2-21-14
Cochise Broadcasting, licensee of KOMJ-AM/Omaha, has received a $17,000 notice of apparent liability from the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, which says it failed to maintain and staff a main studio and make a public inspection file available. Along with the NAL, Cochise has 30 days to submit a statement saying it's established and staffed a main studio and made a public inspection file available.
This dates back to August 1, 2013, when an agent with the Enforcement Bureau's Kansas City office went to inspect KOMJ, but was unable to find the address of the main studio or contact anyone responsible; calls placed were transferred out of state and went to voicemail, and a message went unreturned. A voicemail to one of Cochise's owners also was not returned.
An FCC agent was later told that the main studio was at Journal Broadcast Group's studio for KMTV-TV/Omaha, but a Journal receptionist said that wasn't the case. A manager later said some files might be there "but that he would have to research the matter."
This all brought a notice of violation to Cochise over failure to maintain a studio and public inspection file. Cochise responded by reiterating that its files were at Journal's studios. After letters of inquiry went out to Cochise and Journal attempting to clarify matters, Journal said that Cochise pays a monthly fee to house its files at KMTV's main studio, but that there is no Cochise equipment or staff at the site. The bureau doesn't think that's sufficient, and Cochise now has 30 days to pay the forfeiture or submit a request for a cancellation or reduction.
