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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 October  8,  2003  Michelle  Russo  (202)  418-  2358 
 FCC  FINES  28  RADIO  STATIONS  FOR  PUBLIC  FILE  VIOLATIONS  New  Action  Taken  As  Part  of  License  Renewal  Process  for  DC,  Maryland, 
 Virginia,  and  West  Virginia  Radio  Stations 


 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission’s  Media  Bureau  today  issued  28  Notices  of  Apparent  Liability  (NAL)  to  radio  stations  that  did  not  adequately  comply 
 with  the  FCC’s  public  file  requirements.  The  stations  were  ordered  to  pay  fines  of  $3,000  each.  The  Bureau  determined  that  $4,000  fines  were  warranted  but  made  downward  adjustments  based 
 on  the  licensees'  voluntary  disclosures  of  the  violations. 
 These  violations  were  disclosed  as  part  of  the  three-  year  nationwide  broadcast  station  license  renewal  process  that  began  recently  for  Washington,  D.  C.,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  West 
 Virginia  radio  stations.  Today’s  actions  mark  a  change  in  policy  from  the  last  renewal  cycle  (1995-  1998)  and  reflect  the  Media  Bureau’s  effort  to  enforce  public  file  rules  in  a  meaningful 
 way  as  part  of  the  renewal  process.  FCC  rules  require  broadcast  licensees  to  maintain  a  public  inspection  file  containing  specific  types  of  information  related  to  station  operations.  The  purpose 
 of  this  requirement  is  to  provide  the  public  with  timely  information  at  regular  intervals  throughout  the  license  period. 


 W.  Kenneth  Ferree,  Chief  of  the  Media  Bureau,  said,  “Our  decision  to  fine  these  stations  reflects  the  seriousness  of  the  violations,  and  it  is  consistent  with  FCC  Chairman  Michael  K. 
 Powell’s  initiative  to  promote  and  protect  localism  in  broadcasting.  The  public  file  provides  citizens  with  important  information  about  broadcasters’  service  to  their  communities.  Make  no 
 mistake  about  it  –  the  FCC  will  not  tolerate  less  than  diligent  efforts  to  ensure  the  accuracy  and  timeliness  of  that  information.” 


 Copies  of  the  NALs  can  be  obtained  on  today’s  Daily  Digest  or  at  www.  fcc.  gov/  mb. 
 -  FCC  - 
 Media  Bureau  contacts:  Peter  Doyle,  Michael  Wagner  at  (202)  418-  2700 
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