The FCC formally signed off on Citadel’s $2.7 billion merger with...
The FCC formally signed off on Citadel’s $2.7 billion merger with ABC Radio (CD March 23 p15), issuing an order that approved the license transfer. Commissioners voted 5-0 for the deal at the March agenda meeting, but the order…
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wasn’t released until Wed. In the order, the FCC renewed 16 stations’ licenses and fined Citadel $42,000 for rule violations. The company drew a $21,000 penalty for violating kids-TV rules. The other fines were for lacking public- record inspection files at several stations - some violations first aired by rival Red Wolf Bcstg. But the FCC found that Red Wolf didn’t provide enough evidence that Citadel lied to the agency in seeking to block the Citadel’s request for an FM translator station. Red Wolf also accused Citadel of payola. The FCC lumped Citadel in among 4 radio companies that agency officials have said will face $12.5 million in total fines for allegedly taking bribes to play music - but the Commission decided not to act on Red Wolf’s allegations. Red Wolf will sue the FCC in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., to appeal the license transfer approval, said Arthur Belendiuk, who represents the small broadcaster. “The FCC failed to consider, among other things, Citadel’s numerous violations of the sponsorship identification rule,” he told us: “The FCC’s decision is contrary to the specific requirement of the Communications Act.” The FCC gave Citadel 6 months to sell 11 FM stations that don’t comply with FCC ownership limits, using a trust to divest the properties. The assets: KBZU Albuquerque; Me. stations WCLZ Brunswick and WCYI Lewiston; WYLZ Pinconning, Mich.; KNEK Washington, La.; WMGL Ravenel, S.C.; KKWD Bethany, Okla.; KINB Kingfisher, Okla.; and, in Ark., KVLO Humnoke, KZPK Cabot and KARN Sheridan.