A low-power FM radio station serving the Florida city of Palatka has avoided a FCC financial penalty for filing its license renewal application after the due date.
As such, this mini-radio facility is getting an admonishment, with its forfeiture cancelled by the Commission.
A Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture was issued to Minority Educational Broadcasting Association — licensee of WPJM-LP in Palatka — for its tardiness with respect to its license renewal application.
That tardiness resulted in unauthorized operation of the LPFM.
As such, the Commission proposed a $3,500 reduced forfeiture, reflecting its status as a secondary broadcast facility.
In its response, MEBA noted that its act was not “willful,” but rather an “unintentional oversight,” and argued that the Commission did not give Licensee opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance in accordance with section 558(c)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner said sorry, but “we are not persuaded” by that argument.
More integral to the NAL is the fact that MEBA is unable to pay the fine, due to financial concerns. After reviewing the numbers, Shuldiner agreed that the forfeiture would create a financial hardship.
Thus, an admonishment was given, and no funds are due to the FCC.
