The FCC has dismissed an application from a Texas nonprofit seeking to operate an LPFM station after determining that the applicant had not adequately answered questions about its directors and foreign ownership.
Ministerio Olas de Milagros had applied in 2023 to operate a 24-watt LPFM station on 106.3 MHz in Pleasanton, Texas. The FCC later sent the organization a letter of inquiry seeking documentation about its directors, voting interests and proposed transmitter and studio site.
The applicant initially identified Maria Arana as holding an 80% voting interest, with Carlos Figueroa of Mexico and Axume Roca of El Salvador each holding 10%. After the FCC requested documentation supporting those figures, the ministry filed an amended application that removed Figueroa and Roca from the list of directors.
The Audio Division said that change did not resolve the issue. If the directors’ interests were assumed to be equal, the two non-U.S. directors would have represented two-thirds of the voting interest, raising a foreign-ownership issue under FCC rules.
The FCC dismissed the application effective September 23. The decision underscores the importance of maintaining accurate ownership and governance disclosures throughout the LPFM application process. (Radio World)
Source: FCC Audio Division