Following an informal objection and inquiry by the FCC, Centro Cristiano de Vida Eterna has been fined $9000 as part of a consent decree tied to its license renewal application for 98.3 W252AW Chicago.
The consent decree acknowledges that W252AW was broadcasting for extended periods of time while its primary staton was off the air, failed to timely notify the FCC that the translator was silent for more than 30 days, and CCVE failed to make truthful and accurate statements to the agency’s media bureau during the investigation.
W252AW was licensed to rebroadcast Midway Broadcasting’s 1450 WRLL Cicero, which at the time was still on a shared-time license with the now deleted 1450 WCEV Cicero. Centro Cristiano admitted that from March 5, 2021 until April 9, 2021 that it aired WRLL’s online programming during a time that WCEV was broadcasting and not WRLL. During the FCC’s inquiry they first claimed the translator was only broadcasting static bursts until conceding the fact after being given recorded proof.
Previously the translator had gone silent on March 6, 2020 before resuming operations on March 5, 2021. No silent STA was filed until July 8, 2020 when it was required to be submitted by April 5.
The $9000 fine comes just weeks after Windy City Broadcasting’s 103.9 W280EM Chicago was fined $8000 to settle multiple violations with its license renewal.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com