W10BM (channel 10) was a low power television station in Morehead, Kentucky, United States, that later operated unlicensed and was fined as a pirate station by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

W10BM
Channels
BrandingTV-10 Morehead
Programming
AffiliationsIndependent
Ownership
OwnerVearl Pennington
History
Founded1988
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID69839
ClassTX
ERP0.018 kW
HAAT30 m (98 ft)
Transmitter coordinates38°11′3″N 83°27′43″W / 38.18417°N 83.46194°W / 38.18417; -83.46194 (claimed on license)
Links
Public license information

Licensed broadcast term

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The FCC granted an amended construction permit for W10BM by December 4, 1987,[2] and a license by March 29, 1990.[3] A license renewal expired on August 1, 1998.[4] The licensed parameters were for 18 watts at 30 meters (98 ft) above ground level, broadcasting on VHF channel 10 with a city of license of Morehead, Kentucky, and licensee named as Vearl Pennington at a post office box in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.[5]

On April 27, 2004, the FCC sent the Mount Sterling post office box a letter saying that W10BM at Morehead, as well as W06BC at Mount Sterling, would be cancelled unless the FCC received a response.[6] On October 18, 2004, a letter was sent to the same address, stating that no response was received and both station licenses were cancelled.[7]

Pirate broadcasts and fines

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On May 12, 2017, the FCC fined the station's operators, Vearl Pennington and Michael Williamson, $144,344 for continuing to operate W10BM despite the cancellation of the license.[8] The fine was upheld on January 28, 2019.[9]

The channel remained on the air through carriage via local Spectrum systems, until it was dropped on February 23, 2022.[10] If it was still broadcasting using its transmitter, likewise, it also violated the FCC's July 13, 2021, deadline for all analog television operations to end.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for W10BM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Amendment to a New Analog LPTV Station Construction Permit Application; File Number: BPTVL-19870702Y7". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. December 4, 1987. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "License To Cover for Analog LPTV Station Application; File Number:BLTVL-19900102IG". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. March 29, 1990. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "License Renewal Authorization". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Facility ID:69839; DW10BM". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "In re: LPTV/TV Translator Renewal Application of: Veral Pennington; W06BC Mount Sterling, KY; Facility ID; 69842; W10BM Morehead, KY; Facility: 69839". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. April 27, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "In re: LPTV/TV Translator Renewal Application of: Veral Pennington; W06BC Mount Sterling, KY; Facility ID; 69842; W10BM Morehead, KY; Facility: 69839". Licensing and Management System. Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. October 18, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  8. ^ Balderston, Michael (May 12, 2017). "FCC Fines Unlicensed Kentucky LPTV Max Penalty". TV Technology. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  9. ^ "FORFEITURE ORDER" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SPECTRUM CHANNEL LINEUP Communities Served: Lakeview Heights, Morehead, Olive Hill, Owingsville, Salt Lick; Counties of Bath, Carter, Rowan, KY" (PDF) (Press release). Charter Communications. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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