The sale of three separate New Mexico FMs to one company, Hutton Broadcasting, can go forward.
Several people had objected to the change of ownership, according to the FCC, “expressing strong appreciation” for the programming on the stations and asking the commission to bar the sale.
The stations are KLBU(FM) in Pecos, being sold to Hutton by Blu Media; KVSF(FM), also in Pecos, sold by James S. Bumpous; and KBAC(FM) in Las Vegas, N.M., sold by Educational Media Foundation.
Four people, Mona Van Riper, Bram Meehan, Kathryn M. Davis and Mark Myerson, wanted to block the sales.
The FCC said it recognized that the stations’ formats had “attracted a devoted listenership” but said it does not scrutinize or regulate programming, nor take changes in programming formats into consideration in reviewing ownership changes. The Supreme Court, it said, has upheld its policy.
The objectors also urged the FCC to help the sellers find different buyers; the commission said it’s not allowed to do that.
Peter Doyle, chief of the Audio Division of the Media Bureau, issued the ruling.
