The FCC should have timed release of Form 323 broadcast ownership data to coincide with its call for refreshing the record of the 2018 quadrennial review, said the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in replies posted in docket 18-349 Friday. The FCC “instead waited until the middle of the comment cycle to produce two-year-old data,” said the filing. “Given the current low numbers, the FCC must not take any action that will harm race and gender ownership diversity.” Radio ownership caps are a “hindrance” to agency goals and should be eliminated, said broadcaster Summit Media. “Market sub-caps do not promote localism or diversity in broadcast ownership.” If the FCC doesn’t eliminate ownership caps, at a minimum take up NAB’s proposal to reduce limits on FM stations and do away with AM caps, Summit said. Merge 2018's QR into 2022's and take the time to gather data, reiterated (see 2108270047) University of Minnesota assistant professor-media law Christopher Terry and Seattle University associate professor-communication Caitlin Ring Carlson. They offered up a new study of 1990 to 2010 radio content as evidence of declining diversity. Large radio combinations don’t lead to increased programming diversity, the filing said. “Black and women’s specialty programming both decreased.” Add two “Public Interest Commissioners,” said Sue Wilson, director of Media Action Center. Wilson urged the FCC to do empirical studies, and to tighten radio subcaps.

Comments are due Nov. 1, replies Nov. 15, on two Gray Television channel substitution requests, says Friday’s Federal Register. Filings are due in docket 21-126 for KNOE-TV Monroe, Louisiana, and its requested shift from Channel 8 to 24, and in docket 21-125 for WYMT-TV Hazard, Kentucky, and its request to switch from 12 to 20.

Comments are due Nov. 1, replies Nov. 15, on a request for a new channel allotment at Fort Bragg, California, from One Ministries, says Thursday’s Federal Register. One Ministries wants Channel *4, which would be the community’s first local noncommercial educational service, the FR said. It's docket 21-123.

The FCC Media Bureau agreed to a $500 settlement over late filings by Montana State University-Northern’s student-run KNMC(FM) Havre, said a consent decree Wednesday. The license renewal application was due Dec. 1 and filed March 31. The station must implement a plan to ensure future compliance with online public file rules and renewal deadlines.

The FCC Media Bureau proposed a $3,000 forfeiture for Carlos Lopez over late-filed renewal applications for Texas FM translator K240FC Conroe, Texas, and another translator listed as K287BP, said a notice of apparent liability Tuesday: K287BP doesn't appear to be a station listed in the FCC's consolidated database system. The Media Bureau declined to comment on the call letters, but the NAL said K287BP is in South Padre Island, Texas. The applications were due April 1 but weren’t filed until May 20. “The licensee does not provide an explanation for its failure to timely file the applications,” the NAL said.

The FCC Media Bureau proposed a $9,000 fine for Nexstar’s WDHN Dothan, Alabama, for apparent violations of FCC public file requirements, said a notice of apparent liability Tuesday. WDHN uploaded TV issues/programs lists late and “did not provide any explanation for its failure,” the NAL said. The station “uploaded 5 lists more than one year late, 4 lists between one month and one year late, and 5 lists between one day and one month late,” the NAL said. The violations came to light during the station’s license renewal process, and the NAL said the renewal will be granted when the forfeiture proceeding is complete.

The FCC Media Bureau proposed $3,000 forfeitures for two stations that violated public file rules, said notices of apparent liability Monday. WBEC-TV Boca Raton, Florida -- owned by the Broward County School Board -- and Nexstar’s WYCW Asheville, North Carolina, apparently failed to timely file their quarterly issues/program lists. WBEC uploaded one list “more than one year late, 6 lists between one month and one year late, and 2 lists between one day and one month late,” its NAL said. WYCW uploaded “four lists more than one year late and three lists between one month and one year late,” its NAL said. Both stations said they will prevent future late filings, and the NALs said their renewal applications will be granted after the enforcement proceedings.

Most political advertising rules apply to state and local races, Wilkinson Barker broadcast attorney David Oxenford blogged Monday. “Most broadcast stations don’t think much about the FCC’s political broadcasting rules in odd-numbered years,” but nonfederal races “trigger most of the same FCC obligations,” Oxenford said. The only difference is federal elections come with a requirement that stations sell candidates “a reasonable amount of advertising during the various classes of advertising time,” Oxenford said.

The FCC should leave radio local ownership caps as they are rather than “favor the chosen few dozen Corporate owners” by relaxing them, said Redrock Broadcasting owner Craig Hanson in a letter posted Friday in docket 18-349. “Removing current ownership caps will allow large, well-financed, Wall Street companies to gobble up most of the desirable radio stations in every market,” wrote Hanson, who owns four FM stations in Utah.

E.W. Scripps is investing $10 million into esports company Misfits Gaming Group, allowing the broadcaster to distribute MGG’s content over-the-air and over-the-top, they said Thursday. MGG has two esports teams based in Florida -- the Florida Mayhem and the Florida Mutineers -- where Scripps owns many stations. The investment lets Scripps appoint a designee to MGG’s board, the release said.