The Media Bureau’s Audio Division has reviewed a Petition for Reconsideration filed jointly by two Texas religious organizations seeking reconsideration of a decision that dismissed its respective applications for a permit to construct a new LPFM.
One of the LPFMs was in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, while the other was to the northwest in Wichita Falls, Tex.
What’s the verdict for these petitioners?
One mention of the name Antonio Cesar Guel should give astute readers of RBR+TVBR an immediate idea of how the Media Bureau ruled.
Guel, of Hispanic Christian Community Network, was the consultant and certifying engineer for each of the applicants, which used the 2013 LPFM filing window to seek FCC OK of the LPFMs.
The Bureau in February 2014 initiated an investigation because shared irregularities in numerous Guel-prepared applications suggested potential violations and/or
misrepresentations. A letter of inquiry sought detailed identifying information from many such applicants, including Fort Worth Hispanic Community Church (which wanted a Fort Worth LPFM) and Casa Al Imigrante de Wichita Falls (which desired the Wichita Falls LPFM) in order to determine the authenticity of the applicants and parties.
Amendments to each application made in March 2014 were substantial — and impermissable, according to the Media Bureau. That’s because FCC rules require an applicant’s original parties to retain more than a 50% ownership interest in the application.
Thus, the applications were dismissed. The applicants now argue that the Bureau erred in rejecting their respective major amendments and seek reinstatement of their applications based on further amendments that they believe would cure the problem because “the
applications are being prosecuted by persons who were original parties to the application.”
Writing the decision, Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle rejected that argument, and denied the Petition for Reconsideration.
Thus, no LPFMs will be coming for the religious entities in the two North Texas municipalities.
