Re: [IRCA] Status of WOOW-1340-NC

[Scott Fybush <scott@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike Hardester wrote:

>    In short, the station has ignored the FCC's rule about having a 
> license to operate, for some time.

It's not always that simple these days. While there are indeed some 
stations that don't bother to file for renewal, have their licenses 
cancelled, and keep operating anyway, there are others that run into 
paperwork glitches and receive FCC permission to resume operation under 
special temporary authority.

WOOW appears to fall into the latter camp. Here's what they said in 
their license renewal application filed last September:

"THE LICENSEE FAILED TO FILE A RENEWAL APPLICATION WHEN DUE ON AUGUST 1, 
2003, AND AS A RESULT, THE COMMISSION CANCELLED THE LICENSE FOR WOOW. 
AFTER A VISIT BY THE FCC'S FIELD OFFICE, ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2007, WOOW 
WENT OFF THE AIR AND CURRENTLY REMAINS OFF THE AIR. THE LICENSEE HAS 
RECENTLY ENGAGED COUNSEL TO ASSIST WITH THIS MATTER AND HAS TAKEN STEPS 
TO ASSURE THAT THIS OVERSIGHT DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN.

THE INSTANT RENEWAL APPLICATION IS BEING FILED CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH A 
REQUEST FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO RESUME OPERATION OF WOOW 
PENDING THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS APPLICATION. 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE LICENSEE'S FAILURE TO FILE A TIMELY RENEWAL 
APPLICATION, THE LICENSEE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS RENEWAL OF WOOW'S 
LICENSE. AS A MINORITY OWNED AND OPERATED STATION, WOOW HAS HISTORICALLY 
PROVIDED A UNIQUE VOICE FOR THE MINORITY COMMUNITY AND OTHER RESIDENTS 
OF GREENVILLE, NC. ACCORDINGLY, THE PUBLIC INTEREST WARRANTS RENEWAL OF 
WOOW'S LICENSE."

WOOW did indeed file for special temporary authority on 9/25/07, which 
was granted, so while they're operating without a license, they're on 
the air legally under STA. (The application for STA explains that a 
renewal application and STA app were filed back in 2004, then dismissed 
for failure to pay the proper filing fees; another STA was in effect in 
2005-2006, then expired.)

They'll probably end up being fined, probably $7000, for failure to file 
a renewal application and for subsequent unauthorized operation, after 
which their renewal application will be granted and the WOOW calls will 
be restored to the database.

The FCC is really, really reluctant to pull a license for good, and will 
usually try very hard to keep that from happening.

s
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