ALJ Gives LPFM 20 Days to Respond to Enforcement Bureau Requests

Low-power FM broadcaster Marion Education Exchange has 20 days to respond to Enforcement Bureau information requests and file a notice of appearance in its hearing proceeding or lose its license, said an order from Administrative Law Judge Jane Halprin posted Tuesday in docket 22-76. The hearing proceeding stems from allegations that the Marion, Ohio, broadcaster has repeatedly failed to respond to FCC inquiries and gave the agency false information about the make-up of its board. MEE’s attorney, George Wolfe, withdrew as Marion’s counsel after the broadcaster ceased communicating with him, the order said. “MEE’s failure to respond in any way to any discovery deadlines in this proceeding and its apparent lack of communication with its attorney of record are not the actions of a party that genuinely intends to fulfill its burden of proof in this hearing,” the order said. If MEE doesn’t meet the ALJ’s requirements, the hearing proceeding will be dismissed, leading to the broadcaster’s license not being renewed, the order said.