FCC regulations require that an application for a renewal of a station’s license be filed on the first business day following the first day of the fourth full calendar month prior to the station’s license expiration date.
While that’s a mouthful, even the worst math student knows that this doesn’t mean the filing can be done the day before the license expiry date.
Unfortunately, a Lone Star State AM’s owner didn’t do their math homework.
For KLLS-AM 1300 in Lumberton, Tex., a facility with 2 towers licensed for 2kw during daylight hours and 270 watts at night, a license renewal application was due to the Commission by April 3, 2017.
The station’s license was to expire on August 10.
The filing was made on August 9, with no explanation for the untimely filing of its renewal application.
While this would lead the Commission to issue a base forfeiture in the amount of $3,000, it did take into account that the renewal application was filed prior to KLLS’ license expiry date.
Thus, the fine was cut in half, and KLLS now owes the Commission $1,500 for its transgression.
KLLS is owned by Southeast Texas Telecom and is presently listed as silent.
The station’s tower is just to the north of Beaumont, Tex., which experienced significant flooding during and after Hurricane Harvey.
The storm took place well after the expiration date of KLLS’s license.
