The Federal Communications Commission proposed easing several decades-old regulations on broadcasters, including one that prevents companies from owning a broadcast station and newspaper in the samecity and another prohibiting a company from owning more than one national television network.
In a biennial review that Congress ordered as part of its overhaul of the telecommunications industry four years ago, the F.C.C. said it had begun preparing new rules to relax, but not eliminate, both the cross-ownership and dual-network restrictions.
It also proposed changing the manner in which the listening audience of local radio markets is measured by regulators in a way that could enable companies to own more stations than they do under current limits.
NOTE: There will be a period for public comment on these matters, so be prepared to give your input! The Telecom Act of '96 was passed without public input -- now it's time to rectify that situation. If they are not going to repeal the Telecom Act outright, it may be time for some serious modifications.
FCC Overview of Telecom Act Review
The Mass Media Bureau issues this Public Notice to announce that low power FM (LPFM) new station construction permit applications (Form 318) may be filed electronically during the May 30, 2000 - June 5, 2000 LPFM window. This Notice also provides additional guidance on filing procedures for LPFM stations located in the jurisdictions included in the upcoming window: Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Mariana Islands, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah. Click here for details: FCC Public Notice
Link to Form 318
On May 24th, 2000, Senators Kerrey and McCain, along with nine others, sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter to their fellow Senators in support of the Low Power FM Radio plan enacted by the FCC. If your Senator signed the letter, please contact them and tell them of your appreciation. If your Senator did not sign the letter, contact them and explain that you support LPFM and you'd like them to as well. You might wish to send a copy of the letter along to them.
Read the letter here: Kerrey-McCain Letter
Radio Unica Communications Corp., the only national, 24-hour Spanish language radio network in the U.S., announced that is has acquired radio station KQTL-1210 AM in Tucson from CIMA Broadcasting. The acquisition is subject to FCC approval and is expected to close in approximately 90 days.
KQTL-1210 AM is the leading Spanish-language radio station in the Tucson market. Tucson's population is 32.5% Hispanic, representing the 20th largest Hispanic market in the nation. Radio Unica also owns Phoenix radio station 740 AM and with this acquisition owns quality stations in both markets. With the Tucson acquisition, Radio Unica
now owns 16 stations in 14 of the nation's top 20 Hispanic markets.
Radio Unica Communications Corp. is the only nationwide Spanish-language radio network reaching approximately 80 percent of Hispanic USA through a group of owned and/or operated stations and affiliates nationwide.
Cox Radio, Inc. announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of the assets of KINE-FM, KCCN-FM and KCCN-AM, serving the Honolulu, Hawaii market for approximately $17.8 million in cash. In addition, Cox Radio also announced it has completed its previously announced sale of radio station KGMZ-FM serving the Honolulu market to Honolulu Broadcasting, Inc. for approximately $6.6 million in cash.
In conjunction with the sale of KGMZ-FM, Cox Radio entered into a joint sales agreement ("JSA") with Honolulu Broadcasting whereby Cox Radio will manage the local, regional and national sales efforts for KGMZ-FM.
Cox Radio owns, operates or provides sales and marketing services for five FM and two AM stations serving the Honolulu market, the nation's 60th largest radio revenue market.
Cox Radio is the fifth largest radio company in the United States based on net revenues. Pending the close of all announced transactions, Cox Radio will own, operate or provide sales and marketing services for 82 stations (63 FM and 19 AM) clustered in 17 markets including major markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Tampa, Orlando and San Antonio.
Triad Broadcasting Company, L.L.C., of Monterey, California, owner and operator of small and mid-market radio stations, announced that the company has completed its acquisition of four radio stations in Lincoln, Nebraska, and one radio station in Beatrice, Nebraska, from J.C. Acquisition, L.L.C., in a transaction valued at approximately $12 million. Including the five new stations in Lincoln and Beatrice, Triad Broadcasting Company currently owns and/or operates a total of 22 radio stations in the following markets: six radio stations in Biloxi, Mississippi; five radio stations in Fargo, North Dakota; and six radio stations in Rapid City, South Dakota. In addition, Triad announced last week that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire three radio stations in Tallahassee, Florida, from Capital City Radio Partners, Inc. Completion of the transaction is expected to occur by the end of the third quarter of this year, subject to FCC approval and other customary closing conditions.
Radio One, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Infinity Broadcasting to acquire the assets of radio station KLUV-AM in Dallas, Texas for approximately $16 million. This acquisition follows the Company's announcement in March that it is acquiring 12 radio stations from Clear Channel Communications, and AMFM, Inc. including KBFB-FM, also located in the Dallas market. The Company expects both of these acquisitions to close by the end of the third quarter.
Radio One is the nation's largest radio broadcasting company primarily targeting African-American and urban listeners. Pro forma for all announced acquisitions, the Company owns and/or operates 49 radio stations, 48 of which are located in 14 of the 20 and 18 of the 40 largest African-American markets in the United States.
Citadel Communications Corporation announced that its principal operating subsidiary, Citadel Broadcasting Company (Citadel), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of eleven radio stations from Dick Broadcasting Company, as well as a twelfth station operated under a long-term local marketing agreement, for approximately $300 million in cash.
Upon consummation of the agreement, Citadel will add to its portfolio two FM stations in Nashville, Tennessee, the nation's 43rd largest market, three FM and two AM stations in Birmingham, Alabama, the nation's 55th largest market, and one AM and four FM stations (one of which is operated under a long-term local marketing agreement) in Knoxville, Tennessee, the nation's 69th largest market.
Citadel is a radio broadcasting company that, upon completion of pending transactions, will own or operate 147 FM and 64 AM stations concentrated in 45 markets.ardlink: 09:38 AM
Cumulus Media Inc. announced that it will acquire 11 stations in 4 markets from Clear Channel Communications and will provide in return 25 stations in 5 markets plus cash.
The stations and markets Cumulus is acquiring include:
Melbourne-Titusville-Cocoa, Florida (Market Rank # 96) - WHKR-FM. In this market, Cumulus recently agreed to purchase WAOA-FM and WTMS-AM from Southern Broadcast Group, LLC.
Shreveport, Louisiana (Market Rank # 129) - KRDM-FM, KRMD-AM, KMJJ-FM.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Market Rank # 201) - KHAK-FM, KRNA-FM, KDAT-FM.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Market Rank # 76) WTCY-AM, WNCE-FM, WTPA-FM, WNNK-FM.
Cumulus will provide Clear Channel the following station assets as part of the transaction:
Chattanooga, Tennessee (Market Rank # 104) - WUSY-FM, WKXJ-FM, WLMX-FM, WIIS-AM, WLOV-FM.
McAllen, Texas (Market Rank # 63) - KTEX-FM, KBFM-FM.
Ann Arbor, Michigan (Market Rank # 145) - WIQB-FM, WQKL-FM, WTKA-AM, WYBN-AM.
Salisbury, Maryland (Market Rank # 150) - WLVW-FM, WQHQ-FM, WTGM-AM, WSBY-FM, WJDY-AM, WWFG-FM, WLBW-FM, WOSC-FM.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Market Rank # 231) - WATQ-FM, WBIZ-AM, WBIZ-FM, WMEQ-AM, WMEQ-FM, WQRB-FM.
Assuming completion of all pending acquisitions and divestitures, Cumulus Media will own and operate 304 radio stations in 60 U.S. media markets.
May 17, 2000 - Washington, D.C. - Today, the Federal Communications Commission announced that an investigation by the Commission's Enforcement Bureau has led to the arrest of Mr. Vladimir Petit-Frere for operating an unlicensed FM radio station on 88.5 MHz in Brooklyn, New York. Special agents of the FBI arrested Mr. Petit-Frere on May 10, 2000, working in conjunction with FCC agents and Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Pokorny in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Prior Commission actions had failed to deter Mr. Petit-Frere's unlicensed operation of the FM station. The Commission, on more than one occasion, had issued letters of warning to Mr. Petit-Frere directing him to cease operation of the unlicensed station. Further, the U.S. Marshal Service, in conjunction with the Unites States Attorney's Office and the FCC, had seized his radio transmitting equipment.
The operation of an unlicensed broadcast station is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Operators of illegal, unlicensed broadcast stations may be subject to monetary penalties of up to $11,000 per violation, seizure by court order of all radio equipment involved in the operation, or court order directing the operation of the unlicensed station to cease. In addition, unlicensed operators may be subject to criminal fines or imprisonment, or both. Since January 1, 2000, investigations of unlicensed broadcast operations by the Commission's Enforcement Bureau have resulted in the shut down of 44 unlicensed stations, one Notice of Apparent Liability for a forfeiture, seven court-ordered seizures of radio equipment, three court orders ceasing operation of an unlicensed station, and one arrest.
Public interest groups kicked off a media campaign Tuesday to defend a government plan authorizing hundreds of low-power FM radio stations.
Full-page ads in The Washington Post and The New York Times urged consumers to mail cut-out coupons to the White House and Senate and House lawmakers. The ads accuse the broadcasting lobby of trying "to keep broadcasting in the hands of a few corporations. Which means that all radio, once the most diverse and local of mediums, sounds the same everywhere."
The Media Access Project, a public interest law firm in Washington and the Public Media Center, a nonprofit advocacy agency in San Francisco, jointly funded the ads, which also are appearing in papers on Capitol Hill and about a dozen regional dailies across the nation.
"We are hoping for a substantial response," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman president of the Media Access Project.
FCC to accept Low Power FM applications May 30 through June 5, 2000 for Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Mariana Islands, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Utah. See the story link above to read the FCC's full public notice.