In the Eugene-Springfield, Ore., market, is a religious entity named Crossfire World Outreach Ministries. Its offerings include “Crossfire TV,” and at present it has ties to a FCC licensee that’s the parent of a low-power TV station in the Oregon locale.
A proposed sale had been submitted to the FCC for its approval. However, the Commission has just dismissed the application.
The legal counsel who made the filing says that shouldn’t have happened, and is the result of problems associated with the Commission’s online uploads and its e-Filing system.
On Friday, the deal’s status changed to “pending.”
On July 5, the Commission without comment dismissed an application for the transfer of control of KHWB-LD 38 in Eugene. An agreement had been signed on March 23.
His Word Broadcasting, led by Robert Hopper, is selling it to Karlo Maalouf for $20,000. This would put the Northwest Christian Broadcasting affiliated property in the hands of the individual who has been a partner in Twin Falls, Idaho-based Magic Valley TV since September 2020. The deal’s terms omitted any studio equipment, cameras or editing equipment tied to KHWB. A $500 deposit has been agreed to by both parties.
What led the FCC to dismiss the application?
Cary Tepper of Tepper Law Firm in Bethesda, Md., who is serving as His Word Broadcasting’s legal counsel in the transaction, told RBR+TVBR on Thursday, “There’s something wrong with the system.”
Tepper explained that the FCC’s electronic filing system indicates fees were not paid to the Commission in relation to the filing. But, Tepper said that’s incorrect, and that fees were indeed paid but for some reason are not being reflected in the filing.
It turns out this is 100% correct, and the Commission rescinded its erroneous application dismissal, which Tepper was unaware of when first contacted by RBR+TVBR.
This will put the transfer of KHWB back on course, eventually handing it to Maalouf. He is also known as the owner of “Idaho TV” KRID-22 in Boise, Idaho, which broadcasts from Deer Point Mountain near Bogus Basin Ski Resort. And, he’s the owner of Mr. Antenna, a rooftop digital antenna installation business.
