The licensee of eight PBS Member stations licensed to the organization that operates Mississippi Public Broadcasting has entered into a Consent Decree with the Video Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau to settle violations of the Commission’s rules on the timing placement of quarterly issues/programs lists in the stations’ online public inspection file.
The agreement clears the way for the license renewal of WMAO-TV in Greenwood, WMAW-TV in Meridian, WMAV-TV in Oxford, WMAU-TV in Bude, WMAH-TV in Biloxi, WMAB-TV at Mississippi State University; WMAE-TV in Booneville, and WMPN-TV in Jackson, Miss.
And, it sees a $5,625 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury be made by Mississippi Authority for Educational TV.
This puts an end to a matter that Barbara Kreisman, the FCC’s Video Division Chief, reviewed after Mississippi Public Broadcasting self-incriminated itself.
How so? On January 21, 2021, it filed license renewal applications for each of the TV stations. In the applications, MPB disclosed that it failed to timely file a number of issues/programs lists.
How many? WMAO’s OPIF included six issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
Then, there is WMAW. This station’s OPIF included one issues/programs list that was filed under one month late, three issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
WMAV’s OPIF included six issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one
year late, and one issues/programs lists that was filed over one year late. WMAU’s OPIF included one issues/programs list that was filed under one month late, eight
issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four
issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
WMAH’s OPIF included one issues/programs list that was filed under one month late, six
issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four
issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late. WMAB’s OPIF included one issues/programs list that was filed under one month late, six issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
WMAE’s OPIF included one issues/programs list that was filed under one month late, seven
issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and four
issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
Lastly, WMPN’s OPIF included five issues/programs lists that were filed between one month and one year late, and three issues/programs lists that were filed over one year late.
