NEWSReport No. MM 95-91      MASS MEDIA ACTION            September 8, 1995

   WICZ-TV, BINGHAMTON, NY, APPARENTLY LIABLE FOR $110,000 FORFEITURE
      FOR AIRING TOO MANY COMMERCIALS DURING CHILDREN'S TELEVISION
                                PROGRAMS

     The Commission has notified Stainless Broadcasting Company, licensee of WICZ-TV,
Binghamton, NY, that it is apparently liable for a forfeiture of $110,000 for repeated violation
of the Commission's rules limiting the amount of commercial matter that may be aired during
children's programming.  In addition, the station will be subject to reporting conditions during
its next license term.

     Commission rules limit the amount of commercial time which may be aired during
children's programming to 10.5 minutes per clock hour on weekends and 12 minutes per
clock hour on weekdays.

     Information on WICZ-TV's renewal application revealed that between January 1992,
and October 1993, WICZ-TV exceeded the limits on commercial matter during children's
programming on 376 occasions.  At least 119, and as many as 126, of these commercial
excesses were one minute or longer in length.

     Because of the unusually large number of violations, the licensee's ineffective
procedures for ensuring compliance with the commercial limits, and the extended period over
which the violations occurred, the Commission found the forfeiture of $110,000 appropriate.

     The Commission found no suggestion that Stainless had acted in bad faith and saw no
deliberate disregard for Commission requirements.  Therefore, it granted license renewal, on
the condition that WICZ-TV file quarterly reports to affirm its continuing compliance with the
children's programming commercial limitations.

     Stainless has 30 days to pay or contest the forfeiture.

     Action by the Commission August 28, 1995, by Notice of Apparent Liabilty for
Forfeiture (FCC 95-380).   Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Barrett, Ness and Chong with
Commissioner Quello concurring in the result.

                                  - FCC -                                  

     News Media contact:  Rosemary  Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact:  Mark Solberg at (202) 418-1610.