High School Radio Station Defies FCC…

Wednesday, October, 7, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

This is not what new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski signed on for but like it or not he’s got it. In 2007, the FCC issued a $7,000 fine against an Indiana high school for operating a station (WJHS) without a proper license. You read right — a high school station.Who knew a high school station needed a license? Rather than having a brownie sale or car wash to raise money for the fine, Columbia City High School decided to fight the fine. No one ever accused Hoosiers of being pushovers. Whitley County Consolidated Schools business director Anthony Zickgraf says the station’s operator at the time didn’t properly file the license renewal. The station operator remains anonymous but I hope he or she ran for president of the student council…

It’s been two years since Columbia City High School appealed the FCC fine. Last week the school district received word that the FCC has rejected their appeal of the fine. Not backing down, Zickgraf says a second appeal is expected, arguing that the district doesn’t have other FCC violations and that it has limited funds available. This smells like an Oprah campaign to me…

The FCC can do one of two things about this high school fine but only one makes them look good. Either they drop or lower the fine or become the biggest joke of a government agency ever. BTW, the radio station broadcasts school board meetings, basketball and football games. What a threat to the community!!!   

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1916] Rambling Wrecks: Georgia Tech beats Cumberland College 222-0. As Warner Wolf would say, “if you took 221 points in this game, you would still lose” and here’s the kicker: Georgia Tech gained 978 yards on the ground, never throwing a pass. Now that’s running up the score and the clock…
2. 1952] Billy Ball on defense: Second baseman Billy Martin makes a game-saving catch as the Yankees win their 4th straight World Series, beating Brooklyn in Game 7. This is a terrific interview of Mickey Mantle followed by a review of that game…
3. 1960] Debatable: JFK and Richard Nixon square off in round 2 of their presidential debates. General consensus has JFK wining this one too. This clip covers all of the debates…
4. 1960] Premiered on this date: “Route 66” starring George Maharis and Martin Milner will run 4 seasons…1982] That horrible screeching coming from the Winter Garden Theater can only be “Cats“, opening on Broadway. It will become the longest running show in B’way history…
5. 1967] World Series Update: Game 3 of the World Series between St. Louis and Boston goes to the Cardinals 5-2 as they go one game up with a 2-1 game edge in the series. Ken Coleman and Don Gillis narate that 1967 special that I ran a couple of weeks ago…
6. 1985] Tragedy at sea: Four Palestinian terrorists hijack the Achille Lauro. They surrender after 2 days but push wheelchair bound passenger Leon Klinghofer off the boat…
7. 1988] You’re fired: Lou Piniella is fired as Yankee manager by George Steinbrenner for the second time. Don’t look now but here comes “Billy V” and all Piniella will do is win the World Series as manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1990…
8. 1988] Turn out the lights: At 5:30 p.m. WNBC goes off the air. The station that started as experimental 2XB in 1919 breathed its last radio breath, signing off forever. WFAN took over the 660 frequency…
9. 2001] Record-breaking: Barry Bonds wraps up his record-breaking season by hitting his 73rd home run while Rickey Henderson becomes the 25th player to record 3,000 hits…
10. 2003] Elected: The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of Cahl-e-for-knee-uh in the recall election of Gray Davis…

Music Memories:

• 1978] Released on this date: “Hold The Line” - Toto…

         
Commentary:

Sorry to hear about the death of Boston 50s radio and television personality Alan Dary who passed away at 89 in Merrimack (NH) October 2nd. Dary at the peak of his career at WBZ and WHDH, was known for his Sunday “Mailbag Show.” He also hosted a late afternoon movie feature called “Boston Movie Time” on WBZ TV and an afternoon feature program called “Profiles in Courage” on WHDH TV. Alan’s obituary can be seen here. Thanks to Paul Power who tipped us to Dary’s death…Spoke to Tedd Webb who said the 2009 Tampa Bay Radio Reunion is on for Saturday, November 7th at the Courtside Grille, located off Ulmerton Road in Carillon Town Center in Pinellas County — just minutes from Tampa, Clearwater or St. Petersburg. For more info/posting information: www.teddwebb.com or RSVP: swoodworth@embarqmail.com …

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Taylor Hicks (33), Toni Braxton (42), Simon Cowell (50), Yo-Yo Ma (54), John Mellencamp (58), Oliver North (66), Joy Behar (66), Desmond Tutu(78) and Al Martino (82)…

Timeline Countdown: The MLB playoffs begin today, 21 days until the World Series and 24 nights until Halloween…

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