Federal Communications Commission DA 15-907 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Abacus Television Licensee of Station WWAT-CD Uniontown, PA ) ) ) ) ) Facility ID No. 257 NAL/Acct. No.: 201541420025 FRN: 0008390981 NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE Adopted: August 11, 2015 Released: August 11, 2015 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 we find that Abacus Television (the “Licensee”), licensee of Station WWAT-CD, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, (the “Station”), apparently willfully and/or repeatedly violated Section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) of the Rules 2 by failing to file with the Commission in a timely manner its Children’s Television Programming Reports for eight (8) quarters. 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 six thousand dollars ($6,000). II. BACKGROUND 2. Section 73.3526 of the Rules requires each commercial broadcast licensee to maintain a public inspection file containing specific types of information related to station operations. 3 As set forth in subsection 73.3526(e)(11)(iii), each commercial television licensee is required to prepare and place in its public inspection file a Children’s Television Programming Report (FCC Form 398) for each calendar quarter reflecting, inter alia, the efforts that it made during that quarter to serve the educational and informational needs of children. That subsection also requires licensees to file the reports with the Commission, place them in their public file by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter, and publicize the existence and location of the reports. 4 3. On April 1, 2015, the Licensee filed its license renewal application (FCC Form 303-S) for the Station. 5 The Station disclosed in its application 6 and review of the Station’s online public file confirmed 1 47 U.S.C. § 503(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80. 2 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526(e)(11)(iii). 3 See generally, 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526. 4 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526(e)(11)(iii). 5 Application for Renewal of Broadcast Station License, File No. BRTTA -20150401ACW (“WWAT Renewal”). 6 WWAT Renewal at Exhibits 6 and 23. Federal Communications Commission DA 15-907 2 that the Station did not file its Children’s Television Programming Reports for eight (8) quarters in a timely manner. 7 III. DISCUSSION 4. The Licensee’s failure to file electronically the Station’s Children’s Television Programming Reports in a timely manner for eight (8) quarters constitutes an apparent willful and/or repeated violation of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) of the Rules. 5. 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. 8 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. 9 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, 10 and the Commission has so interpreted the term in the Section 503(b) context. 11 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.” 12 6. The Commission’s Forfeiture Policy Statement and the note to Section 1.80(b)(8) of the Rules establishes a base forfeiture amount of $3,000 for failure to file a required form or information. 13 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)(E) 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.” 14 7. Based on our review of the facts and circumstances before us, we find that the Licensee failed to file its Children’s Television Programming Reports in a timely manner for eight (8) quarters. Accordingly, we find that the Licensee is liable in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000) for its willful and/or repeated violations of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) of the Rules. 15 8. We also find, pursuant to Section 309(k) of the Act, 16 that the Licensee's apparent violation 7 According to Commission records, the Licensee filed its Children’s Television Programming Reports late for the following eight quarters: (1) third quarter 2010 (over one year late); (2) fourth quarter 2010 (months late); (3) first quarter 2011 (months late); (4) second quarter 2011 (months late); (5) third quarter 2011 (days late); (6) fourth quarter 2011 (weeks late); (7) second quarter 2012 (weeks late); (8) third quarter 2012 (months late). See also WWAT Renewal, Exhibit 6 (Licensee discloses late filing reports between 2010 and 2012). 8 Id.; see also 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(a)(2). 9 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(1). 10 See H.R. Rep. No. 97-765, 97 th Cong. 2d Sess. 51 (1982). 11 See Southern California Broadcasting Co., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4387, 4388 (1991). 12 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(2). 13 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)(8), note to paragraph (b)(8), Section I. 14 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2)(E); see also Forfeiture Policy Statement, 12 FCC Rcd at 17100-01; 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(8); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(8), note to paragraph (b)(8), Section II. 15 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526(e)(11)(iii). 16 47 U.S.C. § 309(k). Section 309(k) of the Act 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 (continued….) Federal Communications Commission DA 15-907 3 does not constitute a “serious violation” warranting designation for evidentiary hearing. Moreover, we find no evidence that the violations, when considered together, evidence a pattern of abuse. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 503(b), and Section 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.80, that Abacus Television, the licensee of Station WWAT-CD, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is hereby NOTIFIED of its APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000) for its apparent willful and/or repeated violations of Section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 73.3526(e)(11)(iii). 10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.80, that within thirty (30) days of the release date of this NAL Abacus Television SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. 11. Payments of the proposed forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument, wire transfer, or credit card, and must include the FRN referenced above. Electronic notification of payments should also be sent to Alison Nemeth at Alison.Nemeth@fcc.gov on the date payments are made. Regardless of the form of payment, a completed FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) must be submitted. 17 When completing the FCC Form 159, enter the Account Number in block number 23A (call sign/other ID) and enter the letters “FORF” in block number 24A (payment type code). Below are additional instructions you should follow based on the form of payment you select: 18 ? Payment by check or money order must be made payable to the order of the Federal Communications Commission. Such payments (along with the completed Form 159) must be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. ? Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001. To complete the wire transfer and ensure appropriate crediting of the wired funds, a completed Form 159 must be faxed to U.S. Bank at (314) 418-4232 on the same business day the wire transfer is initiated. ? Payment by credit card must be made by providing the required credit card information on FCC Form 159 and signing and dating the Form 159 to authorize the credit card payment. The completed Form 159 must then be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. 12. The response, if any, must be mailed to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, ATTN: Evan S. Morris, Attorney-Advisor, (Continued from previous page) 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. 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, 47 U.S.C. § 309(e)—or grant the application “on terms and conditions that are appropriate, including a renewal for a term less than the maximum otherwise permitted.” 47 U.S.C. § 309(k)(2). 17 An FCC Form 159 and detailed instructions for completing the form may be obtained at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf. 18 For questions regarding payment procedures, contact the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by phone at 1- 877-480-3201 or e-mail at ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission DA 15-907 4 Room 2-C827, Video 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. 19 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. 20 15. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that copies of this NAL shall be sent by First Class and Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Abacus Television, C/O Benjamin Perez, 514 Chautauqua Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214-3509. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Barbara A. Kreisman Chief, Video Division Media Bureau 19 See San Jose State Univ., 26 FCC Rcd 5908 (2011) (noting that, “[t]ypically, the Commission uses gross revenue as the primary measuring stick by which it evaluates a licensee's ability to pay. Other financial indicators may be considered….”). 20 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1914.