By the Regional Director, Region One, Enforcement Bureau:
1. This is a Notice of Violation (Notice) issued pursuant to section 1.89 of the Commission’s rules to Rondaradio, Inc., licensee of Low Powered FM station WRLR-LP (LPFM Station) and Aural Studio Transmitter Link License WQKA896 (STL Station) in Round Lake Beach,Illinois. Pursuant to section 1.89(a) of the Commission’s rules, issuance of this Notice does not preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the violations noted herein.. On January 12, 2026, an agent of the Enforcement Bureau’s Columbia Office inspected the LPFM Station located in North Shore Park, Illinois at the coordinates 42°23’07.8” N, 088°04’24.3” W and the STL Station located in the WRLR-LP Studio at 312 West Hawthorne Drive, Round Lake Beach, Illinois (Studio Location) at the coordinates 42°22'17.4" N 88°05'27.2" W and observed the following violations:
a. 47 CFR § 73.1350(a): “Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast station in a manner which complies with the technical rules set forth else wherein this part and in accordance with the terms of the station authorization.” According to its license, the LPFM Station is authorized to operate with a SWR FM1 2 Bay Antenna and a transmitter output power of 26 Watts. On January 12, 2026, the agent observed that the Station was operating with a SWR FM1 3 Bay antenna. That same day, the President of Rondaradio, Inc. admitted to the agent that he had replaced the two bay antenna with a three bay antenna without authorization and had increased the transmitter output power to 40 Watts. b. 47 C.F.R. § 1.903(a): "Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must be used and operate only in accordance with the rules applicable to their particular service as set forth in thistitle and with a valid authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this part…” According to its license,4 the STL Station is authorized to operate from the former studio location at 629 Pontiac Court in Round Lake Heights, Illinois, at the coordinates 42°22’53.1” N, 088°05’56.3” W. The agent determined that the STL Station was operating 0.80 miles from its authorized location from the current Studio Location at 312 West Hawthorne Drive in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, at the coordinates 42°22'17.4"N 88°05'27.2"W.
Pursuant to section 308(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), andsection 1.89 of the Commission’s rules, we seek additional information concerning the violations and any remedial actions taken. Therefore, Rondaradio, Inc. must submit a written statement concerning this matter within twenty (20) days of release of this Notice. The response (i) must fully explain each violation, including all relevant surrounding facts and circumstances, (ii) must contain a statement of the specific action(s) taken to correct each violation and preclude recurrence, and (iii) must include a timeline for completion of any pending corrective action(s). The response must be complete in itself and mustn ot be abbreviated by reference to other communications or answers to other notices.
1. This is a Notice of Violation (Notice) issued pursuant to section 1.89 of the Commission’s rules to Rondaradio, Inc., licensee of Low Powered FM station WRLR-LP (LPFM Station) and Aural Studio Transmitter Link License WQKA896 (STL Station) in Round Lake Beach,Illinois. Pursuant to section 1.89(a) of the Commission’s rules, issuance of this Notice does not preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the violations noted herein.. On January 12, 2026, an agent of the Enforcement Bureau’s Columbia Office inspected the LPFM Station located in North Shore Park, Illinois at the coordinates 42°23’07.8” N, 088°04’24.3” W and the STL Station located in the WRLR-LP Studio at 312 West Hawthorne Drive, Round Lake Beach, Illinois (Studio Location) at the coordinates 42°22'17.4" N 88°05'27.2" W and observed the following violations:
a. 47 CFR § 73.1350(a): “Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast station in a manner which complies with the technical rules set forth else wherein this part and in accordance with the terms of the station authorization.” According to its license, the LPFM Station is authorized to operate with a SWR FM1 2 Bay Antenna and a transmitter output power of 26 Watts. On January 12, 2026, the agent observed that the Station was operating with a SWR FM1 3 Bay antenna. That same day, the President of Rondaradio, Inc. admitted to the agent that he had replaced the two bay antenna with a three bay antenna without authorization and had increased the transmitter output power to 40 Watts. b. 47 C.F.R. § 1.903(a): "Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must be used and operate only in accordance with the rules applicable to their particular service as set forth in thistitle and with a valid authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this part…” According to its license,4 the STL Station is authorized to operate from the former studio location at 629 Pontiac Court in Round Lake Heights, Illinois, at the coordinates 42°22’53.1” N, 088°05’56.3” W. The agent determined that the STL Station was operating 0.80 miles from its authorized location from the current Studio Location at 312 West Hawthorne Drive in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, at the coordinates 42°22'17.4"N 88°05'27.2"W.
Pursuant to section 308(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), andsection 1.89 of the Commission’s rules, we seek additional information concerning the violations and any remedial actions taken. Therefore, Rondaradio, Inc. must submit a written statement concerning this matter within twenty (20) days of release of this Notice. The response (i) must fully explain each violation, including all relevant surrounding facts and circumstances, (ii) must contain a statement of the specific action(s) taken to correct each violation and preclude recurrence, and (iii) must include a timeline for completion of any pending corrective action(s). The response must be complete in itself and mustn ot be abbreviated by reference to other communications or answers to other notices.
