A 10-watt noncom educational station in Michigan is facing $22,000 in penalties for several alleged violations.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau’s Detroit Office has issued a proposed fine to R.J.’s Late Night Entertainment Corp., which holds the license of Class D station WHPR(FM) in Highland Park.
The commission said the station moved its transmitter about a half-mile without FCC authorization, failed to maintain operational EAS gear and failed to maintain a local public inspection file.
In March 2010, agents conducted an inspection at the studio at 160 Victor Street in Highland Park. “During the inspection, agents found that the station did not have a public inspection file,” according to the commission account. “The agent also observed that the station had not installed any emergency alert system equipment, though an EAS decoder was found by station staff in a closet.”
The commission said R.J. President Henry Tyler explained in a subsequent letter that WHPR had moved the transmitter in 2009, believing that the short distance did not require FCC authorization.
“R.J. further admitted that they did not have the required EAS equipment and that they had not been maintaining a public inspection file since the public library, where they previously maintained their public file, closed ‘several years ago.’”
The FCC has subsequently granted a request for the transmitter move.
