I am satisfied with today's FCC action regarding the Cesar Guel-assisted applications. While a determination of lack of candor and/or misrepresentation has not been determined, I do hope that the outcome of the investigation is in the public interest, convenience and necessity.
Over the past few months, I have been approached by churches who claim to be legitimate clients of Cesar Guel. I have offered to withdraw REC's informal objection against their applications if they can provide information that they are their own independent organization. Not one has done so yet. REC's offer still stands.
I still feel that many of the applications (such as the "fundation" and "community" applications) are manufactured organizations. As stated in the case of Fort Worth Hispanic Community Church, the tower site assurance was for HCCN (Guel's organization) and not the Fort Worth Hispanic Community Church. This right here raises concerns of who the actual benefactor of these proposed stations really is.
Cesar Guel should do the right thing and immediately and voluntarily dismiss all pending applications. Many of these applications are holding up potential channels that can be used by well-established organizations. REC has identified dozens of pending applicants who could use a channel that is being held-up by a Guel-asssisted singleton. Once these applications are voluntarily dismissed, these channels can be made immediately available for use during the upcoming public notice window.
I also implore the FCC to continue this investigation into the remaining 114 singleton and 39 MX applications that remain. The highest priority should be given to the following singleton applications as these applications are holding up potential channels that other organizations can move to at their current location or as a minor move during the upcoming settlement window:
196849-Laredo HCC
194794-National Disabled Veteran Business Council, Inc.
194307-South Nashville CR
194087-Kansas City CR
197531-Odessa HEFF
194524-New Orleans CR
194277-South Kansas City CR
194404-West Cleveland CR
194546-North Minneapolis CR
193830-Ministerio Cielos de Gloria
194667-Nueva Generacion Ministerio
193742-Edingburg Templo Biblico Palabra Viviente
193795-Canoga Park HC
194094-CH de Los Angeles
194249-San Pedro HCR
194682-Omega Christian Communications
194372-South Oklahoma City CR
194402-Venice HCR
193782-Balch Springs Radio de la Communidad
194799-San Juan Biblico Palabra Viviente
194539-Generacion de Vision Corporation
195332-Sion Mision a Las Naciones
194545-North Milwaukee North CR
193938-Ministerio de Restauracion Conroe Texas
193874-Centro Mundian de Alabanza
193975-Institucion Educativa Bethel
194544-North Miami HCR
194209-Cincinnati CR
197547-South Tyler HEFF
194287-South Miami HCR
194536-North Jacksonville CR
194268-South Jacksonville CR
194805-Lafayette Jesucristo es me Refugio
194519-Milwaukee CR
193962-Iglesia Fe y Amor de Dios
194555-North Sacramento CR
194533-North Denver CR
194535-North Indianapolis CR
194254-Seattle CR
194522-Missouri City Cmty Church
194591-Houston Centro Cristiano de Restauracion
194547-North Nashville CR
194557-North Tampa CR
194037-Centro Cristiana de Vida Eterna Conroe Texas
194398-Tacoma CR
194521-Minneapolis CR
193800-Charlotte CR
194556-North San Antonio CR
The gamesmanship that has taken place in the LPFM window as well as in previous windows such as the 2003 Auction 83 (Great Translator Invasion) are a part of a much bigger problem. Congress and the Commission have been overlooking the non-commercial educational (NCE) sector where it comes to ownership controls, operation rules and the resale value of licenses and permits. I feel that Congress is afraid to take on the issue of ownership controls in the NCE sector as to avoid a so-called "war on religion" (as all of the largest NCE station/translator group owners are faith-based organizations).
It is time for the FCC and Congress to reel-in the rules where it comes to NCE and assuring more local ownership, especially as our spectrum is about to be further chipped away by Clear Channel and CBS demanding translators for blowtorches such as KFI Los Angeles.
The general public has called, they would like their spectrum back. Thank you.
