KSCO's wrong night pattern without authorization
Oct 25, 2022 0:16:35 GMT -6
Post by CAwasinNJ on Oct 25, 2022 0:16:35 GMT -6
KSCO has been running an improper night pattern without any authorization or STA since 1996.
docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1102A1.pdf
Yes, I said 1996. The last STA expired Nov 29 1996. That was nearly 26 years ago. The FCC received complaints in 2016 and 2020 and finally did something about it just last week. The proposed fine? A whopping $20,000. That's less than a grand a year. The station's excuse? Loss of coverage area. Sorry, but that's how AM radio works. And even with this finding the FCC has granted their license renewal, though only for 2 years.
It's happened over and over where a licensee breaks the rules and only stops once the FCC finally takes an interest, and by then the gains have likely outweighed whatever fines might be imposed. Radio companies must know this. I'm actually surprised there isn't more of it, but maybe there's a lot more than we know and it's still lurking in the darkness. The FCC needs to get serious about enforcing the regulations. Self regulating isn't working. Yes I know it costs money to do that, but there's an answer. Levy meaningful fines and have that money used exclusively for the funding of additional enforcement efforts. Detractors will probably say that such a plan would invite abuse. Appropriate safeguards would need to be in place, including some kind of an appeal process where the appellate panel would be independent in some way. Somehow I doubt any of this is going to happen.
Meanwhile, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel is all fired up about requiring foreign governments to identify themselves when they buy air time to spite the chilling effects on free speech, but that's a topic for another day.
docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1102A1.pdf
Yes, I said 1996. The last STA expired Nov 29 1996. That was nearly 26 years ago. The FCC received complaints in 2016 and 2020 and finally did something about it just last week. The proposed fine? A whopping $20,000. That's less than a grand a year. The station's excuse? Loss of coverage area. Sorry, but that's how AM radio works. And even with this finding the FCC has granted their license renewal, though only for 2 years.
It's happened over and over where a licensee breaks the rules and only stops once the FCC finally takes an interest, and by then the gains have likely outweighed whatever fines might be imposed. Radio companies must know this. I'm actually surprised there isn't more of it, but maybe there's a lot more than we know and it's still lurking in the darkness. The FCC needs to get serious about enforcing the regulations. Self regulating isn't working. Yes I know it costs money to do that, but there's an answer. Levy meaningful fines and have that money used exclusively for the funding of additional enforcement efforts. Detractors will probably say that such a plan would invite abuse. Appropriate safeguards would need to be in place, including some kind of an appeal process where the appellate panel would be independent in some way. Somehow I doubt any of this is going to happen.
Meanwhile, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel is all fired up about requiring foreign governments to identify themselves when they buy air time to spite the chilling effects on free speech, but that's a topic for another day.
