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Federal Communications Commission DA 16-132
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20554
In the Matter of
Sound Communications, LLC
Owner of Antenna Structure Number 1053420
Licensee of AM Station WENY
Southport, New York
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File No.:  EB-FIELDNER-13-00009899
NAL/Acct. No.:  201432400005
FRN:  0019815109
Facility ID No.: 71510
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Adopted:  February 5, 2016 Released:  February 8, 2016
By the Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau:
1. We deny the Petition for Reconsideration filed by Sound Communications, LLC (Sound 
Communications) seeking reconsideration of a Forfeiture Order issued by the Enforcement Bureau.  On 
June 2, 2014, the Enforcement Bureau’s Philadelphia Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for 
Forfeiture Order (NAL) proposing a $7,000 forfeiture against Sound Communications for apparently 
willfully and repeatedly violating Section 73.49 of the Commission’s rules (Rules) by failing to enclose 
its antenna structure for AM Station WENY within an effective locked fence or other enclosure.
1
  The 
Enforcement Bureau subsequently issued a Forfeiture Order imposing a $7,000 penalty against Sound 
Communications.
2
   
2. Petitions for reconsideration are granted only in limited circumstances.  Reconsideration 
is appropriate only when the petitioner either demonstrates a material error or omission in the underlying 
order or raises additional facts not known or not existing until after the petitioner’s last opportunity to 
present such matters.
3
A petition for reconsideration that only reiterates facts and arguments previously 
considered and rejected will be denied.
4
Sound Communication’s Petition fails to present such 
information warranting reconsideration.  
3. Were we to reach the merits of Sound Communication’s arguments, we also would find 
no basis for reconsideration. Sound Communications argues that a forfeiture reduction is warranted 
because there is no evidence of a “willful or repeated” violation of the Communications Act or Rules.
5
  
                                                     
1
Sound Communications, LLC, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 29 FCC Rcd 5840 (Enf. Bur. 2014) 
(NAL); 47 C.F.R. § 73.49.
2
Sound Communications, LLC, Forfeiture Order, 30 FCC Rcd 6252 (Enf. Bur. 2015) (Forfeiture Order).
3
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.106(c); EZ Sacramento, Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 18257, 18257, 
para. 2 (Enf. Bur. 2000) (citing WWIZ, Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 37 FCC 685, 686 (1964), aff’d sub. 
nom. Lorain Journal Co. v. FCC, 351 F.2d 824 (D.C. Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 383 U.S. 967 (1966)); see also Ely 
Radio, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 27 FCC Rcd 7608, 7610, para. 6 (Enf. Bur. 2012)(providing 
standard of review for petitions for reconsideration).
4
47 C.F.R. § 1.106(a)(3) (petitions for reconsideration may be dismissed or denied where they “[r]ely on arguments 
that have been fully considered and rejected by the Commission within the same proceeding”). See, e.g., WWIZ, 
Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 37 FCC 685, 686, para. 2 (1964) (reconsideration “will not be granted 
merely for the purpose of again debating matters on which the tribunal has once deliberated and spoken”), aff'd 
Lorain Journal Co. v. FCC, 351 F.2d 824 (D.C. Cir. 1965), cert. denied, 383 U.S. 967 (1966); Ely Radio, 27 FCC 
Rcd at 7610, para. 6; EZ Sacramento, 15 FCC Rcd at 18257, para. 2.
5
Petition at 2.
Federal Communications Commission DA 16-132
2
As explained in the NAL and Forfeiture Order, the “conscious and deliberate commission or omission of 
[any] act, irrespective of any intent to violate” the law renders a violation willful regardless of whether the 
party intended to violate the law.
6
  In its Petition, Sound Communications does not deny that it 
deliberately left its fencing gate unlocked.  Rather it argues that its conduct was not willful but merely an 
“inadvertent error” that was immediately rectified upon notification of the issue.
7
  We disagree.  The 
Bureau addressed this in the Forfeiture Order noting that “[i]nadvertent mistakes are not mitigating 
circumstances that can serve to justify a forfeiture reduction.”
8
  As a result, we find that Sound 
Communications willfully violated the Rules.  In its Petition, Sound Communications also concedes that 
the violation continued over several days.
9
  As a result, even if we did not find Sound Communications’ 
violation willful, the Bureau correctly determined that the violation was repeated.
10
4. Sound Communications’ Petition fails to present any information or argument warranting 
reconsideration of the Forfeiture Order. The Petition does not challenge the Bureau's finding that Sound 
Communications’ antenna structure was not properly enclosed, nor does it dispute that the gate remained 
unlocked for several days.  Instead, Sound Communications’ argues that the “Commission’s conclusion 
regarding what constitutes a ‘willful’ or ‘repeated’ violation has not been corroborated by any court.”
11
This argument was fully considered and rejected in the Forfeiture Order.
12
Accordingly, because Sound 
Communications failed to provide any new information, or to raise any new arguments not previously 
considered and rejected by the Bureau, we deny the Petition pursuant to section 405 of the Act and 
Section 1.106 of the Commission's rules.      
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 405 of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended (Act),
13
and Section 1.106 of the Rules,
14
the Petition for Reconsideration filed 
by Sound Communications, LLC is hereby DENIED.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Act and Sections 
0.111, 0.311, and 1.80 of the Rules, Sound Communications, LLC IS LIABLE FOR A MONETARY 
FORFEITURE in the amount of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) for willfully and repeatedly violating 
Section 73.49 of the Rules.
15
7. Payment of the forfeiture shall be made in the manner provided for in Section 1.80 of the 
Rules within thirty (30) calendar days after the release of this Memorandum Opinion and Order.
16
  If the 
                                                     
6
See NAL, 29 FCC Rcd 5842, para. 7; see also Forfeiture Order 30 FCC Rcd 6254, para 6 (citing 47 U.S.C. § 
312(f)(1)).
7
Petition at 3.
8
Forfeiture Order 30 FCC Rcd 6254, para 6.  See also W. Slope Communications, LLC, Forfeiture Order, 29 FCC 
Rcd 10470, 10471, para. 6 (Enf. Bur. 2014).  See, e.g., Steckline Communications, Inc., Forfeiture Order, 29 FCC 
Rcd 1082, 1084, para. 5 (Enf. Bur. 2014) (“[I]nadvertent mistakes neither excuse a rule violation nor mitigate a 
forfeiture liability.”); Emigrant Storage LLC, Forfeiture Order, 27 FCC Rcd 8917, 8919, para. 6 (Enf. Bur. 2012) 
(“[I]t is well established that administrative oversight or inadvertence is not a mitigating factor.”). 
9
Petition at 2.
10
Forfeiture Order 30 FCC Rcd 6254, para 6 (citing 47 U.S.C. § 312(f)(1)).
11
Petition at 3-4.
12
Forfeiture Order 30 FCC Rcd 6254, para 4 (wherein the Bureau noted that it fully considered Sound 
Communications’ NAL Response and concluded that none of its arguments were persuasive).
13
47 U.S.C. § 405.
14
47 C.F.R. § 1.106.
15
47 U.S.C. § 503(b); 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.111, 0.311, 1.80, 73.49.
16
47 C.F.R. § 1.80.
Federal Communications Commission DA 16-132
3
forfeiture is not paid within the period specified, the case may be referred to the U.S. Department of 
Justice for enforcement of the forfeiture pursuant to Section 504(a) of the Act.
17
  
8. Payment of the forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument, wire transfer, or 
credit card, and must include the NAL/Account Number and FRN referenced above. Sound 
Communications, LLC, shall send electronic notification of payment to NER-Response@fcc.gov on the 
date said payment is made.  Regardless of the form of payment, a completed FCC Form 159 (Remittance 
Advice) must be submitted.
18
  When completing the Form 159, enter the Account Number in block 
number 23A (call sign/other ID) and enter the letters “FORF” in block number 24A (payment type code).  
Below are additional instructions that should be followed based on the form of payment selected:
? Payment by check or money order must be made payable to the order of the Federal 
Communications Commission.  Such payments (along with completed Form 159) must be 
mailed to the Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 
63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox #979088, 
SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101.
? Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank 
TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001.  To complete the wire transfer and ensure 
appropriate crediting of the wired funds, a completed Form 159 must be faxed to U.S. Bank 
at (314) 418-4232 on the same business day the wire transfer is initiated.
? Payment by credit card must be made by providing the required credit card information on 
FCC From 159 and signing and dating the Form 159 to authorize the credit card payment.  
The completed Form 159 must then be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, 
P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank –
Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO
63101.
9. Any request for making full payment over time under an installment plan should be sent 
to:  Chief Financial Officer – Financial Operations, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th 
Street, SW, Room 1-A625, Washington, DC 20554.
19
  Questions regarding payment procedures should be 
directed to the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by telephone, 1-877-480-3201, or by e-mail, 
ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.
10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order shall 
be sent by first class mail and certified mail, return receipt requested, to Sound Communications, LLC at 
15 Woodland Way, Painted Post, New York 14870 and to Mark B. Denbo, Esq., Counsel for Sound 
Communications, LLC, at Smithwick & Belenduik, P.C., 5028 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 301, 
Washington, DC 20016. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
William Davenport
Deputy Chief
Enforcement Bureau
                                                     
17
47 U.S.C. § 504(a).
18
An FCC Form 159 and detailed instructions for completing the form may be obtained at 
http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf.
19
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1914.