More problems for AASAA Media/KMRI

[CAwasinNJ]

AASAA Media has been placed into involuntary receivership. FCC filing is here: licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101816719&formid=314&fac_num=25405

I'm not a lawyer or good at legalese but it looks like AASAA didn't pay what they agreed to, got taken to court and now a receiver is taking control of the company. The court order and FCC filing says that Nicolas Vicente didn't respond to the court date and isn't cooperating with the receiver. Given what we've heard of Mr Vicente's previous dealings this isn't a surprise to me.

I don't know what's really going on behind the scenes with him, but the evidence suggests that he is unable (whether intentionally or not) to fulfill his obligations. This has come up before obviously with KXOL. I don't think he currently has any other broadcast interests; am I forgetting any? This action might lead to someone else owning KMRI and that might be a good thing. Broadcasting relies on trust. The FCC can't be everywhere all the time.

Do you think he will square away the legal problems and get control of the station back? With the tower down and the station off the air is it even worth it? My strictly armchair quarterback opinion is to just throw in the towel.

[stickman2]

Not at all ... It is my impression he (Vicente & Co.) has defaulted on the court appearances... If the receiver gets 1550 back on the air (even by Longwire) it would too expensive to rebuild the tower. I would bet the Receiver or who ever gets the signal in a court auction will be forced to move it. Due to the fact that the 1550 tower sat on a landfill and the ground underneath may not hold a brand new tower because of the piling and anchor requirements.

[David]

The only problem with not rebuilding KMRI's tower is that KIHU used both towers at night to operate directionally. If the second tower isn't replaced, that's going to cause some issues for KIHU's continued operation. Of course, the now deleted KTKK operated under an STA for years before they finally moved 630's programming to KBJA 1640, so it's possible that the FCC won't make KIHU replace the second tower and may just let them continue to operate non-directionally at reduced power. Does anyone know if the FCC has a time limit on an STA for a modification to a licensed facility?

[CAwasinNJ]

stickman2, I'm curious why you think a substantial foundation couldn't be built on the existing property. The site is in the middle of what looks like a test track for the driving school. I don't see why there couldn't be a substantially large and deep footing there if it were needed. There seems to be plenty of room in the road to me. There would also be a major problem in finding a new site.

KIHU is much easier if they actually had to, but since they probably won't have to it isn't worth worrying about right now. I've never heard of a time limit on STA's other than being silent, but the key would be convincing the Commission there's a good reason to renew it.