Enforcement Bureau = 1, WCWV = -$10,000

[Cameron]

NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE

Released: June 5, 2009

By the Acting District Director, Columbia Field Office, Northeast Region,
Enforcement Bureau:

I. INTRODUCTION

1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture ("NAL"), we find
that R-S Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("R-S Broadcasting"), licensee of
station WCWV, in Summersville, West Virginia, apparently willfully and
repeatedly violated Section 73.3526(e)(12) of the Commission's Rules
("Rules") by failing to maintain radio issues/programs lists in the
station's public inspection file. We conclude, pursuant to Section
503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"), that R-S
Broadcasting is apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of
ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

II. BACKGROUND

2. On July 22, 2008, the Columbia Field Office received information
regarding possible violations at station WCWV. In response, agents
from the Columbia Field Office scheduled an inspection of station WCWV
for August 15, 2008.

3. On August 15, 2008, agents conducted an inspection at WCWV's main
studio in Summersville, WV with the station's owner. While at the main
studio, the agents reviewed the contents of the public inspection file
and found that the public inspection file was missing some components.
Specifically, the last date for the radio issues/programs lists was in
2002. R-S Broadcasting is required to maintain in the public
inspection file all quarterly radio issues/programs lists since the
grant of the latest WCWV renewal application. WCWV's most recent
license renewal was granted on September 25, 2003. In its renewal
application, R-S Broadcasting certified in response to Section III,
Question 3, that the public inspection file for WCWV had the proper
documentation as required by 73.3526.

[Tom Taggart]

And Berkeley Radio just celebrated ten years of pirate broadcasting....

This raid is political, think about who benefits.

The public file is a joke, we've had one request from an actual "private citizen" to see it in 25 years.

The "issues" piece makes no sense, as there is no requirement for stations to broadcast a minimum % of news and public affairs. So why all the record keeping?

[Big Media]

The public file is a joke, we've had one request from an actual "private citizen" to see it in 25 years.

[stands and claps]

73.3613 is even more worthless. I am sure the blue hairs who constantly call to complain about this or that are gonna show up any minute to view our contracts on ownership report. I am sure they care about who are the long-term debt holders and what interest rate must be paid to said debt holders.

I would love to meet the jack-hat bureaucrat who decided what needed to be placed in the "public" file.

In my 15 + years, I had one request. It was during the democratic primary between Jim Humphrey and that woman he ran against (can't remember her name) and they were checking up on their competitor.

[genlock]

The whole thing is an exercise in clerking.
Government thinks paperwork is good even if unnecessary.

[Tom Taggart]

Keeps Washington employed.

Also note that FCC Commissioner McDowell recently revealed that the FCC had a 10 million $$ surplus for the last two years in just rregulatory fees

A tax is a tax is a tax.

[fmksey]

I sure feel for WCWV, I got the same forfeiture last year - but a whole lot less - $4000 for AM/$4000 for FM. I also had some EAS problems and they were not noted in the tech log ---- but Gorman Redlich comfirmed with the agent they were called and we were working on the problem. Meanwhile. I got my shit together and had the Texas Association of Broadcasters come and do their Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. They take the FCC check list and if you pass they send a certificate of compliance to the Commision. And for 3 years the Commission can't mess with you - over stuff on the check list.
They can visit over some other issue - but even then, they leave you alone checklist stuff. And it's cheap - $350.00 per station. BEST $700 I've ever spent.

[The People's DJ]

The public file is a joke, we've had one request from an actual "private citizen" to see it in 25 years.

As far as I know, my company has never had a request. In fact I don't think the "general" public even knows they can do that.

[djMatty]

And Berkeley Radio just celebrated ten years of pirate broadcasting....

This raid is political, think about who benefits.

The public file is a joke, we've had one request from an actual "private citizen" to see it in 25 years.

The "issues" piece makes no sense, as there is no requirement for stations to broadcast a minimum % of news and public affairs. So why all the record keeping?

Agreed...but i've always wanted to randomly walk into a Clear Channel station and ask to see it or call up one of the satelltators and ask to see theirs for fun ... ok maybe I am twisted and evil.

I really doubt 'most' know what a pubilc file is and want to see it. I know the year I worked at Clear Channel no one asked and then from 2002-2006 I was the MD/VTer/IT guy for a small rural 1kw FM and no one ever came in and asked to see it while I was there.