Texas stations fined $8,000 for EAS violations

The FCC fined PBI, LLC, licensee of KDDD-AM/FM Dumas, $8,000 for “willfully and repeatedly violated Section 11.35(a) of the commission’s rules by failing to maintain operational emergency alert system (EAS) equipment and failing to keep records indicating why EAS tests were not received.“

Agents from the FCC’s Dallas field office inspected KDDD-AM/FM on Aug. 16, 2011 and “observed that the stations’ EAS system was not fully operational.”

FCC documents say the stations’ EAS system was able to transmit EAS tests, but was unable to receive tests.

“After a failed demonstration of the EAS equipment’s ability to receive any monitoring source, PBI’s owner stated that there was a problem with the antenna.

According to the stations’ EAS logs, the last EAS test was received on Oct. 30, 2008, and there were no entries or explanations in the logs for any missing received tests.”

KDDD was given 30 calendar days to pay the fine or file a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.