When a licensee fails to timely file a license renewal application, it’s become a nice way for the Federal Communications Commission to meet its annual operating budget.
On Thursday alone, five Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture were sent to licensees of low-power TV stations for their individual transgressions. Collectively, should there be no reduction or cancellations of the proposed fines, the FCC stands to add $10,500 from its coffers.
For Barbara Kreisman, Video Division Chief, the licensees simply failed to adhere to FCC regulatory policy.
That said, the $1,500-per LPTV penalty for being tardy with a license renewal application can add up fast — giving the FCC easy funds to fuel its operations without asking Congress for additional dollars.
The latest $1,500 dingers include the following LPTV licensees:
- H&H Enterprises, licensee of KVVB-LD in Lucerne Valley, Calif., a remote community east of Victorville
- His Word Broadcasting Co., licensee of KHWB-LD in Eugene, Ore.
- Civic Light, licensee of KZTC-LD in San Diego
Earning $3,000 NALFs, because they are each a licensee of two LPTV properties, are Treasure County T.V. District (licensee of K08OW-D and K13PO-D in Hysham, Mont.) and M33 Media LLC (licensee of WUWB-LD in West Branch and WURO-LD in Roscommon, Mich.).
It is anticipated that each of the five licensees will pay up within 30 days of the NALFs, dispatched Friday (8/11) by Kreisman’s office.
In the case of H&H, the application for renewal was due August 1, 2022 but didn’t get filed until November 10, 2022. No explanation was offered.
It’s a common scenario, played out across 2023. But, even though it happens more than once, the fine is assessed — giving the FCC easy money.
