FCC Orders Encino to Pay Fees or Risk License Loss

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | 3:03pm CT

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC has initiated proceedings that could lead to the revocation of three Austin-area AM station licenses held by Encino Broadcasting, LLC, citing more than a decade of unpaid regulatory fees and related penalties.

In an Order to Pay or Show Cause released June 17, the Commission directed Encino Broadcasting to either pay $166,646.79 in outstanding regulatory fee debt or demonstrate within 60 days why the fees should be waived, deferred, or deemed inapplicable.

The action involves licenses for KELG-AM in Manor, KOKE-AM in Pflugerville, and KTXZ-AM in West Lake Hills. According to the FCC, the debt stems from unpaid regulatory fees dating back as far as fiscal year 2013 and continuing through fiscal year 2025, along with accrued interest, administrative costs, and late-payment penalties.

The FCC said it previously issued collection notices and referred the debt to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for collection. The debts were later returned to the Commission for further enforcement action.

Under federal law, the Commission has authority to revoke broadcast licenses when regulatory fees remain unpaid. The order warns that failure to provide evidence of payment or a satisfactory response within 60 days could result in the loss of the stations' licenses.

The Commission noted that any request for a waiver based on financial hardship must be supported by detailed documentation demonstrating that payment of the fees would jeopardize the stations' ability to continue serving the public.

The order was adopted and released June 17 by Acting Media Bureau Chief Alexander Sanjenis and Managing Director Daniel Daly.