February 23, 2024 DA 24-164 In Reply Refer to: 1800B3-HD Released: February 23, 2024 Mr. Robert Connelly Weather Alert Radio Network 17909 Holly Brook Drive Tampa, FL 33647 rob@audioventuresgroup.com In re: Weather Alert Radio Network Applications for Construction Permits for New Low Power FM Stations in Communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and the Virgin Islands Dear Counsel: We have before us the applications listed in the Attachment to this letter (Applications) filed by the Weather Alert Radio Network (WARN) for construction permits for new low power FM (LPFM) stations in communities located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and the Virgin Islands. While the Commission generally prohibits an entity or party from holding an attributable interest in more than one LPFM station, WARN seeks to take advantage of an exception to the general prohibition which allows “not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities with a public safety purpose [to] be granted multiple licenses if: (1) One of the multiple applications is submitted as a priority application; and (2) The remaining non-priority applications do not face a mutually exclusive challenge.” See 47 CFR § 73.855. WARN has designated its application for a construction permit for a new LPFM station at Riverview, Florida as its priority application. See Application File No. 0000231542. As explained below, with respect to each of the Applications, WARN has failed to demonstrate that it is eligible to hold the LPFM authorization it seeks. Accordingly, we dismiss the Applications as defective pursuant to section 73.3566(a) of the Commission’s rules (Rules). 47 CFR § 73.3566(a). Background. WARN filed the Applications during a filing window for new LPFM station construction permits that the Commission opened between December 6, 2023, and December 15, 2023. See Media Bureau Announces Extension of LPFM New Station Filing Window, Public Notice, DA 23-1150 (MB Dec. 11, 2023). In each of the Applications, WARN certified that “[i]t proposes a public safety radio service and has jurisdiction within the service area of the proposed LPFM station.” Applications, Legal Certifications, Community-Based Criteria. Attached to the Applications were documents entitled “Exhibit in Support of LPFM Application Public Safety Radio Program” (Exhibits). WARN attached the same exhibit to each application for a proposed LPFM station in a particular state. The exhibits varied slightly depending on the state involved but generally contained the same information. The Exhibits explain that WARN proposes to use each LPFM station to “provide current local weather information, preparedness information and local resource information 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.” Exhibits at para. 2. They also state that WARN has been in contact with various public safety organizations, “each of whom holds jurisdiction as a local, county, state or national government entity” and that the organizations “have agreed to work with [WARN] and have received information and correspondence regarding the programming and proposed application plans of [WARN’s] proposed LPFM stations” in that state. Id. at para. 5. Discussion. The Commission restricts the types of entities that may hold LPFM authorizations and the types of service those entities may provide. 47 CFR § 73.853(a). Among the entities eligible to hold LPFM authorizations are “[s]tate and local governments and non-government entities that will provide non-commercial public safety radio services.” Id. § 73.853(a)(2). The other eligible entities and services are (1) nonprofit educational organizations that will use their LPFM stations to advance an educational program, and (2) Tribal Applicants that will provide non-commercial radio services. Id. § 73.853(a)(1), (3). The Commission also requires that entities receiving LPFM authorizations be based in the community their proposed LPFM stations will serve. Id. § 73.853(b). In the case of a state or local government or non-government entity proposing a non-commercial public safety radio service, the Commission considers the entity to be community-based if it “has jurisdiction within the service area of the proposed LPFM station.” Id. § 73.853(b)(3). As discussed below, we find that WARN is not eligible to hold an LPFM license because it will not provide a “public safety radio service” and is not community-based with respect to its proposed LPFM stations. Public Safety Radio Service. We reject WARN’s claim that it is eligible to hold LPFM licenses because it is a non-governmental entity proposing to provide a public safety radio service. Applications, Legal Certifications, Community-Based Criteria, and Exhibits. In the LPFM context, the Commission uses the definition of “public safety radio services” set forth in section 309(j)(2)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act). Creation of Low Power Radio Service, Report and Order, MM Docket No. 99-25, 15 FCC Rcd 2205, 2215, para. 23 (2000) (stating that “public safety radio services used by state or local governments or not-for-profit organizations, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 309(j)(2)(A), will be eligible for LPFM licenses”). That section defines “public safety radio services” as “including private internal radio services used by State and local governments and non-government entities and including emergency road services provided by not-for-profit organizations, that—(i) are used to protect the safety of life, health, or property; and (ii) are not made commercially available to the public.” 47 U.S.C. § 309(j)(2)(A). The Commission has explained that the phrase “public safety radio services” encompasses three categories of services: (1) traditional public safety services such as police, fire, and emergency medical services, (2) private internal radio services designated for non-commercial use by entities such as utilities, railroads, transit systems, and others that provide essential services to the public at large and that need reliable internal communications in order to prevent or respond to disasters or crises affecting their service to the public, and (3) private internal radio services used by not-for-profit organizations providing emergency road services. Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934 as Amended, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 99-87, 15 FCC Rcd 22709, 22716, para. 16, 22740, para. 64, 22743, para. 71 (2000). See also H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 105-217, 105th Cong., 1st Sess., at 572 (1997). WARN proposes to use each LPFM station to provide weather and weather-preparedness information to the general public. This type of service does not fall into any of the “public safety radio service” categories. The service WARN proposes, therefore, cannot qualify as a “public safety radio service” absent a waiver, which WARN did not request. Community-Based. We also find that WARN is ineligible to hold the LPFM authorizations it seeks because it is not local (i.e., based in the communities the proposed LPFM stations will serve). The Commission considers an LPFM applicant proposing a “public safety radio service” to be local with respect to its proposed LPFM station if the applicant has jurisdiction within the service area of its proposed LPFM station. 47 CFR § 73.853(b)(3). While WARN certified in the Applications that it is local with respect to each of the proposed LPFM stations, WARN offered no evidence that it has jurisdiction within any of those stations’ service areas. Instead, in the Exhibits, WARN asserts that it has “been in contact with” various public safety organizations, “each of whom holds jurisdiction as a local, county, state or national government entity regarding the dissemination of public safety information.” WARN goes on to claim that “[t]he organizations have agreed to work with [WARN] and have received information and correspondence regarding the programming and proposed application plans of [WARN]’s proposed LPFM stations.” WARN nowhere states that it has jurisdiction in the service areas of the proposed LPFM stations or that it has been authorized by any of the public safety organizations that do hold jurisdiction in those service areas, nor did it request a waiver of the jurisdiction requirement. Conclusion/Actions. WARN has not satisfied the eligibility requirements set forth in sections 73.853(a) and 73.853(b) of the Rules, and did not submit requests for waiver of those requirements with the Applications. For this reason, we find that the Applications are patently defective and must be dismissed. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that the applications for new LPFM stations filed by the Weather Alert Radio Network in December 2023 (and listed in the Attachment hereto) Because we find that WARN has not satisfied the eligibility requirements of sections 73.853(a)(2) and 73.853(b)(1)-(3), we dismiss all of the Applications, including its priority application for Riverview, Florida (see supra note 1) as well as its non-priority applications (including singletons). ARE DISMISSED pursuant to section 73.3566(a) of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR § 73.3566(a). Sincerely, Albert Shuldiner Chief, Audio Division Media Bureau Attachment 2 ATTACHMENT Facility ID No. Application File No.* City State 782960 231543 Dauphin Island AL 782952 231834 Foley AL 782957 231835 Foley AL 778100 231833 Robertsdale AL 777979 231857 Seminole AL 778102 231544 Spanish Fort AL 778105 231521 Theodore AL 778104 231522 Theodore AL 778103 231523 Theodore AL 782827 231573 Alma FL 781915 231632 Baker FL 781918 231634 Baker FL 782831 231568 Big Pine Key FL 782836 231569 Big Pine Key FL 778145 231553 Brooksville FL 781978 231639 Cantonment FL 781979 231641 Cantonment FL 781974 231647 Chiefland FL 781976 231649 Chiefland FL 778164 231565 Chipley FL 782848 231593 Cocoa FL 782849 231594 Cocoa FL 782850 231595 Cocoa FL 782838 231570 Crestview FL 781986 231650 Crystal River FL 778156 231571 Cudjoe Key FL 778217 231572 Cudjoe Key FL 781969 231869 Daytona Beach FL 782841 231578 DeFuniak Springs FL 782845 231580 DeFuniak Springs FL 778146 231870 Dunnellon FL 782822 231581 Everglades City FL 782826 231582 Everglades City FL 782729 231583 Everglades National Park FL 782730 231585 Everglades National Park FL 778131 231586 Fernandina Beach FL 778129 231588 Fernandina Beach FL 778132 231589 Fernandina Beach FL 778133 231591 Fernandina Beach FL 778141 231883 Fort Pierce FL 778142 231884 Fort Pierce FL 778108 231510 Holiday FL 778147 231901 Homosassa FL 778136 231878 Inglis FL 778137 231879 Inglis FL 778179 231663 Key Lar FL 778180 231665 Key Lar FL 778158 231653 Key West FL 778155 231657 Key West FL 778218 231905 Labelle FL 778177 231890 Lecanto FL 778178 231891 Lecanto FL 782852 231659 Marathon FL 782854 231661 Marathon FL 782881 231902 Marco Island FL 782882 231903 Marco Island FL 778228 231909 Middleburg FL 778229 231910 Middleburg FL 778112 231874 Nokomis FL 782734 231942 Ochopee FL 781965 231517 Ormond Beach FL 781967 231963 Ormond Beach FL 778134 231881 Port Saint Lucie FL 778135 231882 Port Saint Lucie FL 782728 231542 Riverview FL 781960 231926 Santa Rosa Beach FL 781963 231927 Santa Rosa Beach FL 781984 231934 Sopchoppy FL 781985 231935 Sopchoppy FL 778159 231860 Sugarloaf Key FL 778160 231861 Sugarloaf Key FL 778161 231862 Sugarloaf Key FL 778117 231848 Tavernier FL 778118 231876 Tavernier FL 778119 231877 Tavernier FL 778163 231961 Trenton FL 781991 231937 Venice FL 778154 231886 Vero Beach FL 778153 231887 Vero Beach FL 778111 231628 Wabasso FL 778113 231888 Wabasso FL 778110 231889 Wabasso FL 778162 231959 Westville FL 778270 231554 Brunswick GA 781678 231601 Darien GA 781675 231603 Darien GA 781665 231643 Folkston GA 781478 231644 Folkston GA 781470 231620 Hinesville GA 781471 231621 Hinesville GA 782883 231911 Midway GA 781667 231604 Saint Simons Island GA 781669 231605 Saint Simons Island GA 778257 231859 Shellman Bluff GA 778269 231841 St Marys GA 778150 231610 Townsend GA 778151 231611 Townsend GA 778152 231613 Woodbine GA 781468 231614 Woodbine GA 778215 231498 Abbeville LA 778214 231499 Abbeville LA 778230 231545 Bell City LA 778212 231563 Chauvin LA 778211 231564 Chauvin LA 778216 231566 Covington LA 778213 231567 Covington LA 778116 231845 Houma LA 778054 231529 New Iberia LA 778053 231530 New Iberia LA 778055 231532 New Iberia LA 778093 231629 Thibodaux LA 778094 231630 Thibodaux LA 778139 231549 Biloxi MS 778140 231550 Biloxi MS 778138 231551 Biloxi MS 778095 231866 Diamondhead MS 778182 231846 Pascaula MS 778097 231626 Pass Christian MS 778096 231627 Pass Christian MS 778183 231645 Poplarville MS 778184 231646 Poplarville MS 778099 231524 Saucier MS 778098 231525 Saucier MS 778051 231526 Vancleave MS 778050 231527 Vancleave MS 783155 231837 Barco NC 778061 231503 Bath NC 778062 231504 Bath NC 782021 231596 Beaufort NC 782031 231600 Beaufort NC 782034 231636 Bolivia NC 783029 231557 Buxton NC 783033 231558 Buxton NC 783109 231561 Cedar Island NC 783113 231562 Cedar Island NC 783024 231893 Hatteras NC 783027 231894 Hatteras NC 782088 231830 Havelock NC 782090 231895 Havelock NC 783158 231899 Holly Ridge NC 783159 231900 Holly Ridge NC 783019 231540 Jacksonville NC 783018 231904 Jacksonville NC 783012 231513 Kitty Hawk NC 783014 231515 Kitty Hawk NC 778016 231906 Leland NC 783117 231516 Manteo NC 783154 231908 Manteo NC 783156 231913 Morehead City NC 783157 231914 Morehead City NC 782091 231922 New Bern NC 782092 231925 New Bern NC 783104 231916 Ocracoke NC 783108 231917 Ocracoke NC 778224 231850 Supply NC 778225 231852 Supply NC 778060 231955 Washington NC 778086 231969 Washington NC 778254 231957 Wilmington NC 778255 231956 Wrightsville Beach NC 778260 231855 Bluffton SC 778259 231897 Hilton Head Island SC 781694 231898 Hilton Head Island SC 781875 231907 Longs SC 778258 231858 Mount Pleasant SC 781871 231940 Murrells Inlet SC 778223 231941 Ridgeland SC 781708 231964 Walterboro SC 777998 231502 Alvin TX 778010 231505 Bay City TX 778019 231507 Beaumont TX 783193 231854 Bishop TX 778015 231535 Deweyville TX 778014 231536 Deweyville TX 778013 231537 Deweyville TX 783170 231509 Hitchcock TX 778017 231831 Orange TX 778128 231608 Port Aransas TX 778149 231609 Port Aransas TX 778227 231839 Port Arthur TX 783189 231938 Port Lavaca TX 783190 231939 Port Lavaca TX 783166 231946 Refugio TX 783167 231947 Refugio TX 778126 231606 Rockport TX 778127 231607 Rockport TX 783188 231952 San Perlita TX 783187 231954 San Perlita TX 783171 231965 Santa Rosa TX 783191 231944 Sarita TX 783192 231945 Sarita TX 783169 231519 Stowell TX 778125 231840 Sweeny TX 778006 231872 Victoria TX 778007 231873 Victoria TX 782963 231920 Suffolk VA 782966 231921 Suffolk VA 788761 233077 Charlotte Amalie VI 788762 233078 Charlotte Amalie VI 788764 233080 Charlotte Amalie VI 788766 233087 Cruz Bay VI 788765 233089 Cruz Bay VI 788769 233093 Cruz Bay VI