What started at 246 applications that were filed by Antonio Cesar Guel during the 2013 LPFM filing window has now dwindled down to 85. Many applications were dismissed at the request of Guel or due to FCC action. Applications in North Carlolina and Texas were dismissed as a result of investigations and supplemental filings by REC.
Through investigations, REC has cleared 19 applicants that were determined to be existing organizations and as a result, these applicants have received grants.
In the latest wave of objections, REC is investigating the so-called "HEFF" applications. These are the applications with a city name and then a common name such as "_____ Community Radio", "_______ Hispanic Church", "_____ Hispanic Educational Family Fundation" (or HEFF), etc.
In the investigation of the HEFF applications, we are finding that a large number of them had sudden board member changes and phone number changes (from Texas to a local number) which may suggest the possibility that applications were filed by Guel "blindley" and then they were improperly "sold" or otherwise transferred during the application process. Some of these "buyers" are associated with well-established churches in their communities.
The investigation has found residential addresses in various places like retail offices and "virtual office" locations.
It is our hope that the FCC will be able to make decisions on the remaining LPFM applications before this summer.
In addition to the Guel applications, there are also MX disputes in Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as pending applications in Arizona, California and Texas.
To view the filings, they can be found at:
http://recnet.net/legal
So far, REC has filed supplements to Guel HEFF applications in:
- Mesa ("Meza"), AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Costa Mesa, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Denver, CO
- Jacksonville, FL
- Boise, ID
- Baton Rouge, LA
- New Orleans, LA
- Kansas City, MO
- Charlotte, NC
- Albuquerque, NM
