Clear Channel to Donate Four AM Stations to MMTC

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, July 12, 2010 | 3:52am CT

Clear Channel is donating four AM outlets to the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC). Included are WYNF-AM/Augusta, KYHN-AM/Fort Smith, WHJA-AM/Laurel, MS and KMFX-AM/Wabasha, MN. However, the Fort Smith station would require a waiver, as it's an expanded band station (1650) that operates side-by-side with co-owned KWHN-AM.

Under current FCC rules, KWHN would have to be shut down after a "transitional period" of side-by-side existence. However, the Fort Smith pair has a waiver to operate beyond the shut-down date. Both MMTC and Clear Channel are requesting "permanent life" for KWHN.

"Grant of the waiver requested herein would further the Commission's important goal of increasing participation in the broadcasting industry by new entrants and small businesses, including minority- and women-owned businesses," the two wrote in a FCC filing. MMTC intends to use the radio stations for "training purposes."

The duo also argued that the FCC's action in this matter could set precedent to allow similar arrangements for other standard band/expanded band pairs when used to increase diversity in the ranks of broadcast ownership.