Civil Penalty Comes To Silberberg For Improper License Transfer

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On January 13, 2021, the founder and owner of a licensee operating in New England died of lung cancer, just months after receiving the diagnosis. As such, Northeast Broadcasting needed to file paperwork at the FCC indicating the death of Steven Silberberg. 


It now appears that the company, whose assets include WXRV “The River” in Boston and WNCS, home of “The Point Radio Network” in Vermont, didn’t make the requisite moves it needed to take to indicate a change in ownership for the group of stations.

The solution is the signing of a consent decree with the Commission that sees Northeast pay a substantial civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury.

According to Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer, issues arose regarding the Bureau’s review of the proposed transfer of control of all of the licenses associated with the late Steven Silberberg to family member Jacob Silberberg, who is serving as trustee.

There were also issues regarding the license renewal of WRSA-AM in St. Albans, Vt., and FM translator W299AM in Lebanon, N.H.

What happened? The collective licensees associated with the late Mr. Silberberg should have filed applications for involuntary transfer of control within 30 days of his passing.

The Bureau also says Jacob Silberberg assumed de facto control of the licensees without obtaining prior Commission approval for the non pro forma transfer of control.

Steven Silberberg’s death from lung cancer was a surprise to many, but not a sudden death. Furthermore, Donald St. Sauveur serves as COO of Northeast Broadcasting, and took on the key operational role in autumn 2019.

Regarding WRSA and W299AM, the stations apparently were off the air without Commission consent, as each licensee failed to extend Special Temporary Authority upon expiration. For WRSA, the extension came two months after expiration; for W299AM it did not come until seven months after expiration.

Rather than assess a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the Bureau and Northeast Broadcasting agreed to terminate all proceedings, with a Consent Decree signed by both parties. Importantly, this sees Northeast Broadcasting make a $25,000 payment to the U.S. Treasury. It is not a fine or forfeiture, and there will be no record of any non-compliant activity resulting in fiscal penalties for Silberberg’s stations.