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Radio World

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Rosenworcel Defends 2023 Budget Request

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 12:47 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/rosenworcel-defends-2023-budget-request


Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is defending the FCC’s proposed fiscal 2023 budget as “balanced and cost-effective.”

In a letter to Rep. Bob Latta, ranking Republican on the House Subcommittee
on Communications and Technology, Rosenworcel said the request includes full-time equivalent job positions similar to the agency’s staffing in 2016.

“However, the challenges and statutory obligations that the agency must address are different today from those in the recent past and also
different from those three decades ago when the FCC had more than 2,000 employees,” Rosenworcel wrote.

“I believe today the agency requires a sophisticated IT workforce capable
of ensuring the safety and security of data and information provided by the entities we oversee as well those who depend upon our IT to engage with the government on a variety of communications-related issues.”

She said that to do its job in a fast-moving marketplace, the FCC needs
more engineers, technologists and other professionals.

“The request for increased staffing reflects our work to ensure that the
FCC can fulfill its longstanding statutory duties in light of these
challenges, as well as implement a number of new directives from Congress.”

Those directives include new efforts to address pirate radio through enforcement; a system-wide updating of FCC data collection practices; development of a process to address supply chain security through removal
of vulnerable equipment from U.S. communications networks; COVID-19 relief programs to support connectivity; and development of programs and
proceedings related to broadband access, digital discrimination and
broadband labeling.

Rosenworcel pointed out that Congress further wants the agency to provide
more resources for reviewing satellite license applications and related
work, commit more resources to wireless resiliency, spend money and
increase staff work on illegal robocalls, and continue efforts to ensure
that more spectrum is available for 5G.

She defended the FCC’s allocation of FTE resources to pursue a “100 Percent” broadband policy, which aims to help bring affordable high-speed broadband to all of the population.

Broadcast fees are not mentioned in her letter. The FCC is planning a 13% increase in fees on radio and TV stations. NAB has complained that
broadcasters should not be burdened with regulatory costs that aren’t
related to their own industry.

(Read Rosenworcel’s letter.)

The post Rosenworcel Defends 2023 Budget Request appeared first on Radio
World.


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Here Are the Marconi Award Finalists for 2022

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 11:24 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/programming-and-sales/here-are-the-marconi-award-finalists-for-2022


The National Association of Broadcasters announced finalists for the 2022
NAB Marconi Radio Awards.

LEGENDARY STATION OF THE YEAR

KCBS-AM, San Francisco, Calif.

KRLD-AM, Dallas, Texas

KTAR-FM, Phoenix, Ariz.

WIVK-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.

WLEN-FM, Adrian, Mich.



LEGENDARY RADIO MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Dr. René Heredia, Guadalupe Radio, Los Angeles, Calif.

Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian, Mich.

Pamela McKay, KMJQ-FM, Houston, Texas

Joel Oxley, WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.

Steve Wexler, WTMJ-AM, Milwaukee, Wis.



NETWORK/SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Erica Campbell, Reach Media, Dallas, Texas

D.L. Hughley, Reach Media, Dallas, Texas

George Noory, Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Dan Patrick, Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Dave Ramsey, Ramsey Media, Franklin, Tenn.



MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Danny Parkins and Matt Spiegel, WSCR-AM, Chicago, Ill.

Frank Ski, WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

Greg Hill, WEEI-FM, Boston, Mass.

Mark Hawkeye Louis and Michelle Rodriguez, KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

Mike Felger and Tony Massorotti, WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.



LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

C4 and Bryan Nehman, WBAL-AM, Baltimore, Md.

Chris OBrien and Janeen Coyle, WGRR-FM, Cincinnati, Ohio

Dave Ryan, KDWB-FM, Twin Cities, Minn.

Obie Diaz and Ashley Morrison, WWKA-FM, Orlando, Fla.

Tony Katz, WIBC-FM, Indianapolis, Ind.



MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Harlen the Sports Guy & Pigskin Bob, KYKX-FM, Tyler, Texas

Kevin Miller, KIDO-AM, Boise, Idaho

Mo & StyckMan, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Nancy Wilson and Woody, WHKO-FM, Dayton, Ohio

Roger Todd, Ashley Adams and Michele Silva, WJXB-FM, Knoxville, Tenn.



SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Andrew McKay, WNRP-AM, Pensacola, Fla.

Erin Hart and Chris Blood, KATI-FM, Columbia, Mo.

Kelly and Wood, KZPK-FM, St. Cloud, Minn.

Kristin Monica, KTXY-FM, Columbia, Mo.

Liz Del Grosso and Scotty Cox, KCLR-FM, Columbia, Mo.



MAJOR MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KTCK-AM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

WMMJ-FM, Washington, D.C.

WSB-AM, Atlanta, Ga.

WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.



LARGE MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KBCO-FM, Denver, Colo.

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh, Pa.

WIBC-FM, Indianapolis, Ind.

WKRQ-FM, Cincinnati, Ohio

WYCD-FM, Detroit, Mich.



MEDIUM MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

WHBC-AM, Canton, Ohio

WJBR-FM, Wilmington, Del.

WOWO-AM, Fort Wayne, Ind.

WSGW-AM, Saginaw, Mich.

WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, Tenn.



SMALL MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KCLD-FM, St. Cloud, Minn.

KIK-FM, Alexandria, Minn.

KMON-AM, Great Falls, Mont.

KROX-AM, Crookston, Minn.

WXFL-FM, Florence, Ala.



BEST RADIO PODCAST OF THE YEAR

American Nightmare Season 2: Murder in a Safe Place, WTOP-FM, Washington,
D.C.

Behind the Song, WDRV-FM, Chicago, Ill.

Bloomberg Businessweek, WBBR-AM, New York, N.Y.

COLD Season 2, KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, Utah

Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders, KYW, Philadelphia, Pa.



AC STATION OF THE YEAR

KSTP-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

WDUV-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.

WFLC-FM, Miami, Fla.

WRMF-FM, Palm Beach, Fla.

WWRM-FM, Tampa Bay, Fla.



CHR STATION OF THE YEAR

KTXY-FM, Columbia, Mo.

KRBE-FM, Houston, Texas

WBLI-FM, Long Island, N.Y.

WHYI-FM, Miami, Fla.

WWMX-FM, Baltimore, Md.



CLASSIC HITS STATION OF THE YEAR

WBGG-FM, Miami, Fla.

WBZO-FM, Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.

WMGK-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

WQLT-FM, Florence, Ala.

WRBQ-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.



COLLEGE RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

WGLS-FM, Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J.

WHPC-FM, Nassau Community College, Nassau County, N.Y.

WMSC-FM, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

WRHU-FM, Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.

WRRC-FM, Rider University, Trenton, N.J.



COUNTRY STATION OF THE YEAR

KATI-FM, Jefferson City, Mo.

KSCS-FM, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

WHKO-FM, Dayton, Ohio

WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, Ohio

WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.



NEWS/TALK STATION OF THE YEAR

KNX-AM, Los Angeles, Calif.

KTMY-FM, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

WKXW-FM, Trenton, N.J.

WLW-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio

WSB-AM, Atlanta, Ga.



RELIGIOUS STATION OF THE YEAR

KLTY-FM, Dallas, Texas

WFMV-AM, Columbia, S.C.

WKNZ-FM, Dover, Del.

WMIT-FM, Charlotte, N.C.

WPRS-FM, Washington, D.C.



ROCK STATION OF THE YEAR

KCMQ-FM, Columbia, Mo.

WBAB-FM, Long Island, N.Y.

WDRV-FM, Chicago, Ill.

WIYY-FM, Baltimore, Md.

WPLR-FM, New Haven, Conn.



SPANISH LANGUAGE STATION OF THE YEAR

KLNV-FM, San Diego, Calif.

KZNO, Los Angeles, Calif.

WOEX-FM, Orlando, Fla.

WYUU-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.

WZTU-FM, Miami, Fla.



SPORTS STATION OF THE YEAR

KNBR-AM, San Francisco, Calif.

WBZ-FM, Boston, Mass.

WIP-FM, Philadelphia, Pa.

WMFS-FM, Memphis, Tenn.

WXYT-FM, Detroit, Mich.



URBAN STATION OF THE YEAR

WBTJ-FM, Richmond, Va.

WALR-FM, Atlanta, Ga.

WKYS-FM, Washington, D.C.

WMBX-FM, West Palm Beach, Fla.

WWPR-FM, New York, N.Y.



Winners will be announced in October at the Marconi Radio Awards Dinner
held during NAB Show New York.

The awards are given to stations and on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.



The post Here Are the Marconi Award Finalists for 2022 appeared first on
Radio World.


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Audacy Improves Its Digital Offerings

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 10:37 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/audacy-improves-its-digital-offerings


Audacy is making improvements to its app and website. It said it is adding
more exclusive content, features and functionality. The changes will take
place over coming weeks and months, the company said in a blog post.

“At the heart of these updates lives truly interactive radio.” It said the changes will give listeners more control over streaming radio with
additional interactivity to live and on-demand content. 

Initial updates include a better rewind function.

“Listeners will be able [to] rewind our live spoken-word stations (news, sports and news/talk) and hear it all again, whenever they want, wherever
they are.” 


[Visit Radio World’s News and Business Page]

Audacy has also added chapters and descriptions to live radio streams,
helping listeners find specific content and “further combining the
experience of podcasts and on-demand radio.”

Another feature is curated discovery. Audacy promises a personalized, interactive experience, more customizable based on specific interests.

Audacy.com has been redesigned so that moving from web to mobile app and
back is smoother.

Finally, the company promises a better podcast experience. “And the Audacy app will now present radio and podcast content together, allowing listeners
to consume the latest content from the shows they love along with the
topics they’re interested in.”

The post Audacy Improves Its Digital Offerings appeared first on Radio
World.


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NAB Pushes Back Hard on FCC Fee Increase

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 09:15 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/nab-pushes-back-hard-on-fcc-fee-increase


Why should radio and TV stations subsidize the costs of FCC employees who
are tasked with pursuing “a 100 percent broadband policy”?

The National Association of Broadcasters is again asking that question and others, pushing back against a proposed 13% hike in broadcaster regulatory
fees that’s pending at the commission.

In reply comments filed Monday, the NAB pressed the FCC to continue to
exempt broadcasters from paying for costs associated with the
implementation of the Broadband DATA Act, and to exempt broadcasters from paying for Universal Service Fund activities.

It also asked the FCC to ensure that broadcasters are not responsible for
costs associated with the 84 direct full-time employees in the Media Bureau that are assigned to execute its broadband policy. “These FTEs [full-time equivalents] should instead be allocated as indirect FTEs or paid for
solely by cable/DBS providers to the extent they specially benefit from the broadband work performed.”

And it asked that the commission cap broadcasters’ fee increase at 5% so as not to impair their ability to serve their communities.

“The commission’s proposal to impose a 13% fee increase on broadcasters is unfair, unsustainable and unlawful,” NAB wrote. It echoed a filing by state broadcast associations, pointing out that the proposed increase in
broadcast fee revenue “nearly totals the commission’s entire budget increase. This outcome is simply indefensible and the product of an
outdated methodology.”

The association said big tech companies and other corporations should bear their share. “Shouting ‘Wi-Fi Tax!’ does nothing to change the equation. These major corporations exploit commission resources to generate
substantial revenues, yet rely on other industries to pay the tab.”

[Related: Consumer Technology Groups Argue Against Wi-Fi Tax]

The post NAB Pushes Back Hard on FCC Fee Increase appeared first on Radio World.


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Seven Texas Stations Limited to One-Year Renewals

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 08:54 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/seven-texas-stations-limited-to-one-year-renewals


The Federal Communications Commission is holding a broadcast licensee to
task after seven of its stations admitted they had each been silent for
nearly 12 months.

On March 29, 2021, Mekaddesh Group Corp. filed license renewal applications
for seven Texas stations including KZAM(FM) in Pleasant Valley, KEVK(FM) in Sanderson, KYLQ(FM) in Encinal, KEVQ(FM) in Crosbyton, KDSP(FM) in Spur, KEVM(FM) in Junction and KYLB(FM) in Turkey.

All seven of the stations had gone silent for a period of nearly 12 months
— many returning to the air the day before the 12-month clock would strike — accounting for 25% of its license term and an additional 40% of its extended term (which runs while renewal applications are being processed).
All of the stations fell silent in either January, February or March of
2021.

In a memorandum and order notice, the Media Bureau reminded Mekaddesh that remaining silent for a significant period of time is seen as a “fundamental failure” of its responsibilities as a broadcast licensee. In this case in particular, the commission said that Mekaddesh’s conduct has “fallen short of that which would warrant routine license renewal.”
According to its website, Mekaddesh Group is a corporation that acquires
mass media facilities and commercialize them through different forms such
as social networks, tv, radio and more. (Photo via Mekaddeshs website)

[Related: Silent for Half its License Term, Station Limited to One-Year Renewal]

As a result, the Media Bureau concluded that short-term license renewals
for the stations are an appropriate sanction. Although the bureau said the stations sought commission authorization for the silences, it did not find
that the stations served the public interest during the license term. In addition, it was revealed that the licensee also failed to comply with its online public inspection file requirements.

Because of this, the bureau agreed to enter into a consent decree with Mekaddesh and to grant a short-term license renewal of one year, which will give the bureau the opportunity to review the stations public service performances as well as future compliance with the Communications Act and
FCC Rules.

The station’s new one-year license renewal will expire on July 18, 2023, at which time the stations must also submit a compliance report to the Media Bureau.

The post Seven Texas Stations Limited to One-Year Renewals appeared first
on Radio World.


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Indiana Selectee Gets NCE Construction Permit Green Light

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 08:35 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/indiana-selectee-gets-nce-construction-permit-green-light


With six applicants vying for one construction permit for a new
noncommercial educational (NCE) station, confusion can set in
— particularly when there is a tentative selection, an objection, a petition, a denial, a grant, a repeal and finally a new tentative winner
along the way.

After the Federal Communications Commission initially selected six mutually exclusive applications as potential candidates during its November 2021
window for a new NCE FM station construction permit, the Media Bureau
conducted a fair distribution analysis and initially determined that two of those applications were eligible for a fair distribution preference — one
by World Federation of Pastors and Ministers of the Full Gospel Inc. and
one by New Beginnings Movement Inc.

Since the application by New Beginnings proposed a second NCE service that exceeded the application by the World Federation’s by more than 5,000
people, the Media Bureau initially chose New Beginnings as the tentative selectee of the group, known as NCE MX Group 95. With New Beginnings
serving Seymour, Ind., and World Federation serving Country Squire Lake,
Ind., the Group 95 included four other applications, all proposing to serve communities in Indiana: Olivet Nazarene University serving Bloomington;
Lushomo Health Education Centre and Appalachian Educational Communication
Corp. serving Ellettsville; and Community Radio for Hoosiers Inc. serving Seymour.

However, a petition filed by Lushomo argued that both the population
figures and the number of second NCE service numbers listed within New Beginnings’ application were incorrect. Lushomo argued that the real
figures are actually below the required thresholds (which require a station
to provide an aggregated first and second service to at least 2,000 people
and 10% of the population within the proposed 60 dBu contour). As a result, Lushomo argued that New Beginnings cannot claim a fair distribution
preference and the Media Bureau should rescind its tentative selection of
its application.

[See Our Business and Law Page]

In addition, an informal objection was filed against the World Federation application by an individual named Albert Alan David, who argued that the application contained incorrect population figures for first and second noncommercial service populations. Based on 2010 census data, far fewer
persons would receive first and second noncommercial service than the application claimed, David said. And even though World Federation responded
to say that David’s objection is moot because it amended its application to provide accurate population numbers, David argued that the initial
erroneous figures “appear to qualify as a willful false statement.”

Staff from the Media Bureau reviewed the population figures in both the New Beginnings application and the Lushomo petition and determined that the
data provided by New Beginnings was indeed erroneous. As a result, the
bureau granted the Lushomo petition, rescinded the New Beginnings
application and went about conducting a new fair distribution analysis
using population data that FCC staff has independently determined to be accurate.

Based on second NCE service population totals, the bureau said that both
World Federation and New Beginnings each looked to be eligible for a fair distribution of service preference. The other applicants are not, the
bureau said. As a result, Olivet Nazarene University, Lushomo, Appalachian
and Community Radio were each eliminated.

Using revised population data from the independent staff engineering
analysis, the bureau found that New Beginnings would serve a total
population of 28,622 people within its 60 dBu contour and would provide
first NCE service to 71 people, second NCE service to 928 people and
aggregate first/second NCE service to 999 people. Thus, the bureau said,
New Beginnings failed to meet the proper eligibility threshold because it
would not provide aggregated first and second NCE service to at least 2,000 people as required by the commission’s rules. Thus, the bureau eliminated
the New Beginnings application.

The bureau found that World Federation would provide a first or second NCE service to 6,293 people in total. As a result, the bureau named World Federation the new tentative selectee for NCE MX Group 95.

The bureau also rejected David’s suggestion that World Federation should be sanctioned for providing incorrect population figures. David does not cite
an instance where the bureau has sanctioned an NCE applicant for providing incorrect population data. In addition, there is no prohibition against a
party amending its application to reduce its competitive standing. As a
result, the bureau denied David’s objection.

The post Indiana Selectee Gets NCE Construction Permit Green Light appeared first on Radio World.


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Silent for Half its License Term, Station Limited to One-Year Renewal

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 08:00 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/silent-for-half-its-license-term-station-limited-to-one-year-renewal


The Federal Communications Commission considers silence — instead of
regular operation — a fundamental failure to serve a broadcast station’s community of license. And it takes a hard stance with stations that go
silent without authorization.

That was the case with station KJMU(AM) in Sand Springs, Okla. When the
station attempted to renew its license in January 2021, it revealed that it
had fallen silent for four periods during its previous license term, three
of which were nearly 12 months in length. That equated to the station being silent for 50% of its license term and 40% of its extended term (a term
that occurs while the license renewal application is pending).

The Media Bureau has made it clear that the basic duty of a broadcast
licensee is to broadcast to its community. As a result, it sees this type
of scenario as particularly egregious because a silent station can offer no public service programming, weather information or emergency alert notifications. Brief periods of operation that are sandwiched between
prolonged periods of silence are of little value, the bureau said, because
the local audience is not accustomed to tuning into the station’s frequency.

When it comes to renewing a station’s license, the bureau looks to see if a station has served the public interest, if there are any serious violations
of the Communications Act or FCC Rules and if there is any sort of pattern
of abuse. If a licensee fails to meet those standards, the bureau can deny
the application or grant one with certain terms and conditions.

[See Our Business and Law Page]

In this case, the Media Bureau found that the conduct of Birach
Broadcasting Corp., licensee of KJMU, had fallen short and that a routine license renewal was not warranted. “We cannot find that the station served the public interest, convenience and necessity during the license term due
to the extended periods of non-operation,” the bureau said. After Birach disclosed to the bureau that it also failed to comply with its online
public inspection file requirements, the bureau decided that a consent
decree with a short-term license renewal would be an appropriate sanction.

As a result, the bureau agreed to grant the station a short-term license renewal of one year, which will give the bureau the opportunity to review
the station’s public service performance as well as its compliance with the rules, and to take corrective actions if necessary. The agency specified
that instead of a full eight-year term, the station’s license will expire
on July 15, 2023. Birach must submit a renewal application by March 1,
2023. 

As part of the consent decree, Birach must designate a compliance officer, create a compliance plan, distribute a compliance manual to all employees, facilitate a compliance training program and submit a compliance report one year after entering into the consent decree with the bureau. 

The post Silent for Half its License Term, Station Limited to One-Year
Renewal appeared first on Radio World.


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No CP for Applicant in Chaparral, N.M.

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 07:42 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/no-cp-for-applicant-in-chaparral-n-m


An organization that wanted to build a new FM station in Chaparral, N.M.,
has lost an appeal at the FCC.

Centro Familiar de Restauracion y Vida had applied during last year’s NCE filing window and was placed in a group of seven mutually exclusive
applicants. The Media Bureau subsequently ran those applications through
its “fair distribution analysis” process and tentatively selected another applicant, Radio Bilingue Inc. But Centro filed a waiver request, arguing
that its application really was only mutually exclusive with two others —
and that both of those were defective, which would make Centro, it argued,
a “singleton” that should receive the CP.

The FCC now has said no, listing several reasons.

The commission says it has a policy of granting only one application per MX group and not permitting “secondary grants.” It reiterated that petitions to deny may not be filed against non-tentative selectees such as the two
other applicants mentioned above.

[See Our Business and Law Page]

It also does not generally consider informal objections or petitions to
deny in these circumstances unless the objection is to the accuracy of its
fair distribution analysis. And it does not generally review MX
applications for defects prior to being identified as tentative selectees.

The FCC also said that Centro’s waiver request failed to identify circumstances that warrant a waiver of the one-grant policy.

“The only justification Centro identifies for a waiver — that the Centro Application is only mutually exclusive with two technically defective applications, neither of which is the tentative selectee — is not a special circumstance because such a situation, where dismissing technically
defective applications would result in a singleton, is likely to occur repeatedly, particularly in large mutually exclusive application groups.”
And it said Centro failed to explain how the public interest would be
served by a waiver.

The commission denied the waiver request and dismissed Centro’s application for a CP.

The post No CP for Applicant in Chaparral, N.M. appeared first on Radio
World.

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