FCC Fines Philadelphia TV Station $89K for Refusing Inspections

We impose a penalty of $89,200 against D.T.V., LLC (D.T.V.), licensee of Class A Television Station WPHA-CD (Station WPHA or the Station) in Philadelphia (PA) for failing to make the Station available for inspection by FCC agents on multiple occasions, maintain a fully staffed main studio for the Station, and operate the Station’s transmitter from its authorized location. The Commission’s ability to conduct unannounced inspections to assess compliance is essential to its responsibility to promote safety of life and property. Failing to make stations available for “on-the-spot” inspections frustrates the Commission’s ability to judiciously and efficiently deploy its resources to monitor the thousands of broadcasters subject to our oversight. In addition, requiring broadcasters to maintain fully staffed main studios ensures that stations provide adequate service and remain responsive to their communities of license. Finally, unauthorized transmitter operations pose a risk of interference to licensed broadcasters and threaten the Commission’s licensing regime.