Licensee Tees Off on the FCC

[dhett]

The administratrix of WLLS-LP, a Class A television station in Indiana PA, vents her spleen on the FCC and tells them what they can do with their filing forms. Verizon and Adelphia also find themselves in her crosshairs.

The FCC subsequently canceled her license due to the station being dark for more than twelve consecutive months.

I got a chuckle out of reading it, although anyone operating an LPTV station might be able to relate.

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=33139

 

[notalkallstatic]

Wow! You go girl! That was a good read.

 

[Markxxx]

And the FCC is all like, "Whatever..." :

 

[Bengalsfan]

The key is to get the NAB to develop the same attitude. Then, something might just get done.

 

[DToTheJ]

The lady from the station should have written back to the FCC, "No more wire hangers!"

 

[nocomradio]

The FCC is an impotent, appointed branch of the government that works only to the advantage of the highest bidder, and nothing more. Just read the field notice pages each month and you will find nothing more than empty threats. Nice to see your money spent so well isn't it?

 

[arnoldevns]

We should send this to a member of congress who would be interested in how government regulators incompetence leads to thr distruction of a small business.

 

[nocomradio]

We should send this to a member of congress who would be interested in how government regulators incompetence leads to thr distruction of a small business.

That is if you could find a member of Congress with such concerns.

 

[wrsg915fm]

The lady from the station should have written back to the FCC, "No more wire hangers!"

It worked in "Mommy Dearest"

 

[TheBigA]

A few things I noticed in looking at the two letters:

1) The top letter from the FCC is dated AFTER the bottom letter from the licensee. Why is that?

2) The licensee's letter was an email from a Yahoo account, not a private domain, and not a snail mail letter that would have been postmarked. The issue seems mainly with the mail system or Yahoo, and not the FCC, since both parties have had problems receiving each others letters. I don't see much evidence of follow-up from the licensee.

3) The licensee says the issue had to do with a license transfer from her late husband to herself, and the failure of the FCC to make that transfer cost them money and ultimately the license. I'm not a practicing attorney, but unless there's an issue in her husband's will, she was the heir to his property, and that should include this license.

Some of this is why the FCC doesn't grant licenses to individuals. Perhaps an LPTV license is different, but individuals cannot get LPFM licenses. The FCC and the Ameriscan system of broadcasting was set up in 1927 in an effort to professionalize broadcasting. Say what you will about civil servants (and no, they are NOT political appointees). It's no different than dealing with an insurance company. And Congress is to blame for the state of the FCC, by continually cutting their appropriation. If control of government changes after the next election, it's very likely that the appropriation will once again get cut, leading to fewer people available to respond to licensees.

 

[JeeperOne]

We should send this to a member of congress who would be interested in how government regulators incompetence leads to thr distruction of a small business.

That is if you could find a member of Congress with such concerns.

You can IF you sell them on how the FCC can help PAIR DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT simply by cracking down on those who violate the rules & regs - AND PUT SOME BALLS BEHIND IT

Otherwise, it'll just be condoned M.O.T.S.

JMO.....

Cheers

 

[TheBigA]

Hmmm.one of the ideas right now being discussed in Congress is for the FCC to impliment a spectrum tax, to charge broadcasters for the use of public airwaves. Since we all know there's so much money in broadcasting.

 

[azumanga]

Hmmm.one of the ideas right now being discussed in Congress is for the FCC to impliment a spectrum tax, to charge broadcasters for the use of public airwaves. Since we all know there's so much money in broadcasting.

Stations already pay to use their share of a broadcasting spectrum -- it's called a "license".

 

[kenglish]

As long as we can pass on the taxes and fees to the consumer, like our competitors do.

Oh! And, pass the blame on like they do, too.

 

[FreddyE1977]

We should send this to a member of congress who would be interested in how government regulators incompetence leads to thr distruction of a small business.

She is in the district of Mark Critz, who won the seat when John Murtha passed away a couple of years back.
Due to redistricting Critz is now in a tough primary battle with Jason Altmeyer, a Democrat from suburban Pittsburgh.
If I had to bet he'll be the winner, and will have little interest in the fate of a low-power television station on the
far periphery of his district.

She should have made her move while Murtha was still alive. He had an unbelievable ability to extract extreme
concessions from government agencies on behalf of his constituents (not always in a good way I might add).