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Posted February 6, 2012

By Christine A. Reilly

Last Thursday, the FCC's Media Bureau issued a Letter Decision involving two disputed coordinate correction applications for a station's main and auxiliary antennas that, at least on paper, proposed to increase the short spacing to another radio station. In the Letter Decision, the Media Bureau spelled out the circumstances under which a requested coordinate correction, absent an actual change in facilities, will be approved by the Media Bureau.

Certain FCC applications and registrations require parties to specify the geographic coordinates for the site that is the subject of the filing. Examples of such FCC filings include applications for modifications to an AM or FM broadcast station on FCC Form 301 or 302, antenna and tower registrations on FCC Form 854, and applications seeking authorization to operate studio transmitter links on FCC Form 601. The Letter Decision emphasized that the coordinates supplied to the FCC should be accurate not only to prevent interference among stations, but also to avoid unanticipated and potentially costly disputes like the one discussed in this decision.

As detailed in the Letter Decision, a California broadcaster filed applications seeking to correct its main and auxiliary transmitter site coordinates on FCC Form 302-FM pursuant to the FCC rule that allows a station to correct its coordinates by no more than three seconds of latitude and/or longitude without requesting a new construction permit. The applications in question were opposed by a broadcaster in an adjacent market who argued that the applications to correct the coordinates would impermissibly increase the existing short spacing between the applicant's station and its station. While the correction of coordinates did technically reduce the stated distance between the stations, it did so by only 304 feet.

The Media Bureau stated in the Letter Decision that it is an "undisputed fact" that the coordinate changes proposed would increase the short spacing, but it decided to approve the applications because the increase in short spacing was negligible, or "de minimis." In doing so, the Media Bureau relied on a 1998 case involving a coordinate correction that proposed a "paper" change in coordinates of a similar distance (less than a tenth of a kilometer).

However, the Media Bureau also concluded that in assessing the distances between transmitter sites to determine whether a short-spacing is increased under the FCC's Rules, it will round distances to the nearest kilometer. Using this rounding methodology, the distance between the stations in the Letter Decision remained unchanged by the correction, since both the old and the new distances rounded to 221 kilometers, and therefore created no "change" in the short spacing between the stations.

The take away from the Letter Decision is that the Media Bureau will likely approve applications to correct coordinates that increase an existing short spacing where (i) the application is for correction of site data that does not involve an actual facility change; (ii) the correction raises no environmental or international (or other) issues; (iii) the difference between the authorized and corrected spacing involved is de minimis (keep in mind the only clear line even after the Letter Decision is that a tenth of a kilometer, or less, will be considered de minimis by the FCC); and (iv) a change of more than a tenth of a kilometer may be permissible where rounding to the nearest kilometer would indicate no change in the distance between stations.

Posted January 31, 2012

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• Failure to Refresh Tower Paint Garners $8,000 Fine
• FCC Levies $25,000 Fine for Failure to Respond
• $85,000 Consent Decree Terminates Investigation Into Unauthorized Transfers of Control

Part 17 supplements the notification obligations imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"). Section 17.7 of the FCC's Rules requires that certain tower structures, including most structures over 200 feet in height and those near airports or heliports, be registered with the FCC. Section 17.21 mandates that most towers over 200 feet be lit and painted in accordance with the FAA's recommendations. These recommendations include the use of orange and white paint (alternating bands) and red or white flashing, strobe or static lights.

With the recent release of two Notices of Apparent Liability ("NAL"), the FCC continued its pursuit of those who fail to comply with its tower rules, including Section 17.50, which mandates that any tower required to be painted in accordance with the FAA's guidelines or the FCC's Rules must be cleaned or repainted as often as necessary to maintain good visibility.

In the first of the two NALs, agents from the Dallas Field Office inspected a 402-foot tower located in Quanah, Texas and determined that the existing paint, which was faded, scraped, peeling or missing in certain areas, was insufficient. The NAL indicates that the agents were unable to distinguish between the orange and white bands from a "quarter mile from the [tower]", thereby "reducing the structure's visibility."

Shortly after the Quanah inspection, agents from the Dallas Field Office also inspected a 419-foot tower located in Durant, Oklahoma. The agents found a similar situation, where the tower's paint was faded, scraped, peeling or missing in certain areas. The agents were again unable to distinguish between the orange and white bands from "800 feet away from the [tower]", once again "reducing the structure's visibility."

The FCC levied the full base fine of $10,000 against each tower owner. The FCC also mandated that no later than 30 days after the release of the respective NAL, a "written statement pursuant to Section 1.16 of the Rules signed under penalty of perjury by an officer or director of [the tower owner] stating that the [tower] has been painted to maintain good visibility" be delivered to the Dallas Field Office.

Continue reading "FCC Enforcement Monitor"

Posted December 1, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• Malfunctioning Monitor Costs Broadcaster $10,000


• FCC Fines Tower Owner $13,000 For Lighting and Ownership Issues

According to a recent Notice of Apparent Liability ("NAL"), agents at the FCC's Norfolk Field Office received a complaint of an unlit tower from the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"). Two weeks later, agents from the Norfolk Field Office contacted the local Sheriff's Office for a visual confirmation of the tower's lighting status. A deputy indicated that all but one of the lights on the 700 foot tower were not functioning and that the only functioning light was located 100 feet from the ground.

Section 17.51 of the FCC's Rules requires certain structures to install and maintain red obstruction lighting. These lights must be functional between sunset and sunrise. The base fine for failure to comply with lighting and painting regulations is $10,000. Sections 17.47, 17.48 and 17.49 require structure owners to 1) inspect all automatic or mechanical lighting control devices at least every three months, 2) notify the FAA immediately of tower lighting malfunctions or extinguishments, and 3) maintain logs detailing any malfunctions or extinguishments.

The Norfolk field agents conducted an onsite inspection of the tower almost one month after receiving notification of the complaint from the FAA. The tower owner's contract engineer was present at the time of the onsite inspection. During that inspection, the agents confirmed that only one tower light was functioning and that the tower's remote light monitoring system was also malfunctioning. The NAL indicated that the consulting engineer admitted that the monitoring system had notified the tower owner that the top beacon was not functioning only six days prior to the onsite inspection. The tower owner notified the FAA at that time. The engineer also stated that the tower owner did not maintain tower logs detailing regular tower and control device inspections or instances of malfunctions.

In light of these failures, and the period of time over which they occurred, the FCC assessed a fine of $10,000 to the tower owner.

Reporting Failures Result in Fines Totaling $13,000

The registrant of an antenna structure in California was recently found liable for $13,000 for violations related to the antenna structure's red obstruction lighting and for failing to notify the FCC of the structure's change in ownership.

In response to complaints that the structure's obstruction lighting had failed, agents from the Los Angeles Field Office contacted the registrant of the structure. Section 303(q) of the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 17.51(a) of the FCC's Rules require that antenna structures be painted with aviation orange and white and have red obstruction lighting indicating the top and midpoints of the structure. Upon inspection, however, the agent found that none of the structure's lights were functioning between sunset and sunrise. The Enforcement Bureau subsequently issued a Letter of Inquiry. In response, the registrant admitted that the lights were not operational for a period of two months, and he was unsure if he had notified the Federal Aviation Administration at the time of the outage, as required by Section 17.48 of the FCC's Rules. As noted above, the base forfeiture for failing to comply with the required lighting and painting standards is $10,000. Though the violation was "repeated" because the outage lasted two months, the FCC did not issue an upward adjustment of the penalty.

The FCC further found that the registrant had violated Section 17.57 of the FCC's Rules, which requires that tower owners immediately notify the FCC of any changes in ownership. The registrant assumed ownership of the structure in April 2008, but did not update the ownership information filed with the FCC until January 2011, after being contacted by agents from the Enforcement Bureau. The base forfeiture for violating the rules pertaining to tower ownership notifications is $3,000. As a result, the FCC tacked on an additional $3,000 fine, resulting in a total proposed fine of $13,000 for the tower owner.

A PDF version of this article can be found at FCC Enforcement Monitor.

Posted June 30, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• FCC Fines FM Broadcaster an Extra $5,000 For Inaction


• Inaccurate Tower Ownership Information Ends in $3,000 Fine

In its response to the LOI, the FM broadcaster admitted that the quarterly issues/programs lists were unavailable on the day of the inspection. The FM broadcaster indicated that it was evident "a person or persons had gone through the file and that some of the items had been removed" and was "committed" to bringing the station's public inspection file into compliance.

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Posted May 26, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• FCC Fines FM Broadcaster for Excessive Power and RF Radiation Levels


• Forfeiture More Than Triples After Consent Decree Default

According to the Notice of Apparent Liability ("NAL"), the station and its antenna tower were located at the top of a hill easily accessible by foot and all terrain vehicles. The station and tower were enclosed by a chain link fence, but access from the base of the hill to the station's fence was unobstructed. The field agents visited the station on two separate occasions and determined that the station was exceeding permitted RFR exposure levels, with actual RFR ranging from 165 to 315% of the legally acceptable levels at distances between 12 and 28 feet outside the chain link fence. At the time of the inspection, Denver field agents did not observe any posted RFR warning signs on or near the site. Failure to maintain acceptable levels of public RFR exposure is a direct violation of Section 1.1310 of the FCC's Rules, which mandates that broadcasters comply with the RFR exposure limits established by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements as outlined in the tables provided in the FCC's Rules.

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Posted April 28, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Headlines:

• FCC Begins to Move on Pending Video News Release Complaints
• Failure to Monitor Tower Lighting Results in $12,000 Penalty

Video News Releases Garner $4,000 Fines for Two Television Broadcasters

After a flurry of complaints from advocacy groups a few years ago raised the issue at the FCC, the Commission has been pondering how to treat Video News Releases (VNRs) with respect to its sponsorship identification rule. The result has been a growing backlog of enforcement investigations involving VNRs. However, the release of two decisions proposing fines for stations that aired all or part of a VNR without identifying the material on-air as being sponsored appears to indicate that the dam is about to break. In its first VNR enforcement actions in years, the FCC fined two unrelated television stations $4,000 each for violating the sponsorship identification requirements found in Section 317 of the Communications Act and Section 73.1212 of the FCC's Rules.

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Posted March 21, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• Florida FM Translator Fined $13,000 for Unauthorized Operations


• Latest Public Inspection File Violation Nets Upwardly Adjusted Fine


• Failure to Monitor Inactive Tower Results in $6,000 Penalty

A recent FCC Notice of Apparent Liability ("NAL") for $13,000 against a Florida broadcaster serves as a costly reminder that stations must operate in accordance with the FCC's Rules, and more notably, as specifically authorized in their station license. According to the NAL, the Florida broadcaster failed to heed a verbal warning from Tampa field agents that its station was operating beyond the technical parameters of its authorization. The NAL stated that the Tampa field agents, pursuant to an investigation and following two complaints, took field strength measurements on five separate occasions and visited the station's transmitter site on two separate occasions over approximately 11 months between October 2009 and September 2010. Field measurements undertaken in October 2009 and early February 2010 indicated that the station was operating with a power level well in excess of its authorization in violation of Section 74.1235(e) of the FCC's Rules, which states, "[i]n no event shall a station authorized under this subpart be operated with a transmitter power output (TPO) in excess of the transmitter certificated rating and the TPO shall not be more than 105 percent of the authorized TPO."

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Posted January 20, 2011

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month's issue includes:

• Antenna Structure Owner's Failure to Act Results in $25,000 Fine


• FCC Fines Microwave Licensee $15,000 for Late-Filed Renewal


• AM Broadcaster Receives Reduced Fine for EAS Violation

In January 2010, a Houston Field Office agent responding to a complaint inspected a 253 foot antenna structure located in Yorktown, Texas. According to the Notice of Apparent Liability ("NAL") issued by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"), the antenna structure was unlit and unidentifiable at the time of inspection, in violation of Section 17.51 and Section 17.4 of the FCC's Rules. The field agent later determined that the antenna structure owner had failed to notify (1) the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") of the lack of tower lighting, thereby violating Section 17.48 of the FCC's Rules, and (2) the FCC of a change in ownership of the antenna structure, which violated Section 17.57 of the FCC's Rules.

Following the initial inspection, in an effort to maintain public safety and avoid hazards to aircraft, the field agent requested that the FAA issue a Notice to Airman ("NOTAM") about the tower's lack of lighting. The field agent also contacted the antenna structure owner to discuss the violations discovered during the inspection. In a subsequent inspection, some eight months later, the field agent determined that none of the violations had been cured by the antenna structure owner. Again, the field agent contacted the FAA with a request to reissue another NOTAM regarding the unlit antenna structure.

Section 17.51 establishes that obstruction lighting must be functioning between sunset and sunrise. Section 17.4 requires antenna structure owners to display the ASR number in a "conspicuous place so that it is readily visible near the base of the antenna structure." Section 17.48 requires antenna structure owners to notify the FAA in the event that a structure's lights are malfunctioning or inoperable for more than 30 minutes. Section 17.57 establishes, among other things, that an antenna owner must immediately notify the FCC of any change in the ownership of the structure.

The base fines for the violations discussed above are $10,000 (lighting and FAA notification), $2,000 (displaying ASR) and $3,000 (failure to notify FCC of ownership change). Based on the antenna owner's lack of responsiveness, the FCC upwardly adjusted the fines to $15,000, $4,000 and $6,000, for a total forfeiture of $25,000.

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Posted November 19, 2010

By Scott R. Flick and Christine A. Reilly

Pillsbury's communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. In fact, FCC Enforcement Monitor actually predates the creation of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, which came into being just a few months after the first issue was published. This month's issue includes:

• FCC Increases Fine to $25,000 for Broadcaster's Violations Related to Time Brokerage Agreement


• Upward Adjustment in EAS Portion of Multiple Violation Fine Results in Total Forfeiture of $25,000


• Noncommercial Broadcaster Fined $7000 for Late-Filed License Renewal Application

In September 2009, following a complaint, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Field Office conducted an inspection of a Florida AM station. According to the Notice of Apparent Liability ("NAL") issued by the FCC, the AM broadcaster failed, for the second time within three years, to maintain the required number of full-time employees at its main studio in violation of Section 73.1125(a) of the FCC's Rules, and to maintain a complete public inspection file, which violates Section 73.3526 of the FCC's Rules.

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Posted May 24, 2010

By Scott R. Flick, Lauren Lynch Flick and Paul A. Cicelski

5/24/2010
The FCC recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") proposing to revise and streamline its Part 17 rules regarding construction, marking, and lighting of antenna structures. Pursuant to the Federal Register publication that occurred today, Comments are due on July 20, 2010, with Reply Comments due on August 19, 2010.

According to the FCC, the NPRM's proposed rule changes are intended to improve safety for pilots and airplane passengers while also "updating and modernizing" the rules by removing outdated requirements currently included in Part 17 of its Rules. The FCC states that the proposed clarifications and amendments to the Rules will allow antenna structure owners to more efficiently and cost effectively ensure rule compliance. The NPRM is largely based upon a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Wireless Infrastructure Association seeking changes to Part 17 of the Rules.

The FCC's rules require owners of antenna structures (rather than the FCC licensees and permittees utilizing those structures) to register certain types of antenna structures with the FCC and to exercise primary responsibility for complying with the appropriate painting and lighting requirements. In general, any proposed or existing antenna structure that is more than 200 feet above ground level (60.96 meters) requires notice of construction or alteration to the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") and must be registered with the FCC.

Among other things, the FCC's NPRM requests comment on the proposed rule changes outlined below.

Continue reading "FCC Seeks Comment on Possible Revisions to Its Rules Regarding the Construction, Marking, and Lighting of Towers"

Posted May 21, 2010

By Paul A. Cicelski

There is a growing need for tower space as wireless technologies proliferate, and the potential profits to be made by tower owners leasing space for these new technologies has resulted in the growth of companies whose sole business is to own and manage towers. However, managing towers is not a simple affair, as they are subject to numerous regulations from the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration, not to mention the many other applicable regulations of the Department of Homeland Security, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The FCC recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing revisions to Part 17, its Antenna Structure Registration rules, with the stated goals of improving compliance and safety and to remove dated and burdensome requirements on tower owners. It also claimed that the proposals will help tower owners, as the FCC puts it, "more efficiently and cost effectively" comply with the FCC's rules.

While it may be true that the FCC is proposing to streamline aspects of its rules, for antenna structure owners, the NPRM is a mixed bag at best and includes a number of possible new regulations that could increase regulatory compliance burdens. For example, the FCC is proposing new regulations changing the way it evaluates proper tower painting, adding station record retention requirements, changing the required location of signage, and establishing new tower light failure and tower inspection requirements. Of perhaps the greatest concern, the FCC is asking whether it should adopt a whole new set of rules to be consistent with those to be issued by the FAA which could expand notification requirements for construction of new facilities that operate on specified frequency bands, changes in authorized frequency, addition of new frequencies, and new power and height thresholds.

Among the potentially beneficial changes, the NPRM proposes to replace the current tower inspection and observation requirements with a simple rule mandating only prompt reporting of outages, ease the requirement regarding quarterly inspections of automatic control systems associated with tower lighting, clarify the rules regarding the posting of Antenna Structure Registration numbers, create an objective standard for determining when an antenna structure must be cleaned or repainted, and permit tower owners to notify tenants by email when a tower structure has been registered rather than being required to provide a paper notification.

The FCC set the public comment dates in this proceeding through publication in the Federal Register today. Comments are due July 20, 2010, and reply comments are due August 19, 2010. As will be discussed in greater detail in a Client Advisory regarding the proposed rule revisions, the FCC has requested comment on these and a multitude of other changes. A complete copy of the FCC's NPRM can be found here. Given the breadth of this proceeding, tower owners and tenants should seriously consider providing their input on the proposed rule changes or be prepared to live with the consequences. In worst case scenarios, tower owners can face fines of more than a million dollars for failing to comply with various federal (as well as state and local) regulations, and it is therefore wise for them to register their input on what those regulations will look like.

Posted December 12, 2008

By Scott R. Flick

December 2008
Topics include:

• FCC Fines Mississippi Radio Station $13,000 for Failure to Inform Federal Aviation Administration of Antenna Structure Lighting Malfunction and Failure to Maintain a Public Inspection File
• Commission Fines Nevada Radio Licensee $5,600 for Failing to Enclose Tower With an Effective Locked Fence
• FCC Fines New Mexico Radio Station $10,000 for Operating from an Unauthorized Location

Continue reading "FCC Enforcement Monitor"

Posted April 10, 2008

By Scott R. Flick and Emily J. H. Daniels

April 2008
Topics include:

• FCC Fines Florida Low Power FM Radio Licensee $24,000 for Unlicensed Operations
• Commission Fines Florida Tower Owner $12,000 for Failing to Post Antenna Structure Registration Numbers and Paint Its Towers
• FCC Fines California Radio Licensee for Failing to Operate an Aural Studio-Transmitter Link from the Licensed Location
• Commission Fines Florida AM Radio Licensee $4,000 for Remaining on Air After Sunset in Violation of Its Station Authorization

Continue reading "FCC Enforcement Monitor"

Posted February 1, 2008

By Scott R. Flick and Emily J. H. Daniels

February 2008
Topics include:

• FCC Fines Texas AM Station $8,800 for Failure to Maintain a Main Studio and Exceeding Licensed Power Levels
• New York Private Land Mobile Licensee Fined for Operating From an Unauthorized Location With an Antenna Placement Exceeding Authorized Height
• FCC Fines Owner of Antenna Structure $13,000 for Failure to Paint Antenna Structure and Notify the FCC of a Change in Ownership
• FCC Issues Several Notices for Failure to Notify of Change in Ownership of Antenna Structure and Failure to Transmit Assigned Call Sign

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Posted January 14, 2008

By Scott R. Flick and Emily J. H. Daniels

January 2008
Topics include:

• FCC Fines Owner of Florida Antenna Structure $3,000 for Failure to Register
• Commission Fines Florida Licensee $10,000 for Failure to Comply with Radiofrequency Radiation Requirements
• Utah Licensee Fined $4,000 for Violating Rule on Broadcasting Telephone Conversations

Continue reading "FCC Enforcement Monitor"