US

Before it became the radio industry’s rebranding of Oldies, the term “Classic Hits” had a different meaning. Classic Hits stations were a softer, usually more eclectic, sometimes poppier take on Classic Rock, ranging from the “Arrow” format on KCBS-FM Los Angeles and others to the early WZLX Boston. […]

University of South Florida and Beasley Media Group have announced a partnership to move the university’s football broadcasts to Classic Hits “Q105” WRBQ St. Petersburg/Tampa. […]

American Public Media Group, the parent organization of public radio programming provider American Public Media, Minnesota Public Radio, and “LAist” Southern California Public Radio eliminated 30 positions on Friday, affecting 6% of its total workforce. […]

Hearst Rock “98 Rock” WIYY Baltimore has promoted Justin Johnson to Program Director effective September 1. […]

‘John Patrick’ Golobish’s JetStream Media has begun operating Boll Weevil Communications Classic Hits “Z101” WZTZ Elba AL and has relaunched the station as “Retro FM 101.1”. […]

FCC Actions

The FCC commissioners unanimously voted to open a rulemaking to consider a “ground-up re-examination of the national alert and warning systems” including the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The commission says, “This action will explore whether fundamental changes to these systems could make them more effective, efficient, and better able to serve the public’s needs. The United States maintains national capabilities that provide the President and other government authorities with the ability to send emergency alerts to the public. These capabilities include EAS, which provides emergency alerts to the public via radio, television, satellite, and cable systems, and WEA, which provides emergency alerts to supported mobile devices. With underlying frameworks that are 31 and 13 years old, respectively, the time is right to explore if structural changes to these systems are needed, with an eye towards making sure the FCC is leveraging the latest technology to save lives.”

Among the goals of the rulemaking are to seek comment on the objectives for effective alert and warning systems; explore which entities need to be able to send alerts to fully accomplish these objectives and how these needs should be addressed in the design of alerting systems; consider the alert transmission capabilities that a national public alert and warning system must have to achieve its objectives, including the need for resilience, geographic targeting, and security; ask whether EAS and WEA are meeting the needs and expectations of both the public and alerting authorities, and if not, whether redesign or targeted changes would allow EAS and WEA to fully reach their potential; and examine both the types of information and distribution methods needed to effectively convey information to the public through EAS and WEA.

The FCC has granted its own proposal to make two changes to the FM Table of Allotments to resolve an existing short spacing. The vacant C2 allocation on 96.7 Matador TX will move to 103.1, while the current vacant C3 on 103.1 will be shifted to 98.3. The 96.7 allocation was short spaced to the since cancelled 96.7 KYLB Turkey TX by 117 kilometers.

The commission has also granted SSR Communications’ proposal to allocate a Class C3 on 93.1 in Enterprise UT to the FM Table of Allotments.

Pirate Actions

The FCC has entered a consent decree with a $6000 fine with Brigido Danerys Gonzalez for operating a pirate on 90.1 in Hazleton PA. A $40,000 penalty had been proposed against Gonzalez in February 2024, but sought cancellation or reduction due to inability to pay. Under the terms of the agreement, Gonzalez will need to pay an additional $34,000 if he violates the Pirate Act or triggers a default during the next 20 years.

The FCC has proposed a $25,000 fine against Noah Opoku Gyamfi for operating “Unity Radio” on 103.9 in Worcester MA. Gyamfi was first issued a Notice of Unauthorized Operating in April 2019 from one site in Worcester, which went unresponded. In September 2024, a second investigation found the station continuing to operate, which field agents tied to Gyamfi’s stream, personal social media accounts and telephone records.

A $20,000 penalty was proposed against Amoce Pamphile, Alemy Mondestin, and Radio Evangelique de la Grace Inc. for operating on 97.1 in Providence RI. Agents connected the station to its stream, social media accounts, and website to the operators. On September 12, 2024, an FCC agent left a voicemail message on a station phone number. Later that day they received a call from Pamphile from that number during which he admitted to being the station operator claiming to have spoken with someone from the FCC before, who had given him permission to operate the station. The Agent explained that the station is not licensed and must cease operation immediately.

Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting were issued to the following property owners noting that the FCC is investigating pirate operations to Howard & Lashell Thompson for operating on 106.3 Bridgeport CT and 1113 North Fifth Street Illinois Limited Partnership for operating on 105.9 Springfield IL.

Silent Notifications

Townsquare Media’s 1230 KEXO Grand Junction CO (Economic conditions)
William Keith Register’s 1390 WTNL Reidsville GA (Preparation for sale)
Blue Jey Broadcasting’s 750 WJTO Bath ME (Tower site dismantled)
Blue Jey Broadcasting’s 1470 WLAM Lewiston ME (Preparation for sale)
Spring Arbor University’s 89.3 WJKN-FM Spring Arbor MI (Spurius emmissions into airplane band)
Cantico Nuevo Ministry’s 1310 WXMC Parsippany-Troy Hills NJ (Storm damage)
Michael Radio Company’s 100.9 WVLY-FM Milton PA (No programming feed until sale)
Eduardo Gallegos’ 95.3 KRIX Los Fresnos TX (Tower site move)
Mud Radio LLC’s 1490 WFAD Middlebury VT (Construct new tower site)

AM Changes

Tri-City Radio’s 1000 WJNZ Robertsdale/Mobile AL seeks to relocate […]