FCC Fines Nassau's WWEG/Hagerstown Over Contest

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 24, 2010 | 3:24pm CT

The FCC has slapped a $4000 fine on Nassau Broadcasting's Classic Hits WWEG-FM/Hagerstown, MD, for failing to conduct a contest as announced or advertised. The Commission received a complaint on June 16, 2008, alleging that the station failed to conduct a "Father's Day" contest in accordance with its advertised terms and the Commission's rules.

Specifically, the complainant claimed that promotions broadcast by the WWEG stated that the contest was open "through June 13, 2008." When the complainant attempted to enter the contest on June 13, 2008, she was informed by station staff that the contest winner had been picked on June 12 and already announced on June 13.

Nassau asserted that the contest promotions "indicate clearly that the contest winners would be announced at 7:20am" and that the "winner [of the grand prize] would be selected on June 13." While acknowledging in its responses that the winner was selected the evening of June 12, 2008, Nassau claimed that she could no longer enter the Contest when she arrived at the station after 8:30am on June 13 because the contest had ended at 7:20am that morning. Nassau maintains the "contests [sic] material terms were fully and accurately disclosed."

The FCC disagreed and issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for $4000. The station has 10 days to reply or pay the fine.