The FCC on Wednesday (8/2) entered into a Consent Decree with Mountain Broadcasting Corp. that resolves issues tied to the license renewal application of the company’s full-power UHF station serving the New York Tri-State Area.
The agreement was struck after the station was found to be deficient in its failure to display the “E/I” symbol throughout the duration of all educational programming.
Mountain’s WMBC-63 in Newton, N.J., also was faulty in its failure to provide publishers of program guides information relating to its educational and information programming, in particular programming of appeal to children.
Also of issue is WMBC’s failure to prepare and place in its public inspection file a Children’s Television Programming Report (FCC Form 398) for each calendar quarter reflecting,
among other things, the efforts it made during that quarter to serve the educational and informational needs of children.
“After reviewing its terms, we find that adopting the Consent Decree would serve the
public interest,” Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey said. “We conclude that there are no substantial or material questions of fact regarding Mountain Broadcasting’s qualifications to remain a Commission licensee.”
Mountain is making a $17,500 payment to the U.S. Treasury to resolve the issue; it is not a forfeiture and is a part of the Consent Decree.
