Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-105


Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554

In re Application of  

Magnolia State Broadcasting, Inc.

For Renewal of License for
Station WMOX(AM)
Meridian, Mississippi
)
)
)
)
)
)
)


Facility ID No. 7073
NAL/Acct. No. MB-202241410002
FRN:  0029854825
File No. 0000122315

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER 
AND
NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE

Adopted:  February 3, 2022		Released:  February 3, 2022

By the Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau:

I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Media Bureau (Bureau) has before it the application (Application) File No. 0000122315.  
 of Magnolia State Broadcasting, Inc. (Licensee) for renewal of its license for Station WMOX(AM), Meridian, Mississippi (Station).  In this Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) This NAL is issued pursuant to sections 309(k) and 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and section 1.80 of the FCC’s rules (Rules).  See 47 U.S.C. §§ 309(k), 503(b); 47 CFR § 1.80.  The Bureau has delegated authority to issue the NAL under section 0.283 of the Rules.  See 47 CFR § 0.283.  
 we find that Licensee apparently willfully violated section 73.3539 of the Rules See 47 CFR § 73.3539.
 by failing to file a timely license renewal application for the Station, and willfully and repeatedly violated section 301 of the Act See 47 U.S.C. § 301.
 by engaging in unauthorized operation of the Station after its authorization had expired.  Based upon our review of the record before us, we conclude that Licensee is apparently liable for a monetary forfeiture in the amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000).
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.” 47 CFR § 73.3539(a).  
  An application for renewal of the Station’s license should have been filed by February 3, 2020, four months prior to the license expiration date of June 1, 2020. See 47 CFR §§ 73.1020, 73.3539(a).
  No application was filed, and the Station’s license expired on June 1, 2020 as a matter of law. Radio License Expirations, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 4784 (MB 2020).
  On June 5, 2020, Licensee sought reinstatement of the Station’s license, which the Bureau treated as a petition for reconsideration, granted the petition, and reinstated the Station’s license. Broadcast Actions, Public Notice, Report No. 29799 (MB 2020).
  The Station’s Application was then filed on September 25, 2021.  Licensee did not request special temporary authority (STA) to operate the Station following the expiration of the Station’s license.
III. DISCUSSION
3. Proposed Forfeiture.  In this case, Licensee has failed to file a timely license renewal application for the Station as required by section 73.3539(a) of the Rules.  Moreover, it continued operating the Station after the license expired on June 1, 2020, without requesting STA, in violation of section 301 of the Act.  
4. This NAL is issued pursuant to section 503(b)(1)(B) of the Act.  Under that provision, a person who is found 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. 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(B).  See also 47 CFR § 1.80(a)(1).
  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. 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(1).
  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, See H.R. Rep. No. 97-765, 97th Cong. 2d Sess. 51 (1982).
 and the Commission has so interpreted the term in the section 503(b) context. See Southern California Broad. Co., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4387, 4388, para. 5 (1991), recon. denied, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 7 FCC Rcd 3454 (1992).
  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.” 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(2). 
  
5. The Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and section 1.80(b)(9) of the Rules establish a base forfeiture amount of $3,000 for the failure to file a required form. 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, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 303 (1999); 47 CFR § 1.80(b)(10), note to paragraph (b)(10), Section I.
  The guidelines also specify a base forfeiture amount of $10,000 for construction and/or operation without an instrument of authorization for the service. A broadcast station requires an authorization from the Commission to operate.  See 47 U.S.C. § 301.
  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.” 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2)(E); see also Forfeiture Policy Statement, 12 FCC Rcd at 17100; 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(b)(8).
 
6. Based on our review of the facts and circumstances, we tentatively find that a $7,000 forfeiture is appropriate.  Licensee failed to file a timely license renewal application for the Station, continued operating the Station after the license expired on June 1, 2020, and never filed for STA to operate the Station after its license expired.  Taking into consideration all of the factors required by section 503(b)(2)(E) of the Act and the Forfeiture Policy Statement, we propose a forfeiture for the full $3,000 amount for the failure to file a timely renewal application but reduce the proposed forfeiture for the unauthorized operation from the $10,000 base amount to $4,000. See 47 CFR § 1.80, note to paragraph (b)(9), sec. I, Base Amounts for Section 503 Forfeitures.
  Accordingly, we tentatively find that, considering the record as a whole, a $7,000 forfeiture is appropriate for the violations in this case.  See, e.g., Chisholm Trail Commc'ns, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 33 FCC Rcd 107 (MB 2018) ($7,000 forfeiture assessed where licensee failed to timely file renewal application and continued station operations after expiration of license).
  
7. License Renewal Application.  In evaluating an application for license renewal, the Commission’s decision is governed by section 309(k) of the Act. 47 U.S.C. § 309(k).
  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. 47 U.S.C. § 309(k)(1).
  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.” 47 U.S.C. §§ 309(k)(2), 309(k)(3).

8. We find that Licensee’s apparent violation of section 73.3539 of the Rules and section 301 of the Act do not present “serious violations” warranting designation for evidentiary hearing.  Moreover, we find no evidence of violations that, when considered together, constitute a pattern of abuse. For example, we do not find here that Licensee’s operation of the Station “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, para. 6 (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 Station] in the future in accordance with the requirements of its licenses and the Commission's Rules.”  Id. at 200.  Compare with Center for Study and Application of Black Economic Development, Hearing Designation Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4622 (1991), Calvary Educational Broad. Network, Inc., Hearing Designation Order, 7 FCC Rcd 4037 (1992).
  Further, based on our review of the Application, we find that the Station served the public interest, convenience, and necessity during the subject license term.  We will therefore grant the Application by separate action upon the conclusion of this forfeiture proceeding if there are no issues other than the apparent violation that would preclude grant of the Application.
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, 47 U.S.C. § 503(b); 47 CFR § 1.80.
 that Magnolia State Broadcasting, Inc., is hereby NOTIFIED of its APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE in the amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) for its apparent willful violation of section 73.3539 of the Commission’s rules and its apparent willful and repeated violation of section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
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, Magnolia State Broadcasting, Inc., SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.  
11. Payment of the forfeiture must be made by credit card, ACH (Automated Clearing House) debit from a bank account using CORES (the Commission’s online payment system), Payments made using CORES do not require the submission of an FCC Form 159.
 or by wire transfer.  Payments by check or money order to pay a forfeiture are no longer accepted.  Below are instructions that payors should follow based on the form of payment selected: For questions regarding payment procedures, please contact the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by phone at 1-877-480-3201 (option #6), or by e-mail at ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.  
 
· Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001.  A completed Form 159 must be faxed to the Federal Communications Commission at 202-418-2843 or e-mailed to RROGWireFaxes@fcc.gov on the same business day the wire transfer is initiated.  Failure to provide all required information in Form 159 may result in payment not being recognized as having been received.  When completing FCC Form 159, enter the Account Number in block number 23A (call sign/other ID), enter the letters “FORF” in block number 24A (payment type code), and enter in block number 11 the FRN(s) captioned above (Payor FRN). Instructions for completing the form may be obtained at https://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf. 
  For additional detail and wire transfer instructions, go to https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer.
· Payment by credit card must be made by using the Commission’s Registration System (CORES) at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do.  To pay by credit card, log-in using the FCC Username associated to the FRN captioned above.  If payment must be split across FRNs, complete this process for each FRN.  Next, select “Manage Existing FRNs | FRN Financial | Bills & Fees” from the CORES Menu, then select FRN Financial and the view/make payments option next to the FRN.  Select the “Open Bills” tab and find the bill number associated with the NAL/Acct. No.  The bill number is the  NAL Acct. No. (e.g., NAL/Acct. No. 1912345678 would be associated with FCC Bill Number 1912345678).  After selecting the bill for payment, choose the “Pay by Credit Card” option.  Please note that there is a $24,999.99 limit on credit card transactions.
· Payment by ACH must be made by using the Commission’s Registration System (CORES) at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/paymentFrnLogin.do.  To pay by ACH, log in using the FRN captioned above.  If payment must be split across FRNs, complete this process for each FRN.  Next, select “Manage Existing FRNs | FRN Financial | Bills & Fees” on the CORES Menu, then select FRN Financial and the view/make payments option next to the FRN.  Select the “Open Bills” tab and find the bill number associated with the NAL/Acct. No.  The bill number is the NAL/Acct. No. (e.g., NAL/Acct. No. 1912345678 would be associated with FCC Bill Number 1912345678).  Finally, choose the “Pay from Bank Account” option.  Please contact the appropriate financial institution to confirm the correct Routing Number and the correct account number from which payment will be made and verify with that financial institution that the designated account has authorization to accept ACH transactions.
12. Any request for making full payment over time under an installment plan should be sent to:  Associate Managing Director—Financial Operations, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20554. See 47 CFR § 1.1914.
  Questions regarding payment procedures should be directed to the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by phone, 1-877-480-3201 (option #6), or by e-mail at ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.
13. Any written response seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture must include a detailed factual statement supported by appropriate documentation and affidavits pursuant to sections 1.16 and 1.80(g)(3) of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.16 and 1.80(g)(3).
  The written response must be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington DC 20554, ATTN: Albert Shuldiner, Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau, and MUST INCLUDE the NAL/Acct. No. referenced above.  Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail.  All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings.  This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19.  See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Filing, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (2020).
 A courtesy copy emailed to Alexander.Sanjenis@fcc.gov will assist in processing the response.
· Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. 
· Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.
14. 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.  Inability to pay, however, is only one of several factors that the Commission will consider in determining the appropriate forfeiture, and we have discretion to not reduce or cancel the forfeiture if other prongs of section 503(b)(2)(E) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, support that result. See 47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(E); Adrian Abramovich, Forfeiture Order, 33 FCC Rcd 4663, 4678-79, paras. 44-45 (2018).
  
15. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that copies of this NAL shall be sent by First Class and Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Magnolia State Broadcasting, Inc., c/o William Smith, PO Box 5184, Meridian, MS 39302.
						FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




						Albert Shuldiner
						Chief, Audio Division
						Media Bureau

2