Radio License of Station in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Abolished by FCC
Radio Station WCND's License Revoked for Unpaid Regulatory Fees
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revoked the license of WCND(AM), a radio station based in Shelbyville, Kentucky, due to unpaid regulatory fees. The station, which broadcasted a Regional Mexican radio format and was known as La Pantera 940, served the eastern suburbs in the Louisville metropolitan area.
The FCC's Media Bureau issued an Order to Pay or Show Cause to Pedro Arce, the licensee for WCND(AM), on April 30. The order demanded payment of delinquent regulatory fees totaling $9,261 for fiscal years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2023. However, WCND has not paid any of the debts nor filed a written response to the order to date.
Under the Communications Act, the FCC can revoke authorizations for failure to pay regulatory fees or related interest and penalties in a timely fashion. The FCC also has the authority to impose additional 25% penalties for late payments owed to the commission. In this case, the 60-day window for providing evidence or showing cause has passed without a response from Arce, leading to the revocation of WCND's license on July 25.
The procedures followed by the FCC are clear. An Order to Pay or Show Cause is issued, demanding payment of the delinquent regulatory fees or a showing as to why payment cannot be made. The station is given a set period (such as 60 days) to comply. Failure to respond or pay leads to license revocation. The station retains unpaid regulatory fee debt, which can serve as a basis for enforcement actions or a bar to future licensing until resolved.
This case highlights the FCC's commitment to enforcing compliance with regulatory fee payments. Non-payment of regulatory fees for multiple years leads to license revocation following formal FCC orders and failure to comply. It is essential for broadcasters to meet their regulatory obligations to avoid such consequences.
No detailed information on other remedial actions or appeals in this particular case was provided. However, the general framework implies that paying or contesting fees within the set deadlines is necessary to avoid losing the license.
[1] Source: FCC Media Bureau Order to Pay or Show Cause to Pedro Arce, issued on April 30, 2023.
- Despite the regional Mexican radio format offered by La Pantera 940 (WCND(AM)), failure to pay regulatory fees for multiple years has led to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoking its license, as a result of the FCC's strict policy-and-legislation on regulatory fee payments, highlighting the importance of broadcasters meeting their obligations to avoid such consequences.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to impose additional penalties for late payments of regulatory fees, as seen in the case of WCND(AM), whose license was revoked for unpaid fees from 2013 to 2023, emphasizing the significance of timely media-related payments in politics and the general-news landscape.
