Federal Communications Commission DA 07-330 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In re Applications of Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc. For Renewal of Licenses for Stations WECO(AM) and WECO-FM Wartburg, Tennessee ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NAL/Acct. No. MB-20074141001 FRN: 0004052569 Facility I.D. No. 43778 File No. BR-20040614AAC Facility I.D. No. 43775 File No. BRH-20040614AAB MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AND NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE Adopted: January 26, 2007 Released: January 30, 2007 By the Chief, Media Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Commission has before it the captioned applications of Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc. (the “Licensee”), for renewal of its licenses for Stations WECO(AM) and WECO-FM (FM), Wartburg, Tennessee (the “Station”). In this Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“NAL”) issued pursuant to Sections 309(k) and 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), and Section 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules (the “Rules”),1 by the Chief, Media Bureau by authority delegated under Section 0.283 of the Rules,2 we find that the Licensee apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section 73.3539 of the Rules3 by failing to timely file the license renewal applications for the Stations. Based upon our review of the facts and circumstances before us, we conclude that the Licensee is apparently liable for a monetary forfeiture in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000), and we grant the captioned WECO(AM) and WECO-FM renewal applications. II. BACKGROUND 2. Section 73.3539(a) of the Rules requires that applications for renewal of license for broadcast stations must be filed “not later than the first day of the fourth full calendar month prior to the expiration date of the license sought to be renewed.”4 The applications for renewal of WECO(AM) and 1 47 U.S.C. §§ 309(k), 503(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80. 2 See 47 C.F.R. § 0.283. 3 See 47 C.F.R. § 73.3539. 4 47 C.F.R. § 73.3539(a). Federal Communications Commission DA 07-330 2 WECO-FM’s licenses should have been filed by April 1, 2004, four months prior to the Stations’ August 1, 2004, license expiration dates,5 but were not. In fact, the Licensee did not file the renewal applications until June 14, 2004, less than two months prior to the date the Stations’ license expirations. The Licensee provides no explanation for the untimely filing of the renewal applications. III. DISCUSSION 3. Proposed Forfeiture. In this case, the record indicates that the Licensee has failed to timely file license renewal applications for WECO(AM) and WECO-FM, as required by Section 73.3539(a) of the Rules. Moreover, as noted above, the Licensee did not provide an explanation for the late filing. 4. This NAL is issued pursuant to Section 503(b)(1)(B) of the Act. Under that provision, any person who is determined by the Commission to have willfully or repeatedly failed to comply with any provision of the Act or any rule, regulation, or order issued by the Commission shall be liable to the United States for a forfeiture penalty.6 Section 312(f)(1) of the Act defines willful as “the conscious and deliberate commission or omission of [any] act, irrespective of any intent to violate” the law.7 The legislative history to Section 312(f)(1) of the Act clarifies that this definition of willful applies to both Sections 312 and 503(b) of the Act,8 and the Commission has so interpreted the term in the Section 503(b) context.9 Section 312(f)(2) of the Act provides that “[t]he term ‘repeated,’ when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous, for more than one day.”10 5. The Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Section 1.80(b)(4) of the Rules establish a base forfeiture amount of $3,000 for the failure to file a required form.11 In determining the appropriate forfeiture amount, we must consider the factors enumerated in Section 503(b)(2)(D) of the Act, including "the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation, and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may require."12 6. In this case, the Licensee failed to timely file the WECO(AM) and WECO-FM renewal applications. Taking into consideration this fact, the fact that the renewal applications were filed prior to 5 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 73.1020, 73.3539(a). 6 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(B). See also 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(a)(1). 7 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(1). 8 See H.R. Rep. No. 97-765, 97th Cong. 2d Sess. 51 (1982). 9 See Southern California Broadcasting Co., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4387, 4388 (1991). 10 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(2). 11 See Forfeiture Policy Statement and Amendment of Section 1.80(b) of the Rules to Incorporate the Forfeiture Guidelines, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 17087, 17113-15 (1997) ("Forfeiture Policy Statement"), recon. denied, 15 FCC Rcd 303 (1999); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(4), note to paragraph (b)(4), Section I. 12 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2)(D); see also Forfeiture Policy Statement, 12 FCC Rcd at 17100; 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(4). Federal Communications Commission DA 07-330 3 expiration of the Stations’ licenses, and all of the factors required by Section 503(b)(2)(D) of the Act13 and the Forfeiture Policy Statement, we will reduce the forfeiture for the late filing from the base amount to $1,500 per Station, for a total proposed forfeiture of $3,000. 7. License Renewal Applications. In evaluating an application for license renewal, the Commission’s decision is governed by Section 309(k) of the Act.14 That Section provides that if, upon consideration of the application and pleadings, we find that: (1) the station has served the public interest, convenience, and necessity; (2) there have been no serious violations of the Act or the Rules; and (3) there have been no other violations which, taken together, constitute a pattern of abuse, we are to grant the renewal application.15 If, however, the licensee fails to meet that standard, the Commission may deny the application – after notice and opportunity for a hearing under Section 309(e) of the Act – or grant the application “on terms and conditions that are appropriate, including a renewal for a term less than the maximum otherwise permitted.”16 8. We find that the Licensee’s apparent violations of Section 73.3539 of the Rules do not constitute “serious violations” warranting designation of either renewal application for evidentiary hearing. Moreover, we find no evidence of violations that, when considered together, evidence a pattern of abuse.17 Further, we find that Stations WECO(AM) and WECO-FM (FM) each served the public interest, convenience, and necessity during their respective subject license terms. We will therefore grant the license renewal applications below. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules, that Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc. is hereby NOTIFIED of its APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for its apparent willful and repeated violation of Section 73.3539 of the Commission’s Rules. 10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules, that, within thirty (30) days of the release date of this NAL, Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc. SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. 13 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2)(D). 14 47 U.S.C. § 309(k). 15 47 U.S.C. § 309(k)(1). The renewal standard was amended to read as described by Section 204(a) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996). See Implementation of Sections 204(a) and 204(c) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Broadcast License Renewal Procedures), Order, 11 FCC Rcd 6363 (1996). 16 47 U.S.C. §§ 309(k)(2), 309(k)(3). 17 For example, we do not find here that the Licensee's operation of the Stations "was conducted in an exceedingly careless, inept and negligent manner and that the licensee is either incapable of correcting or unwilling to correct the operating deficiencies." See Heart of the Black Hills Stations, Decision, 32 FCC 2d 196, 198 (1971). Nor do we find on the record here that "the number, nature and extent" of the violations indicate that "the licensee cannot be relied upon to operate [the stations] in the future in accordance with the requirements of its licenses and the Commission's Rules." Heart of the Black Hills Stations, 32 FCC 2d at 200. See also Center for Study and Application of Black Economic Development, Hearing Designation Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4622 (1991), Calvary Educational Broadcasting Network, Inc., Hearing Designation Order, 7 FCC Rcd 4037 (1992). Federal Communications Commission DA 07-330 4 11. Payment of the proposed forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument, payable to the order of the Federal Communications Commission. The payment must include the NAL/Acct. No. and FRN No. referenced above. Payment by check or money order may be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, at P.O. Box 358340, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15251-8340. Payment by overnight mail may be sent to Mellon Bank/LB 358340, 500 Ross Street, Room 1540670, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15251. Payment by wire transfer may be made to ABA Number 043000261, receiving bank Mellon Bank, and account number 911-6106. 12. The response, if any, must be mailed to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington D.C. 20554, ATTN: Peter H. Doyle, Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau, and MUST INCLUDE the NAL/Acct. No. referenced above. 13. The Commission will not consider reducing or canceling a forfeiture in response to a claim of inability to pay unless the respondent submits: (1) federal tax returns for the most recent three- year period; (2) financial statements prepared according to generally accepted accounting practices (“GAAP”); or (3) some other reliable and objective documentation that accurately reflects the respondent’s current financial status. Any claim of inability to pay must specifically identify the basis for the claim by reference to the financial documentation submitted. 14. Requests for full payment of the forfeiture proposed in this NAL under the installment plan should be sent to: Associate Managing Director-Financial Operations, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A625, Washington, D.C. 20554.18 15. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 309(k) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, that the license renewal applications of Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc. for Stations WECO(AM) (File No. BRH-20040614AAC) and WECO-FM, Wartburg, Tennessee (File No. BRH-20040614AAB) ARE GRANTED. 16. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that copies of this NAL shall be sent, by First Class and Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Morgan County Broadcasting Co., Inc., P.O. Box 100, Wartburg, Tennessee 37887 and to its counsel, Peter Gutmann, Esquire, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, 1404 I Street, NW 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Monica Shah Desai Chief, Media Bureau 18 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1914.