We guarantee that this is not the most white-hot controversial burning issue of the day – but we are talking about a station transaction application that may fly in the face of the rules.
The station is WMMT-LP Muskegon MI.
The seller is Muskegon Public Schools, headed by Superintendent Jon Felske.
The buyer is West Michigan Community Help Network, headed by President Paul Billings.
Both are non-profit organizations.
The price is $10. According to the contract, only the license for the station is being sold.
WMMT-LP is an LPFM on 106.1 MHz with 100 W @ 94’. It does the job of getting the center of the Muskegon market.
RBR+TVBR observation: Can you spot the problem?
It has nothing to do with the principals. LPFM is strictly a non-commercial class of station, and both fit the bill.
Its power it 100,000 – awesome right, until we confess that we’re talking milliwatts. The more usual unit of measurement for radio is the Watt, and on that score it only has 100, exactly in line with regulations for LPFMs.
The problem is the $10. There is no trafficking allowed in LPFM licenses.
We have stated in the past that it may be possible to sell LPFM equipment, but the license itself must be donated.
We had a commenter state that the FCC frowns even on minor price tags associated with LPFM-related equipment.
In any case, a license sale is absolutely out of bounds, and in this particular case, the $10 is specifically tied to the license.
The buyer would have done better to simply treat the seller to lunch and keep the $10 out of the deal entirely. It wouldn’t have to be anywhere fancy – a Five Guys could fill the bill if a milkshake is part of the order.
If you live in an area that deprives you of knowledge of Five Guys, you have our sympathy. As for us, we’ve been to one within the past few weeks and are a sure bet to pay many return visits.
