10 FCC Red No. 13 Federal Communications Commission Record DA 95-1367 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 PUBLIC NOTICE Released: June 23,1995 FEE DECISIONS OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC The Managing Director is responsible for fee decisions in response to requests for waiver or deferral of fees as well as other pleadings associated with the fee collection process. On a monthly basis, a public notice is released and the entire text of these fee decisions is published in the FCC record. The decisions are placed in general docket 86-28S and are available for public inspection. A copy of the decision is also placed in the appropriate docket, if one exists. The following Managing Director fee decisions are re leased for public information: Ariel Broadcasting, Inc. - Request for refund of a filing fee submitted in connection with an application for an FM station at St. Augustine Beach, Florida - Granted (June 6, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section l.llll(b)(2).] AT&T Corp. - Request for refund of a hearing fee in connection with the proceeding of Elehue K. Freeman, et al. v. AT&T Corp. - Granted (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section I.lll2(b).] Baja Florida Radio, Inc. - Request for refund of a hear ing fee for a new AM station at Kendall, Florida - Granted (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(b).J Big Tree Communications - Request for refund of a filing fee submitted in connection with an application for a new FM station at Merrill, Oregon - Granted (May 11, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a)(6).J Charter Broadcast Group - Request for refund of filing fees submitted in connection with an application for a station at Loudonville. Ohio - Granted (May 12, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a).l Conway, Lars T. dba Conway Broadcasting - Request for refund of filing fees submitted in connection with petitions to amend the FM table of allotments for the Billings, Montana; Sioux Falls, South Dakota markets - Granted (May 10, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a)(l).[ Great Lakes of Iowa, Inc. - Request for refund of a filing fee submitted in connection with a formal complaint - Granted (June 14, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1108(d).j Heritage Media Corporation - Request for refund of a filing fee submitted in connection with an application for an FM station at Liberty, Missouri - Denied (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112.] Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation - Request for refund of a filing fee submitted in connection with an application for an FM station at Kingsport, Tennessee - Granted (May 12, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section JEM Broadcasting Company, Inc. - Request for refund of hearing fee for a new FM station at Bentonville, Arkansas - Granted (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(b).] KFTY Broadcasting, Inc. - Request for reduction of Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fee for Channel 50 at Santa Rosa, California - Granted (May 2, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc. - Request for reduction of Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fees for a UHF station at Allentown. Pennsylvania - Granted (June 6, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1165(d).j Medinet, Inc. - Request for refund of filing fees submitted in connection with an application for equipment authoriza tion - Granted (May 11, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section Navajo Nation - Petition for Declaratory Ruling and request for refund of regulatory fees - Granted (May 26, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1159(a)(l).J Paugus Television, Inc. - Request for reduction of Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fees for a TV station at Merrimack, New Hampshire - Rescinded (June 7, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1165(d).| RAM Mobile Data USA LP - Petition for reconsideration of a request for waiver of fees filed in conjunction with an application for waiver of rules - Granted (June 12, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112.] Robinson, Todd P. - Request for refund of a hearing fee for a new FM station at Harrisburg, North Carolina - Granted (May 18. 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section RR Donnelley & Sons Company - Request for waiver and refund of (Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fees - Granted (May 26, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1165(d).| Tutera, Carl Como - Request for refund of a hearing fee for a new FM station at St. Augustine Beach, Florida - Granted (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section Visitor Information Radio of Florida, Inc. - Request for refund of a hearing fee for a FM station at St. Augustine Beach, Florida - Granted (May 18, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section l.llll(b)(2).| WHOT, Inc. - Request for refund of filing fees submitted in connection with an application for a new broadcast station at Youngstown, Ohio - Granted (May 12, 1995). [See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a).] NOTE: ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RE PORT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PREPARER, CLAUDETTE PRIDE, CHIEF, FEE SECTION ON (202) 418-1995. 6731 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, 0. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAONG OtReCTOR «HW .5 $05 J. Geoffrey Bent ley, Esq.Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot 1155 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20036 Re: Ariel Broadcasting, Inc. New FM Station St. Augustine Beach, Florida Dear Mr. Bent ley: This is in response to your request for refund of the fee submitted in the above -referenced matter. Your request is granted. We have reviewed the facts surrounding your filing and have concluded that a refund is warranted pursuant to Section 1.1111 of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. §1.1111. The subsection checked below is specifically applicable to your request . ____ No fee is required for the above -referenced submission (§ 1.1111 (a) (1) ). ____ An insufficient fee has been submitted with the application/filing (51. 1111 (a) (2)) . _____ The applicant cannot fulfill the prescribed age requirement (§1.1111 (a) (4) ) . ____ The Commission had adopted a new rule that has nullified the application after its acceptance for filing (§1.1111 (a) (4) ). ____ A new law or treaty has rendered useless a grant or other positive disposition of the application a) (4)) . The application was not timely filed in accordance with the filing window as established by the Commission (§1.1111 (a) (6)) . In the case of a broadcast applicant, the application was granted without being designated for hearing (§l.llll(b) (1) ) . In the case of a broadcast applicant, the individual application was dismissed pursuant to a 6732 Mr. Bentley Page 2 global settlement prior to designation for hearing (§1.1111(b)(2)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, theapplication was dismissed for failure to file a Notice of Appearance (§1.1111(b)(2)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding to file a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable (§1.1111Cb)(3)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding who filed a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§1.1111(b)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for the dismissal of all but the above-referenced application, and the application was immediately grantable (§l.llll(b)(4)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for dismissal of all but the above-referenced application and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§l.llll(b)(4)). A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, J* '.- * V " ' «>---^t^---=-v-.^ ; . ...-,., . , : .- . Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6733 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MAY 1 8 1995 MANAGING DIRECTOR Peter H. Jacoby, EsquireSenior Attorney AT&T Corp. Room 3245F3295 North Maple Avenue Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Re: AT&T Corp.Elehue K. Freeman, et al.v. AT&T Corp. Request for hearing fee refundFee Control No. 9409028125001001 Dear Mr. Jacoby: This is in response to your request for refund of a hearing fee, initially filed by AT&T Corp. (AT&T) on December 19, 1994 and supplemented on April 4, 1995, in connection with AT&T's participation, as respondent, in the above-captioned proceeding. You state that, at the time AT&T filed its hearing fee, it was unaware that a respondent, in a complaint proceeding designated for hearing, is not required to remit a hearing fee. In establishing its rules governing filing fees, the Commission determined that no fee should apply to enforcement actions because "the imposition of a fee would require a party to pay a fee to defend itself." See ^gtr?*?lishment of a Fee Collection Budget Act of 1985. 2 FCC Red 947, 966 (1987), recon. denied. 3 FCC Red 5987 (1988). Therefore, a refund is warranted. Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $7,765.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, '".I -- - t J M r ~^_. / ' . .* * .. . . /*T «___/ '*.> I Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6734 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF . . MANAGING DIRECTOR $I\Y i -; '• ; Joseph A. Belisle, Esquire Leibowitz & Associates Suite 1450Sunbank International Center One Southeast Third Avenue Miami, Florida 33131-1715 Re: Baja Florida Radio, Inc.For a new AM station at Kendall, FloridaRequest for a hearing fee refund Fee Control No. 9107188170295001 Dear Mr. Belisle: This is in reference to your request for refund of the hearing fee submitted by Baja Florida Radio, Inc. (Baja), applicant for a new- AM Station at Kendall, Florida. You state that Baja was required to submit a hearing fee because its application for the station at Kendall was mutually exclusive with an application for changes in facilities filed by WYFX, Boynton Beach, Florida. Subsequently, as a result of an amendment by Baja to its application, the Mass Media Bureau determined that the application was no longer mutually exclusive with WYFX and began processing the application. See letter from Joseph B. Szczesny, AM Branch, dated January 17, 1995. In view of the Mass Media Bureau determination that Baja's application is no longer mutually exclusive, it appears that Baja's application will no longer be designated for hearing. Therefore, we find that a grant of your request for refund is warranted. Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely,^.'^ \ •^^,.» /* Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6735 COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR NAY 1 1 1995 Dennis M. Crepps 17544 Lakeshore Drive Lake Shastina/Weed, California 96094 Re: Big Tree Communications New FM Station Merrill, Oregon Fee Control # 9404298195741002 Dear Mr. Crepps: This responds to your request for refund of a filing fee submitted on behalf of Big Tree Communications ("Big Tree"), with its construction permit application for a new FM station at Merrill, Oregon. You state that Big Tree filed its original application on April 19, 1994, subsequent to the Commission's issuance of the Public Notice. "FCC Freezes Comparative Proceedings" ("Freeze Public Notice"). 9 FCC Red 1055 (1994). The Commission's Freeze Public Notice stayed comparative broadcast proceedings following the decision in Bechtel v. FCC. 10 F.3d 875 (D.C. Cir. 1993), which invalidated the Commission's integration policy. The Freeze Public Notice established that during the stay, cut-off lists and window filings for new FM filings would not be issued. Under the circumstances, since Big Tree's filing fee was submitted after the release of the Freeze Public Notice, and thus outside any applicable FM window, refund of the filing fee is appropriate. See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a)(6). Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $2,030.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J/McI Associate Managing Director for Operations 6736 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF I* iy 1 0 MANAGMQ OWECTOR WAI ' " Donald E. Martin, President Charter Broadcast Group, Ltd. 6060 Hardwick Place Falls Church, Virginia 22041 Re: Fee Control # 9411188350269005 Dear Mr. Martin: This will respond to your request for refund of the filing fee submitted on behalf of Charter Broadcast Group ("Charter"), in connection with its assignment application. You state, and your documentation shows, that the Audio Services Division dismissed Charter's application as unacceptable for filing, because Charter had utilized an obsolete FCC Form. Under the circumstances, since the Audio Services Division never processed Charter's assignment application, refund of the filing fee is appropriate. See 47 C.F.R. §1.1112(a). Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $95.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418- 1995. Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6737 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DOCTOR MAY 1 0 1995 Mr. Lars T. Conway President Conway Broadcasting 4415 Fremont Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55409 Dear Mr. Conway: This is in reference to your request for refund of the fees you submitted in September, 1994 in connection with your petitions to amend the FM table of allotments for the Billings, Montana, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Rapid City, South Dakota markets. You indicated that after filing the petitions, you contacted a member of the FCC staff and were told that no fee was required for the petitions. You therefore maintain that you are entitled to a refund of $5400. We have verified the receipt of three fee submissions from Conway Broadcasting, in the amount of $1800 each, associated with your petitions to amend the FM table of allotments. The Commission's rules do not require a fee for filing a petition to amend the table of allotments for the filing of applications for new stations. Section 1.1104(2)(k) of the Commission's rules does provide that permittees or licensees filing a petition for rulemaking to change to a new community of license or a higher class channel must pay a fee of $1800. However, that provision applies only to permittees or licensees seeking to change their current authorizations. Because your petitions were to amend the table of allotments to allow for the filing of applications for new stations for those communities, this provision would not apply. Therefore, refund of your three filing fees is warranted. Based on the foregoing, your request for the refund of the three fees is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $5400, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, ^u- f Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6738 MANAGING DIRECTOR FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ' Washington, D. C. 20554 1.; Robert A. Harris, II, Esq. Alien & Harold 2000 L Street, N.W. Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20036 Re: Fee Control # 9411178120024001 Dear Mr. Harris: This will respond to your request for refund of the filing fee submitted on behalf of Great Lakes of Iowa, Inc. ("Great Lakes"), in connection with its formal complaint. You state that the Great Lakes had inadvertently submitted a $120 fee, which was less than that specified under the fee schedule, as set forth in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1105(l)(c). You further state that Great Lakes subsequently had resubmitted its application and tendered the correct fee to cover the complaint filing. Under the circumstances, refund of the original filing fee is appropriate. See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1108(d). Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $120.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418- 1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6739 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 F MAY i 0 i?95 MANAGiNG OIReCTOR Michael S. Ray, Esq. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. 1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036 Dear Mr. Ray: This will respond to your request for refund of a filing fee paid on behalf of Heritage Media Corporation ("Heritage") in connection with Heritage's request to change the call sign of its FM station. You state that Heritage is seeking the refund because it has withdrawn its request for the call sign change. Unfortunately, your request for refund may not be granted. The Commission's rules do not provide for the refund of a filing fee upon the withdrawal of an application. See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112. Moreover, the Commission has explicitly stated that a refund would not be granted once an application has cleared the fee review process, irrespective of the disposition of the application. See Fxtahlishment of a Fee Collection Program. 2 FCC Red 947, 949 (1987), recon. denied. 3 FCC Red 5987 (1988). Where applications have been withdrawn, requests for refunds have been denied. See, e.g.. Public Notice. 9 FCC Red 356, 363 (M.D. 1993); Public Notice. 8 FCC Red 8258, 8263 (M.D. 1993). •Based on the foregoing, your request for refund is denied. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6740 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING OIReCTOR Dennis J. Kelly, Esq. Cordon and Kelly P.O. Box 6648 Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Re: Fee # 950208195318002 Dear Mr. Kelly: This will respond to your request for refund of a fee submitted on behalf of Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation ("Holston"), permittee of FM station WTFM, Kingsport, Tennessee, in connection with its filing of an application to cover its construction permit for facilities that included a directional antenna system. You state that the Audio Services Division had determined that Holston's application would be dismissed because Holston's filing fee was insufficient, and had advised Holston accordingly. You further state that Holston subsequently resubmitted its application and included the proper fee. Thus, you are requesting that the Commission refund Holston's initial fee payment. Under the circumstances, a refund is appropriate. See 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1112(a)(2). Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $410.00 will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDennett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6741 COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MflV 1 MANAGNG DIRECTOR WHI Mr. Elvis MoodyPresident JEM Broadcasting Company, Inc.216 North Main Street Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 JEM Broadcasting Company, inc. Request for refund of hearing feeControl No. 9403118170062001 Dear Mr. Moody: This is in response to your request for refund of the hearing fee that JEM Broadcasting Company, Inc. (JEM) filed in connection with its application for a radio station at Bentonville, Arkansas . You state that JEM is within the category of mutually exclusive applicants that were directed to file hearing fees, but whose applications were held in abeyance pending the Commission's consideration of appropriate action following the court's remand in Bechtel v. FCC. 10 P. 3d 875 (D.C. Cir. 1993). See FCC Freezes Comparative Proceedings. 9 FCC Red 1055 (1994) . Subsequently, the Commission announced by Public Notice that any party that submitted a hearing fee after February 25, 1994 is entitled to a refund of its hearing fee. See Public Notice. No. 94-204, issued August 4, 1994. JEM's check, covering its hearing fee payment, was deposited into the Commission's account on March 11, 1994. Under the circumstances, since JEM's hearing fee was submitted after February 25, 1994, refund of its fee is appropriate. Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418- 1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6742 COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MAX P 199* MANAQMQ DIRECTOR ° Roger J. Metzler, Esq.Keck, Mahin & Gate One Maritime PlazaSan Francisco, CA 94111-3577 Re: Fee Control # 9408018835092008# 9409098835447005 Fee Paid: $14,400 KFTY Broadcasting, Inc. Channel 50 Santa Rosa, California Dear Mr. Metzler: This is in response to your request for reduction of the Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fee assessed upon KFTY Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of UHP Station KFTY, Santa Rosa, California. You maintain that, although KFTY Broadcasting is assigned by Arbitron to the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose California ADI (Area of Dominant Influence), it does not serve any of the major cities in that market, and its signal is not entitled to "Must Carry" protection on any of the cable systems serving San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose. You state that KFTY has an audience of about 246,000 households, which would place it in the top 50 to 100 markets. Therefore, you contend that it would be inequitable to require KFTY Broadcasting to pay the regulatory fee assessed for a station in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose market, which ranked in the top ten markets. You submitted payments totaling $14,400 for the fee for a San Francisco station. Our review of the record discloses that KFTY is included in the San Francisco, Television Market, the 5th largest television market. KFTY, however, does not serve San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, or any significant population areas in those metropolitan regions, nor does its Grade B contour cover any part of those cities. Rather, KFTY is considered to be in the San Francisco ADI because it serves an area where the preponderance of TV households view the programming of San Francisco stations. Arbitron states that there are 438,200 TV households covered by KFTY's signal. Television ft C,able Factbook 1994. p. A181. Thus, we agree that KFTY should not be considered a station serving the fifth largest market for purposes of assessment of the regulatory fee. Therefore, we will assess KFTY's fee based on the number of TV households served. Since the 438,200 TV households covered would place KFTY in the 51-100 TV markets, we will require KFTY Broadcasting to pay a fee of $6,400 for Fiscal Year 1994, the fee assessed for UHF television stations serving the 51-100 markets. 6743 Accordingly, your request is granted and the fee will be reduced. Crediting the $14,400 payment that KFTY Broadcasting tendered for Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fee, we will refund the $8000 overpayment to KFTY Broadcasting. Absent significant changes in population or KFTY's service area, KFTY will be considered as a market 51-100 UHF station in succeeding years. KFTY Broadcasting should retain this letter and submit a copy with any future correspondence with the Commission concerning the regulatory fee for KFTY. A check payable to the maker of the original check in the amount of $8000 will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning the fee or refund, please call the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. ^Sincerely, ^" '"" Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6744 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF ,...., l 1995 MANAONQ OB6CTOR JUN ° IW Mr. J. Geoffrey Bentley, Esquire Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot 1155 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Re: Maranatha Broadcasting WFMZ-TV Allentown, Pennsylvania Fee Control #9409078835442006 Dear Mr. Bentley: This is in response to your request dated August l, 1994, for reduction of the annual regulatory fee for UHP Station WFMZ-TV, Allentown, Pennsylvania, licensed to Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc. You argue that although WFMZ-TV is assigned by Arbitron to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ADZ (Area of Dominant Influence) Market, it does not operate as a Philadelphia Station, it is treated as a separate smaller market under the Commission's cable television rules (47 C.F.R. §§ 76.53 and 76.59), and that it would be inequitable to require it to pay the regulatory fee for a Philadelphia Station. Therefore, you argue that the Commission should regard WFMZ-TV as a non-top 100 or "remaining market* station subject to a regulatory fee of $4,000. Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc. submitted payment of $6,400 and it requests a refund of $2,400. For FY 1994, the regulatory fee payment due for a UHF station in the Philadelphia market is $14,400. Our review of the record shows that WFMZ-TV is in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Market, the 4th largest market. WFMZ- TV, however, does not serve Philadelphia or any significant population in the Philadelphia area. The Broadeaatina & Cable Yearbook 1994. p. c-202 lists Allentown as a Non-ADI market. A Non-ADI market is defined as a single-county market whose "preponderance of viewing is not to the home market station.* The home county in this case, Lehigh County, is assigned to the Philadelphia ADI solely because the preponderance of viewing in the county is of the Philadelphia stations. Thus, we agree that WFMZ-TV should not be considered a Philadelphia market station for purposes of assessing the regulatory fee. 6745 - 2 - Arbitron shows that there are 467,300 TV households in WFMZ-TV's service area with little or no significant penetration into the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 467,300 TV households is the equivalent of a station in the 51-100 markets category. Under these circumstances, we will regard Allentown as a 51-100 market, and WFMZ-TV is assessed a regulatory fee for PY 1994 of $6,400, the fee for a 51-100 market UHF station. Absent significant changes in population or coverage area, WFMZ-TV will be considered as a 51-100 market station in succeeding years. A copy of this letter should be included with any future correspondence with the Commission with respect to the regulatory fee for station WFMZ-TV. The payment previously submitted by Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc. satisfies its regulatory fee obligation for FY 1994. If you have any questions concerning the regulatory fee, please call the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyfc J.^McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6746 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF *»«•«" "* \ '^95 MANAGING DtRECTOR i"-" ' l ' Mr. Cheng-Yang Ho, Manager Spectrum Research & Testing Laboratory, Inc. 1603 Skinners Turn Road Owings, Maryland 20736 Re: Fee Control # 9502038315053011 Dear Mr. Ho: This will respond to your request for refund of the filing fees submitted on behalf of Medinet, Inc. ("Medinet") in connection with its application for equipment authorization. You state that Medinet 's application was dismissed because it had specified an FCC Identifier that the Commission had previously issued. You further state that you have refiled Medinet' s application, with a new FCC Identifier and an additional fee payment. As part of the Commission's equipment authorization process, approved equipment must be identified with a unique FCC Identifier, which consists of the grantee code and the equipment number/product code. See 47 C.F.R. sections 2.925, 2.926. This identification requirement provides a systematic method by which Commission approved equipment can readily be identified. Applications for equipment authorizations often are dismissed, without any engineering review, due to a defective FCC Identifier. The Commission has recognized that it may be unfair to require the applicant/grantee to refile its application with an additional fee payment merely to correct such errors or deficiencies. See Establishment of a Fee Collection Program to Implement the Provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Act of 1985. 2 FCC Red 947, 964 (1987). In such cases, the Commission has indicated that under section 1.1108(d) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. section 1.1108(d), it may be appropriate for the applicant/grantee to refile its corrected application without paying an additional fee. Id. However, since Medinet did pay an additional fee with its resubmission, we believe a refund is appropriate. Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn hi the amount of $845.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any further questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6747 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MAY 2 6 1995 MANAGING DIRECTOR Ann K. Ford, EsquireFisher, Wayland, Cooper, Leader & Zaragoza 2001 Pennsylvania Ave.. N.W.Washington, D.C. 20006 Re: Navajo Nation KTNN(AM) KWRK(FM) Fee Control # 9408038835056011 # 9409078835461002 Dear Ms. Ford: This is in response to the Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed September 2, 1994, requesting a refund of the $900 in regulatory fee payments tendered in the above referenced matter. In the petition you requested that the Commission exempt the Navajo Nation as a government entity from payment of the regulatory fees. Congress exempted governmental entities from the regulatory fees. 47 U.S.C. § 159(h). In Implementation of Section 9 of the Communications Act. 9 FCC Red 5333, 5339-40 § 14 (1994) we codified the exemption for governmental entities. See 47 C.F.R. § 1.116Kb) . The Navajo Nation was established by treaty with the United States, with its own land, laws and government. As such, it falls within that exemption from the regulatory fees for governmental entities as established by Congress. Thus, the Navajo Nation is entitled to a refund of its regulatory fee payment pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 1.1159(a)(1), because no regulatory fee is required. A check, made payable to the maker of the original checks in the amount of $900, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett h Associate Managing Director for Operations 6748 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR MAY 2 5 1995 Mr. Lon Mirolli President/General Manager Paugus Television, Inc. 1 Sundial Avenue Suite 501 Manchester, NH 03103 Re: Paugus Television, Inc.WGOT-TV MerrimacJc, NHFee Control # 9409078835442005 9502178835215001 Fee Paid: $14,400 Dear Mr. Mirolli: This is in response to your request, for a reduction in the Fiscal Year 1994 regulatory fee assessment for Paugus Television, Inc. (Paugus), licensee of UHF Station WGOT-TV, Merrimack, New Hampshire. You maintain that although Merrimack is assigned by Arbitron to the Boston, Massachusetts, ADI (Area of Dominant Influence), it does not serve the City of Boston. Therefore, you contend that it would be inequitable to require Paugus to pay the regulatory fee for a Boston station. Moreover, because WGOT-TV serves an area in New Hampshire, with a population of 371,880, you contend that Paugus should be assessed the regulatory fee applicable to a UHF station serving markets 51 through 100. Our review of the record discloses that WGOT-TV is included in the Boston Television Market, the 6th largest television market. WGOT-TV, however, does not serve Boston or any significant population in the Boston metropolitan area. Rather, WGOT-TV is considered to be in the Boston ADI because it serves an area where the preponderance of TV households view the programming of Boston stations. Arbitron shows that there are 325,000 TV households, located in New Hampshire, covered by WGOT's signal, and little, if any, significant viewing of WGOT-TV's programming by viewers in the Boston metropolitan area. Thus, we agree that WGOT-TV should not be considered a Boston market station for purposes of assessment of the regulatory fee. Therefore, we will assess WGOT-TV's fee based on the number of TV households served. Since the 325,000 TV households covered would place WGOT-TV in the equivalent of the 51-100 TV markets, we will require Paugus to pay a fee of $6,400, the fee assessed for UHF television stations serving the 51-100 markets. 6749 Accordingly your request is granted. Crediting the $14,400 fee payment previously tendered by Paugus for Fiscal Year 1994, we will refund the $8000 overpayment to Paugus. Absent significant changes in population or WGOT-TV's service area, WGOT-TV will be considered as a market 51-100 UHF station in succeeding years. Paugus should submit a copy of this letter with future correspondence with the Commission concerning the regulatory fee applicable for WGOT-TV. A check made payable to the maker of the original check in the amount of $8000, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning the fee or refund, please call the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing director for Operations 6750 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR r .,.,. • « .. lVr Jonathan L. Wiener, Esq. Goldberg, Godles, Wiener & Wright 1229 Nineteenth Street, N.W. Washington, B.C. 20036 Re: Fee Control # 9309238300249005 Fee Paid: $105 Fee Control # 9405098300451015 Fee Paid: $168,630 RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership Dear Mr. Wiener: This is in response to the Petition for Reconsideration that you filed on behalf of RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership (RAM) requesting that the Commission waive the fees paid by RAM in conjunction with its requests for waivers of Section 90.603(c) of the Commission's Rules. 42 C.F.R. § 90.603(c). RAM filed 1,823 applications for transfer of licenses in the Specialized Mobile Radio Services (SMRS) together with a single waiver fee of $105. Subsequently, RAM reduced the number of its SMRS applications and paid an additional 1,606 filing fees for the waiver request, amounting to $168,630. In a letter dated August 25, 1994, the Associate Managing Director denied RAM's waiver request for a refund of the Section 90.603(c) waiver filing fees, finding that RAM's waiver requests were "non- routine" and therefore, were each subject to a filing fee of $105. Subsequently, in Eligibility for the Specialized Mobile Radio Services. FCC 95-98, released March 7, 1995, the Commission removed the restrictions against wireline telephone carrier entry into the SMRS markets, and it dismissed RAM's waiver requests as moot. Section 1.1112(a)(4) provides that the Commission will refund fees "(w)hen the Commission adopts new rules that nullify applications already accepted for filing. ..." Here, RAM's requests for rule waivers were dismissed because of changes in the Commission's rules, and as a result, we are satisfied that RAM should receive a refund of the filing fees that it paid for the dismissed waiver applications. 6751 Accordingly, your petition is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check in the amount of $168,735, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn: J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6752 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 aw t o r;?5 MANAQWQ ORcCTOR Mr. A. Wray Fitch, III, Esq. Gammon & Grange, P.C. 8280 Greensboro Drive McLean, Virginia 22102 Re: Todd P. Robinson New FM Station Harrisburg, North Carolina Fee Control # 9209298170386001 Dear Mr. Fitch: This is in response to your request for refund of the fee submitted in the above-referenced matter. Your request is granted. We have reviewed the facts surrounding your filing and have concluded that a refund is warranted pursuant to Section 1.1111 of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. §1.1111. The subsection checked below is specifically applicable to your request. ____ No fee is required for the above-referenced submission (§ l.llll(a)(1)). An insufficient fee has been submitted with the application/filing (Sl.llll(a)(2)). The applicant cannot fulfill the prescribed age requirement (§1.1111(a)(4)). The Commission had adopted a new rule that has nullified the application after its acceptance for filing (§l.llll(a)(4)). A new law or treaty has rendered useless a grant or other positive disposition of the application (51.1111(a)(4)). The application was not timely filed in accordance with the filing window as established by the Commission (§1.1111(a)(6)). In the case of a broadcast applicant, the application was granted without being designated for hearing (§l.llll(b)(1)). In the case of a broadcast applicant, the application was dismissed prior to designation for hearing or in the order designating the"case for 6753 Mr. Fitch Page 2 hearing (§1.1111(b)(2)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, theapplication was dismissed for failure to file a Notice of Appearance (§1.1111(b)(2)). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding to file a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable (§l-.llll(b) (3)) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding who filed a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§1.1111(b)). X In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for the dismissal of all but the merged application, and the application was immediately grantable (Si.illKb) (4)) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for dismissal of all but the above-referenced application and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§l.llll(b)(4)). A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, yin • 4 //ta^A^x/ 1Marilyn -J •. McDe-rme-tt--" Associate Managing Director for Operations 6754 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 HIY 2 MANAQMQ DIRECTOR J. D. -Thomas, EsquireCole, Raywid & Bravezman Second Floor1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006-3458 Fee Control No. 9409158835547006 R. R. Donnelley and Sons Company Request for regulatory fee refund Warsaw, Indiana (E860673), Lancaster, Pennsylvania (E860674), Chicago, Illinois (E860693), Reno, Nevada (E881089), Spartanburg, South Carolina (E6666), and Gallatin, Tennessee (E6667) Dear Mr. Thomas: This is in response to your request for waiver and refund on behalf of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (Donnelley) of its Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 regulatory fee payments for the above- captioned earth stations. You state that Donnelley totally ceased operation of the subject earth stations no later than December, 1992, nine months before the calculation date of the fees, as a result of technological changes and changes in its operational requirements. As a consequence, you contend that no fees are due from Donnelley because it did not operate the earth stations at any time during FY 1994. In fact, Donnelley has dismantled and sold its earth station equipment with the exception of its facility at Chicago. Finally, you state that Donnelley surrendered its licenses covering the earth stations concurrently with the filing of the instant waiver request. In support of the foregoing, you have submitted a statement by John Robinson, Technical Director in the Communications Systems Section of Donnelley, the official responsible for the coordination and implementation of Commission authorizations and Donnelley's earth station facilities. Mr. Robinson states that he was unaware of Donnelley's regulatory fee obligation, but had he known of the requirement, he would have timely surrendered the authorizations so that Donnelley would not be subject to regulatory fee payments for facilities no longer in use. In adopting its schedule of regulatory fees for FY 1994, the Commission stated that the fees should be submitted for authorizations, including earth stations licenses, held as of October 1, 1993, the first day of FY 1994. See Implementation of Section 9 of the Communications Act. 9 FCC Red 5333, 5349 (1994). 6755 The Commission selected October 1, 1993 as the date for calculating most fees so that "current licensees subject to the fees would have benefitted from our regulatory activities since the beginning of the period covered by their payment." Id. Thus, 'the Commission contemplated that the payers of the fees would receive at least some period of regulatory benefit during the fiscal year covered by the fee requirement. In the case of Donnelley, its earth stations were out of operation well in advance of the first day of the FY 1994 and, therefore, we cannot find that Donnelley received any regulatory benefit during any portion of the relevant fiscal year. Nor will Donnelley receive any future benefit from our regulation since it has both dismantled and sold its earth station facilities, except for its Chicago facility, and surrendered its earth station licenses, including its authority to operate its Chicago facility. Finally, we are cognizant of its Technical Director's representation that Donnelley would have timely surrendered the licenses for its non-operational earth stations had he been aware of the pendency of the regulatory fee requirement. Under these circumstances, we find that, although Donnelley held the subject licenses on October 1, 1993, it is entitled to a waiver of its FY 1994 regulatory fees for the discontinued stations. Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $4,083.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6756 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR Neal J. Friedman, Esq. Pepper & Corazzini 1776 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Mr. Friedman: MOT•VJJ Re: Carl Cornd Tutera New FM Station St. Augustine Beach, Florida This is in response to your request for refund of the fee submitted in the above-referenced matter. Your request is granted. We have reviewed the facts surrounding your filing and have concluded that a refund is warranted pursuant to Section 1.1111 of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. §1.1111. The subsection checked below is specifically applicable to your request. No fee is required for the above-referenced submission (§ 1.1111(a)(1)). An insufficient fee has been submitted with the application/filing (§1.1111(a)(2)). The applicant cannot fulfill the prescribed age requirement (§1.1111(a)(4)). The Commission had adopted a new rule that has nullified the application after its acceptance for filing (§1.1111(a) (4)). A new law or treaty has rendered useless a grant or other positive disposition of the application (SI.1111(a) (4)) . The application was not timely filed in accordance with the filing window as established by the Commission (§1.1111(a)(6)). In the case of a broadcast applicant, the application was granted without being designated for hearing (51.1111(b)(1)). In the case of a broadcast applicant, the individual application was dismissed pursuant to a global settlement prior to designation for hearing (§1.1111(b)(2)}. 6757 Mr. Friedman Page 2 ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the application.was dismissed for failure to file a Notice of Appearance (Sl.llll(b)(2)). _____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding to file a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable (§l.llll(b)(3)). _____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding who filed a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§1.1111(b)). _____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for the dismissal of all but the above-referenced application, and the application was immediately grantable (§1.1111(b) (4)) . _____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for dismissal of all but the above-referenced application and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§l.llll(b)(4)). A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, . *._, . / Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6758 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 May 18, 1995 Gary S. Smithwick, Esquire Smithwick & Belerxdiuk, B.C. 1990 M Street, IT.W. Washington, D.C. 2003? Re: Visitor Information Radio of Florida, Inc.For a FM station at St. Augustine Beach, FloridaRequest far a hearing fee refund Fee Control No. 9302253170421003 Dear Mr. Smithwick: This is in response to your request for refund of the fee submitted in the above-referenced matter. Your request is granted. We have reviewed the facts surrounding your filing and have concluded that a refund is warranted pursuant to Section l.llii of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. § l.lll. The subsection checked below is specifically applicable co your request. ____ No fee is required for the above-referenced submission (§ L.lll(a) (1)} . ____ An insufficient fee has been submitted with the application/filing (§1.111(a) (2)) . ____ The applicant cannot fulfill the prescribed age requirement (§1.1111(a)(4)). ____ The Commission had adopted a new rule that has nullified the application after its acceptance for filing (§l.llll(a)(4)}. ____ A new law or treaty has rendered useless a grant or other aositive disposition of the aoplication (Sl.llll(a)(4)}. ____ The application was not timely filed in accordance with the filing window as established by the Commission (Sl.lllKa) (6) ) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, theapplication was granted without being designate'* for hearing (§1.1111(b)(1)). 6759 - 2 - X In the case of a broadcast applicant, theapplication was dismissed prior to designation for hearing or in the order designating the case for hearing (§l.llll(b) (2) ) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, theapplication was dismissed for failure to file a Notice of Appearance (§1.1111 (b) (2) ). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding to file a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately gran table (§l.llll(b) (3)) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, the applicant was the only applicant in the proceeding who filed a Notice of Appearance and the application was immediately gran table upon deletion of a matter (s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution ( §1 . 1111 (b) ) . ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for the dismissal of all but the above -referenced application, and the application was immediately gran table (§1.1111 (b) (4) ). ____ In the case of a broadcast applicant, a settlement agreement filed with the presiding judge by the Notice of Appearance deadline provided for dismissal of all but the above -referenced application and the application was immediately grantable upon deletion of a matter(s) specified in the designation order and requiring resolution (§1.1111 (b) (4) ). A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $6,760, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. McDermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6760 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR Dennis F. Begley, Esq. Reddy, Begley, Martin & McCormick 1001 22nd Street, N.W. Suite 350 Washington, D.C. 20037-1803 Dear Mr. Begley: Re: Fee Control # 9409308190089010 This will respond to your request for refund of the filing fee submitted on behalf of WHOT, Inc. ("WHOT"), in connection with its application for an extension of time to construct its facilities for a new broadcast station at Youngstown, Ohio. You state that on the date WHOT filed its extension application, the Commission modified its construction permit and extended its construction period by an additional 18 months. Thus, you state that WHOT's extension application was rendered moot. Under the circumstances, since WHOT was not required to file the extension application, refund of the filing fee is warranted. See 47 C.F.R. §1.1112(a). Accordingly, your request is granted. A check, made payable to the maker of the original check and drawn in the amount of $230.00, will be sent to you at the earliest practicable time. If you have any questions concerning this refund, please contact the Chief, Fee Section at (202) 418-1995. Sincerely, Marilyn J. Mcbermett Associate Managing Director for Operations 6761