to the best of its ability.
Finally, quarterly issues programs reports for the period from March 2001 to date were not in the file. After a review of its files, Applicant has been unable to reconstruct these reports. The file did contain records of public service announcements that were broadcast by the station during this period.
Documents received from counsel with a notation specifying that the document be placed in the file generally were properly placed and retained in the file. However, the stations limited staff, which experienced heavy turnover over the years, was unaware that other types of documents, other than those provided by counsel, must be placed in the file.
Applicant consulted with FCC counsel concerning the public file deficiencies. At Applicants request, FCC counsel visited the station on site and reviewed the public file requirements with station staff to assure that the file is properly maintained in the future.
