Noncommercial Station Fined With Short-Term Renewal

Posted on March 31st, 2015 by

In the context of a consent decree, the FCC gave a college student-run noncommercial station a break on public file and ownership report rule violations, but issued a full fine for other rule violations – EAS CAP compliance and NCE station minimum operating schedule. The decision is a reminder that rule violations outside of the envisioned scope of the student-run station leniency policy will not enjoy special treatment.

The 3-year compliance plan agreed to by the station is very detailed, involving quarterly tracking and training, and annual certification to the FCC. And one year after that plan concludes, the station will have the privilege of filing for license renewal. That’s because the FCC tacked on a short-term license renewal for four years, instead of the normal eight.