The owner of an FM translator serving the Mississippi city of Canton has entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC that resolves a matter in which it faced a fine for being late with its respective license renewal applications.
In July 2024, Marion R. Williams was handed a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $6,500 for the tardy license renewal for W288DU in Canton, Miss., just north of Jackson.
February 3, 2020 was the deadline for filing a license renewal application. The license for W288DU expired on June 1, 2020. Fast-forward to April 2024, when a license renewal application was filed.
That’s problematic, as the FM translator had let its previous license expire and was apparently engaged in unauthorized broadcasts, as a Special Temporary Authorization request was not submitted.
Williams replied. He said W288BU’s license renewal application was late-filed due to an “administrative error.” Specifically, Williams’ counsel previously filed a license renewal application for the station.
That said, a proposed $1,500 fine wasn’t an issue, but the imposition of an additional $5,000 fine for unauthorized operation of W288DU was something Williams contests.
This led to some negotiation. And, the Audio Division of the Media Bureau, led by Al Shuldiner (pictured, top left), acquiesced. As such, the $1,500 will be considered a civil penalty, payable by Williams to the U.S. Treasury.
The $5,000 fine is erased, and the matter will now be closed.
Williams’ legal counsel is Allan G. Moskowitz, Esq.
