Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1445 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Spartan-TV, LLC Licensee of Station WHTV(TV) Jackson, Michigan ) ) ) ) ) Facility I.D. No. 29706 NAL/Acct. No. 0841420051 FRN: 0004999611 NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE Adopted: June 23, 2008 Released: June 25, 2008 By the Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“NAL”) issued pursuant to Section 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, Video Division, Media Bureau pursuant to authority delegated under Section 0.283 of the Rules,2 we find that Spartan-TV, LLC (the “Licensee”), licensee of Station WHTV(TV), Jackson, Michigan (the “Station”), apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section 73.3526(e)(11)(i) of the Rules, by failing to place in the Station’s public inspection file all required TV issues/programs lists.3 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 ten thousand dollars ($10,000). II. BACKGROUND 2. Section 73.3526 of the Rules requires a commercial broadcast licensee to maintain a public inspection file containing specific types of information related to station operations.4 As set forth in subsection 73.3526(e)(11)(i), a TV issues/programs list is to be placed in a commercial TV broadcast station’s public inspection file each calendar quarter by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter. Where lapses occur in maintaining the public file, neither the negligent acts nor omissions of station employees or agents, nor the subsequent remedial actions undertaken by the licensee, excuse or nullify the licensee’s rule violation.5 3. On June 1, 2005, the Licensee filed its license renewal application (FCC Form 303-S) for Station WHTV(TV) (the “Application”) (File No. BRCT-20050601AUM). In response to Section IV, 1 47 U.S.C. § 503(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80. 2 See 47 C.F.R. § 0.283. 3 See 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526(e)(11)(i). 4 See 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526. 5 See Padre Serra Communications, Inc., 14 FCC Rcd 9709 (1999) (citing Gaffney Broadcasting, Inc., 23 FCC 2d 912, 913 (1970) and Eleven Ten Broadcasting Corp., 33 FCC 706 (1962)); Surrey Range Limited Partnership, 71 RR 2d 882 (FOB 1992). Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1445 2 Question 3 of the Application, the Licensee stated that, during the previous license term, it had failed to timely place in its public inspection file all of the documentation required by Section 73.3526 of the Rules. In Exhibit 17, the Licensee indicated that in an audit of the Station’s public inspection file in anticipation of the filing of the Application, it discovered that TV issues/programs lists from the third quarter of 1999 were missing. Upon discovery of this omission, the Licensee claimed, it reviewed records of the public affairs programming the Station aired during this period and recreated TV issues/programs lists for all of the missing quarters. The Licensee reported that it placed in the Station’s public file the recreated TV issues/programs lists. The Licensee also averred that, during the entire license term the Station aired programming intended to meet the needs and interests of the community. Finally, the Licensee described corrective measures it has taken to prevent recurrence of this violation. III. DISCUSSION 4. The Licensee’s failure to place in its Station WHTV(TV) public inspection file all required TV issues/programs lists constitutes an apparent willful and repeated violation of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(i) of the Rules. 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 $10,000 for public file violations.11 In determining the appropriate forfeiture amount, we may adjust the base amount upward or downward by considering 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 conceded that TV issues/programs lists for numerous quarters were missing from the public file. Accordingly, we find that the Licensee is apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of $10,000 for its apparent willful and repeated violation of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(i). IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 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 17100-01; 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(4); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(4), note to paragraph (b)(4), Section II. Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1445 3 7. 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 Spartan-TV, LLC is hereby NOTIFIED of its APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for its apparent willful and repeated violation of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(i) of the Commission’s Rules. 8. 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, Spartan-TV, LLC SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. 9. 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 in the caption above. Payment by check or money order may be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, at P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Payment by overnight mail may be sent to U.S. Bank-Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. Payment by wire transfer may be made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank: TREAS NYC, BNF: FCC/ACV--27000001 and account number as expressed on the remittance instrument. If completing the FCC Form 159, enter the NAL/Account number in block number 23A (call sign/other ID), and enter the letters “FORF” in block number 24A (payment type code). 10. 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: Barbara A. Kreisman, Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau, and MUST INCLUDE the NAL/Acct. No. referenced above. 11. 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. 12. 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. 20554.13 13. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that copies of this NAL shall be sent, by First Class and Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Spartan-TV, LLC, 5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1300, Los Angeles, California 90036, and to its counsel, Gregory L. Masters, Esquire, Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Barbara A. Kreisman Chief, Video Division Media Bureau 13 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1914.