February 17th, 2019, 01:53 PM
From Radio Insight:
FCC ActionsThe FCC has issued a proposed rulemaking for how they process and license competing applications for non-commercial and LPFM stations. The rulemaking proposes to simplify the procedures by:
Eliminate the current requirement that NCE applicants amend their governing documents to pledge that localism/diversity be maintained in order to receive points as “established local applicants” and for “diversity of ownership”
Improve the NCE tie-breaker process and reduce the need for mandatory time-sharing
Clarify aspects of the “holding period” rule by which NCE permittees must maintain the characteristics for which they received comparative preferences and points
Reclassify as “minor” gradual changes in governing boards with respect to non-stock and membership LPFM and NCE applicants
Extend the LPFM construction period from 18-months to a full three years
Allow the assignment/transfer of LPFM construction permits after an 18-month holding period and eliminate the three-year holding period on assigning LPFM licenses.
The full rulemaking proposal can be read here.
The requirement that licensees file paper copies of station documents including transfers of control, management agreements, LMA or Time Brokerage Agreements, and Joint Sales Agreements has been eliminated. The documents just need to be filed into each station's Online Public File.
The agency also has eliminated the Form 397 Broadcast Mid-Term Report due to redundancy with the Online Public File.
The FCC has entered into a Consent Decree with WAGY Inc. and Marjorie Huskey over a series of unauthorized transfers of control of 1320 WAGY and 107.5 W298CZ Forest City NC between 1989 and 2004. Huskey will pay an $8,000 civil penalty over the transfers which saw her late husband and other parters in the company adjust ownership stakes without FCC approval leading to the Huskey's gaining full control of the company in 1994. The stations also entered into an LMA without authorization between 2000 and March 2018 and failed to file biennial ownership reports between 1999 and 2015.
The post FCC Report 2/17: New Proposed Rulemaking Seeks To Streamline Non-Comm & LPFM Applications appeared first on RadioInsight.
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