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Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of )
)
FBS Wireless Corporation ) File No. EB-02-PA-140
Licensee of Station WFBS(AM) ) NAL/Acct. No. 200232400007
Berwick, Pennsylvania ) FRN 0006-7296-02
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Adopted: October 14, 2004 Released: October 18,
2004
By the Chief, Enforcement Bureau:
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In this Memorandum Opinion and Order (``Order''), we
deny the November 21, 2003 petition for reconsideration filed by
FBS Wireless Corporation (``FBS''), licensee of Station WFBS(AM),
Berwick, Pennsylvania. FBS seeks reconsideration of an October
20, 2003 Forfeiture Order,1 in which the Enforcement Bureau
imposed a monetary forfeiture in the amount of twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000) for repeated violation of Sections 17.4(a),
17.51(a), and 73.49 of the Commission's Rules (Rules).2 The
noted violations involve FBS's failure to register and light the
antenna structure for station WFBS(AM) and to enclose that
antenna structure within an effective locked fence. In its
petition for reconsideration, FBS raises five issues: the
coordinates of its tower; the height of its tower; the
aeronautical study concerning its tower; the fencing around the
tower; and, the Commission's approval of the transfer of station
WFBS(AM) to it notwithstanding the violations existing at the
time. FBS does not raise any new arguments nor does it provide
any new facts relating to the issues addressed in the Forfeiture
Order, specifically, the tower height (at paragraph 10);
aeronautical study (at paragraph 11) and fencing (at paragraph
12). Accordingly, we do not readdress those issues and confine
this Order to the questions raised with respect to the tower
coordinates and the Commission's failure to note the outstanding
violations at the time it approved the transfer of station WFBS.
II. DISCUSSION
2. The first new argument that FBS makes is that, until
approximately August, 2003, the exact coordinates of the FBS
tower were not known, making proper registration impossible.
However, not knowing the exact coordinates of the FBS tower did
not prevent FBS from registering the tower during the period
covered by the NAL that was subsequent to August, 2003, nor did
it prevent FBS from lighting the structure. The authorization
for station WBRX, now station WFBS, dated July 23, 1975,
indicated the antenna structure should be lighted. Thus, the
WFBS antenna structure should have been lighted up until August
11, 2003, when the FAA removed the painting and lighting
requirements because of an adjacent, shielding tower.3 Because
the WFBS antenna structure had painting and lighting
requirements, it was also required to be registered with the
Commission.4
3. Secondly, FBS argues that the WFBS antenna structure
has been in violation of the Commission's tower rules since
before station WFBS, then WSQV, and the antenna structure were
transferred to FBS on March 19, 2000. FBS asserts that because
the Commission approved the transfer and licensing of WFBS even
though it was in violation of the Commission's own rules, this
should impact the Enforcement Bureau's determination in this
proceeding. We do not agree. The Commission approved the
transfer of station WFBS based upon the information that was
provided it during the transfer process. The parties involved in
the transfer were responsible for providing accurate information
to the Commission. Moreover, once the transfer was approved, FBS
became responsible for knowing and complying with the
Commission's rules.5 FBS was responsible for registering and
lighting its antenna structure in accordance with the
Commission's rules without regard to the behavior of its
predecessor. It did neither.
III. ORDERING CLAUSES
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section
405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended6 and Section
1.106 of the Rules,7 FBS Wireless Corporation's petition for
reconsideration, filed November 21, 2003, IS DENIED and the
issuance of the $20,000 forfeiture IS AFFIRMED.
5. Payment of the forfeiture shall be made in the manner
provided for in Section 1.80 of the Rules within 30 days of the
release of this Order. If the forfeiture is not paid within the
period specified, the case may be referred to the Department of
Justice for collection pursuant to Section 504(a) of the Act.8
Payment of the forfeiture must be made by check or similar
instrument, payable to the order of the ``Federal Communications
Commission.'' The payment must include the NAL/Acct. No. and FRN
No. referenced above. Payment by check or money order may be
mailed to Forfeiture Collection Section, Finance Branch, Federal
Communications Commission, P.O. Box 73482, Chicago, Illinois
60673-7482. Payment by overnight mail may be sent to Bank One/LB
73482, 525 West Monroe, 8th Floor Mailroom, Chicago, IL 60661.
Payment by wire transfer may be made to ABA Number 071000013,
receiving bank ``Bank One,'' and account number 1165259.
Requests for full payment under an installment plan should be
sent to: Chief, Revenue and Receivables Operations Group, 445
12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.9
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT this Order shall be sent by
first class mail and certified mail, return receipt requested, to
FBS Wireless Corporation, 114 Market Street, 2nd Floor, Berwick,
Pennsylvania 18603.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
David H. Solomon
Chief, Enforcement Bureau
_________________________
1 FBS Wireless Corporation, 18 FCC Rcd 9582 (Enf. Bur. 2003).
2 47 C.F.R. §§ 17.4(a), 17.51(a), and 73.49.
3 See Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Study No.
2003-AEA-2360-OE, dated August 11, 2003.
4 See 47 C.F.R. § 17.4(a)(2).
5 See Aracelis Ortiz, Executrix for the Estate of Carlos Ortiz,
19 FCC Rcd 2632 (Enf. Bur. 2004).
6 47 U.S.C. § 405.
7 47 C.F.R. § 1.106.
8 47 U.S.C. § 504(a).
9 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1914.