FCC Report 10/1: Liberty University Surrenders WQLU In Consent Decree

[Colorado Media Newsroom]

From Radio Insight:

FCC Actions

Liberty University has agreed to turn in the license of student-run Christian CHR “90.9 The Light” WQLU Lynchburg VA as part of a Consent Decree with the FCC. Liberty will also pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the FCC to settle an investigation into violations of operating the station at a variance from its licensed parameters and making incorrect statements regarding the Station?s operations to the FCC.
In the agreement, Liberty admitted that WQLU operated at a variance from its licensed parameters for more than 5 years and “violated section 1.17(a)(2) of the Rules by providing
material factual information that was incorrect without a reasonable basis for believing that such material factual information was correct and not misleading. However, Licensee believed in good faith that the change in the Station?s tower site could be considered a correction of licensed coordinates rather than a site change, and thus Licensee did not intentionally provide false information to the Commission”. The station was licensed to operate from a site on Candlers Mountain with 100w/184m, but in 2011 sought an STA to operate from a site on Monogram Hill. The station stopped applying for STA renewals in 2015 leading to its approval expiring in May 2015. WQLU would once again seek an STA in August 2020 requesting permission to operate from Monogram Hill. Following an FCC inquiry, the station stated that its licensed tower had been dismantled but it had also resumed operations from a different tower on Candlers than specified in their license.
Liberty University also owns the “Journey FM” Christian AC network on eight stations and seven translators across Virginia and North Carolina based at 88.3 WRVL Lynchburg.

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KGHL Radio LLC has entered into a Consent Decree and an $8000 fine for transferring Farm/Classic Country 790 KGHL/94.7 K234CP Billings MT from Taylor and Shannon Brown to trusts controlled by their children (he Courtney E. Brown Kibblewhite 2021 GST Trust and the Colter W. Brown 2021 GST Trust) without proper approval. The Browns filed the transfer of control application with the FCC in April 2022 despite the actual transfer being completed in October 2021.
Apple City Broadcasting Company agreed to a Consent Decreee and $1000 penalty for not notifying the commission of the deaths of three of their four shareholders and change of control of their 860 WACB Taylorsville and 1570 WTLK Taylorsville NC. The company was formed in 1993 with Roger Lee Brown and William Norris Keever holding 45% stakes and their respective wives Mary Alice Brown and Sara McClain Keever each holding 5% stakes. William Keever died in December 2020 with his wife gaining his shares. Mary Brown would pass in February 2021 moving her shares to her husband. Then in February 2022, Sara Keever died with her now 50% share passed to her niece Lisa McClain. No involuntary transfer of control applications were filed until April 2023 nor was FCC approval requested until then to make Linda McClain the controlling shareholder of the company.
Hunterdon Central High School Board of Education’s Country 90.5 WCVH Flemington NJ has entered into a Consent Decree and a $500 penalty for failing to timely file its license renewal application. WCVH’s renewal was due to be filed by February 1, 2022 but was not sent until May 23, 2023.
The FCC has issued a Notice of Violation to Birach Broadcasting for lack of painting and lights on the tower of 540 WGOP Pocomoke City MD on two visits in 2022. Birach has since sold WGOP to Roger Waters’ The Waters Group LLC.
Silent Notifications

• Radio Amor Inc.’s 690 WADS Ansonia CT (Temporary antenna site disabled)
• Partnership Radio’s 106.3 WUBU South Bend IN (Closing of sale to VCY America)
• 1520 Radio Asia LLC’s 1520 WTRI Brunswick MD (Transmitter site sold to city; land to be repurposed)
• KM Radio of Lovelady’s 104.3 KHMR Lovelady TX (Loss of program source)

License Cancellations

Bonneville International has turned in the license for 98.1 K251AB Longmont CO. The translator had been rebroadcasting Sports “ESPN 1600” KEPN Denver via 104.3 KKFN-HD2 Longmont.
Ahead of reaching the one year deadline to return to the air, Family Stations has surrendered the license of 107.3 W297BQ Albany GA.
FM Changes

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