FCC Consent Decree Signals Fine For Unauthorized Trio Transfer

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A complaint filed in July 2013 by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, Calif., alleging an unauthorized transfer of control of three stations in the San Joaquin Valley of California has been settled by way of a FCC Consent Decree between the Media Bureau and the licensee.


Meanwhile, in TRANSACTIONS TODAY: An inspirational deal moves ahead in King City, Calif.

The Order, adopted and released on Wednesday (3/15), sees Katherine Bohn, licensee of Class D daytimer KVLI-AM 1140 and Class A KRVQ-FM 104.5 in Lake Isabella, Calif., and Class A KCNQ-FM 102.5 in Kernville, Calif., agree to an $8,000 civil penalty payment to the U.S. Treasury.

Bohn is also required to ensure that the stations have a full-time management and staff on the premises.

This requirement is tied to a complaint tied to an individual who experienced a two-hour delay in obtaining access to the stations’ public inspection files; Bohn was admonished by the FCC for not providing quicker access to the public files.

But, at the heart of the matter is Bohn’s failure to “maintain ultimate control” over the stations with regard to personnel, following a November 2010 transfer of control to Alta Sierra Broadcasting via a Time Brokerage Agreement that the FCC had not authorized.

The FCC reminded Bohn that TBAs “are not precluded by any Commission rule or policy, so long as the ownership rules are not violated and the participating licensee maintains ultimate control over its facilities.”

But, it added, “The licensee maintains such control when it holds ultimate responsibility for essential station matters such as programming, personnel, and finances.”

Calvary Chapel pastors provide much of the Christian Talk & Teaching programming for CSN, heard in Lake Isabella via translator K207DJ. CSN, along with religious non-comm network sibling Effect Radio, are the only other English-language broadcasters based in this recreational area to the northeast of Bakersfield.

TRANSACTIONS TODAY: MARCH 15, 2017

  • A Golden State Wolfhouse has made an “inspirational” sale to a for-profit religious broadcaster. In a deal valued at $775,000, Wolfhouse Radio Group — headed by Hector Villalobos — is selling KEXA-FM 93.9 in King City, Calif., to Inspiration Media Network. The buyer is making a $155,000 escrow deposit, through two installments of $77,500. The first installment was paid in February; the second installment will be paid when the FCC approves the deal. This is an LMA-to-buy agreement, and LMA payments will be credited toward payment of the second escrow deposit. Moving forward, Inspiration is tied to a promissory note valued at $620,000. There is no broker associated with this transaction. Legal representatives in the deal are Nancy Ory of Lerman Senter PLLC, representing the seller, and Frank Montero of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth, representing the buyer. IMN operates Spanish-language religious programming and is headed by Daniel Alcantar. Wolfhouse will continue to own KTGE-AM & KRAY-FM in Salinas, and KMJV-FM in Soledad, Calif. King City is a largely rural area located to the south of Salinas along the 101 Freeway.

 

  • Radio Training Network is selling FM Translator W283AV in Spartanburg, S.C., to FMX LLC for $50,000. A deposit of $5,000 has been made to the seller. This is a broker-free transaction. FMX is led by Ted McCall. W283AV has a Construction Permit that resulted in its relocation from the Myrtle Beach S.C., area. It now holds the 98.3 MHz dial position in the Greenville-Spartanburg market, and is the FM home of “Fox Sports Radio” WSPG-AM.