FCC announces window for FM applicants to negotiate deals with competitors

In a public notice issued today, the FCC has given applicants for new noncommercial educational FM stations 60 days to work out settlements with competing applicants or make technical amendments that would resolve conflicts between their applications. Applicants must identify competitors within their community of license by searching the commission's database.

KMBH board members dismissed without explanation

"Three members of the KMBH-TV [Harlingen, Texas] board of directors were dismissed in August without explanation, according to information that recently became public," reports the local Valley Morning Star. "According to the articles of incorporation filed with the state of Texas in 1983, the bishop or administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville is the only member of RGV Educational Broadcasting [the station's owner]." Bishop Raymundo Peña dismissed the three board members--experienced pubcasters Bill Elliott, Chelse Benham and Betsy Price--without explanation. "Their dismissal reduced the board from its original seven members to four, one less than required by the station’s original articles of incorporation," reports the paper. KMBH had previously denied Star reporter Bruce Lee Smith financial documents, which are public, unless he revealed confidential sources at the station.