Just days after revoking the licenses of two Texas FM stations for unpaid regulatory fees, the FCC has reversed its decision. In an order issued June 4, the Media Bureau reinstated the broadcast licenses for Texas Thunder Radio, giving the operator, Kremling Enterprises, a second chance.
The FCC had originally taken action on May 31, issuing a Revocation Order that canceled the licenses for KYKM in Yoakum and KTXM in Hallettsville. The order also deleted the call signs and dismissed long-pending renewal applications tied to the stations. At the heart of the revocation was more than $14,000 in unpaid regulatory fees, penalties, and interest dating back to 2017.
The Commission’s earlier notice stated that Kremling Enterprises had failed to respond to a demand for payment issued in February. That lack of response, combined with no explanation for the nonpayment, led the FCC to immediately halt both stations’ operations and take steps to shut them down permanently.
However, in a surprising development, the FCC’s Media Bureau and Office of the Managing Director issued a new order on June 4 rescinding the earlier revocation. Acting Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone and Managing Director Mark Stephens jointly signed the order, which reinstates the stations’ licenses and places their renewal applications back into pending status.
The FCC also confirmed it will update its internal systems and public-facing databases to reflect the reinstatement of KYKM and KTXM. No further explanation was provided in the order regarding what prompted the reversal or whether Kremling Enterprises had made a payment or provided new documentation in response to the initial revocation.
For now, Texas Thunder Radio is back on the air with its licenses restored, marking a rare instance in which the FCC has walked back a revocation decision so quickly. The stations’ long-term fate will still hinge on the outcome of the license renewal process and any ongoing fee-related compliance.