Sun Signals has agreed to a Consent Decree with a $6000 “voluntary contribution” to the FCC to settle a license renewal petition to deny filed by Townsquare Media against its 93.9 W230CP Pittsfield MA for rebroadcasting their station without permission.
Townsquare alleged that it first notified Sun Signals on February 2, 2021 and then sent a cease & desist order on April 30, 2021 and after not getting a response, submitted its petition to the FCC on June 17, 2021. The translator finally stopped rebroadcasting their 1420 WBEC Pittsfield on June 29. Sun in its response noted that it had permission from WBEC’s former owner to rebroadcast the AM. It then would change parent signal to 89.1 WMHT-FM Schenectady NY but Townsquare alleged that it failed to amend its renewal application to note the change, although in 2023 it would amend it again to rebroadcast 1340 WBRK Pittsfield. Other issues were noted regarding attempting to be exempt from application and regulatory fees.
The FCC noted it will approve W230CP’s renewal application once the contribution is paid, the filing fee plus 25 percent penalty, and an amendment to the application is filed to correct Sun Signals’ certifications that the translator is exempt from application and regulatory fees and to provide the online notice certification provided there are no other issues that would preclude grant of the application.
License Cancellations
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