Radio Bilingual (KBBF) hits hard times
“…Despite limited financial support, poor facilities, internal power struggle, and increasing competition from commercial Spanish language radio stations”
“KBBF’s downward spiral began about three years ago when it was revealed that station manager Jesus Lozano had a drug conviction”
“in 2008, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public radio and television stations and programs, audited KBBF and found “egregious” violations in how taxpayers’ money was used by the station, according to spokeswoman Nicole Mezlo.”
[I’m actually surprised the CPB cared]
“FCC investigators appear to be looking into whether Lozano or others perjured themselves when they reapplied for the station’s license, Lopez said.”
FCC applications have a required certification that:
“Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification. Applicant certifies that neither licensee/permittee nor any party to the application is subject to denial of federal benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862. “
“For years, the city has been trying to get the station to deal with a failed septic system, an unpermitted addition and lack of water for fire suppression.”
[The station has been around a long time – it was built with the septic system before the station was inside the city of Santa Rosa, which later annexed it]
“The station had received $200,000 in a licensing swap with Sinclair Communications, which owns four Santa Rosa radio stations, including 95.6 KRSH. That money was earmarked for the upgrades, but previous station leaders like Lozano, who was a paid staffer, “dipped into it as they were going along” until it was gone, Lopez said. At the moment the station has less than $600 in the bank, he said.”
The number of stations one owner is allowed to own is determined by how many stations in total are in a market. It can be worth a lot of money to a commercial licensee in a major market to fund a non-commercial radio station even if it has no listeners. The $200k they got was for playing games with the FCC to exchange the Community of License of two stations, without actually changing anything about the stations. Details here
So ready to whip out your checkbook?
