MS Communications, LLC held low-power television licenses and construction permits in several U.S. states during the 2000s. At one point MS Communications held the second-highest number of LPTV allocations in the United States, but nearly all of the stations remained unbuilt or dark.[1]
Company president Mark Silberman said that he has intended to start a wireless cable service over LPTV, and had begun acquiring stations as early as 1992. Most of the licenses were acquired in 2000, though direct-broadcast satellite television made the company's original plans obsolete. By 2005, over 200 LPTV station licenses or construction permits were transferred to MS Communications, and MS Communications had the second-highest number of LPTV licenses in the United States, but no stations had operated with more than a test pattern.[1]
After receiving information that stations were not operating and may not have even been constructed, the Federal Communications Commission demanded information on the status of MS Communications stations. When no information was received, the FCC cancelled the licenses of 178 of the stations on October 28, 2010.[2] There were also 60 station licenses or construction permits that were transferred to Silberman but expired by 2018, and many of the MS Communications construction permits and licenses were set to expire in 2018.[3]
Stations
editTransferred
editMS Communications transferred the following licenses and construction permits to others:[4]
| Call | Ch. | State | City | ID | Buyer | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K69IE | 69 | California | Eureka | 39516 | P. Mbaba | January 6, 2005 | from M.H. Feldman in 2000; sold per File No. BALTTL-20041117ADU; deleted 2012 |
| W53CC | 53 | Wisconsin | Milwaukee | 56213 | was W55CG at Ludington, Michigan; moved to W53CC at Milwaukee; sold per File No. BAPLTTL-20060320AFE (see also line for W38DT, possibly same station) |
Went on the air
editThe following stations were sold and later went on the air under other owners:
| Call | Ch. | State | City | ID | Buyer | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W22BU | 22 | Maine | Bangor | 15287 | Rockfleet | 2003 | bought by MS in 2001 |
| W38DT | 38 | Wisconsin | Milwaukee | 56213 | Bustos | June 9, 2006 | bought by MS in 2000 as W55MS at Ludington, Michigan; changed to W53CC at Milwaukee, then W38DT. License still on air and active as WTSJ-LD and owned by INNOVATE Corp. |
| K64EJ | 64 | Idaho | Boise | 31388 | Cocola | September 24, 2004 | from Joe Maples 2000; sold per File No. BALTTL-20020805ABJ |
| K56FQ | 56 | Idaho | Boise | 6754 | P. Lozano | September 4, 2004 | sold per File No. BALTTL-20030707ADU to Lozano; from Lozano to Cocola |
| K17EH | 17 | California | Eureka | 56149 | Sainte | March 9, 2004 | File No. BALTTL-20040109ADW; later KEMY-LP then KUVU-LP |
| K60FH | 60 | Idaho | Boise | 56814 | Cocola | June 21, 2004 | from R. & R. Detelle in 2000; sold per File No. BALTTL-20040401APR |
| K30GS | 30 | Idaho | Boise | 74409 | Cocola | April 21, 2005 | was K68EJ; File No. BALTTL-20050309ABT |
October 2010 deletion letter
editThese 178 stations had their licenses or permits cancelled, and MS Communications was notified that they were deleted by the FCC on October 28, 2010, among other times, after MS Communications did not respond to FCC requests about the stations' operations:[2]
| Call | Ch. | State | City of license | ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K20EX | 20 | Arkansas | Batesville | 56993 |
| K22ES | 22 | Arkansas | Batesville | 6718 |
| K30EC | 30 | Arkansas | Batesville | 3999 |
| K35EA | 35 | Arkansas | Batesville | 16003 |
| K40DS | 40 | Arkansas | Batesville | 24652 |
| K46EM | 46 | Arkansas | Batesville | 6758 |
| K53FM | 53 | Arkansas | Batesville | 10962 |
| K57FV | 57 | Arkansas | Batesville | 17205 |
| K59FB | 59 | Arkansas | Batesville | 33997 |
| K61FP | 61 | Arkansas | Batesville | 10523 |
| K65FN | 65 | Arkansas | Batesville | 31018 |
| K67GR | 67 | Arkansas | Batesville | 26261 |
| K69GT | 69 | Arkansas | Batesville | 31490 |
| K27FF | 27 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 66233 |
| K29DC | 29 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 17457 |
| K36DR | 36 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 56177 |
| K40EF | 40 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 15293 |
| K46DT | 46 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 49045 |
| K48EP | 48 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 39705 |
| K50EK | 50 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 60445 |
| K53FB | 53 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 39704 |
| K57GF | 57 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 15351 |
| K59FJ | 59 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 15352 |
| K63FX | 63 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 40273 |
| K66EX | 66 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 15334 |
| K69HO | 69 | Arkansas | Eldorado | 32239 |
| K27FX | 27 | California | Eureka | 3937 |
| K41FD | 41 | California | Eureka | 32302 |
| K48GP | 48 | California | Eureka | 18564 |
| K50EQ | 50 | California | Eureka | 32226 |
| K57HB | 57 | California | Eureka | 60446 |
| K59FW | 59 | California | Eureka | 41551 |
| K63GK | 63 | California | Eureka | 32218 |
| W08DM | 8 | Georgia | Colquitt | 19713 |
| W22BV | 22 | Georgia | Colquitt | 28030 |
| W26BM | 26 | Georgia | Colquitt | 18565 |
| K51FJ | 51 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 15336 |
| K53FC | 53 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 10377 |
| K55GS | 55 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 40269 |
| K58ER | 58 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 7943 |
| K65GA | 65 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 39706 |
| K67GH | 67 | Iowa | Ottumwa | 32252 |
| K40GO | 40 | Iowa | Waterloo | 60447 |
| W48CU | 48 | Illinois | Champaign/Urbana | 32301 |
| W15CT | 15 | Illinois | Quincy | 32238 |
| W17DD | 17 | Illinois | Quincy | 32219 |
| W19DI | 19 | Illinois | Quincy | 30250 |
| W20CU | 20 | Illinois | Quincy | 40274 |
| W36BS | 36 | Illinois | Quincy | 40270 |
| W45BM | 45 | Illinois | Quincy | 27649 |
| W49BS | 49 | Illinois | Quincy | 36162 |
| W51EI | 51 | Illinois | Quincy | 19712 |
| W16BI | 16 | Kentucky | Talbert | 70677 |
| W20BO | 20 | Kentucky | Talbert | 869 |
| W24BT | 24 | Kentucky | Talbert | 37071 |
| W26BK | 26 | Kentucky | Talbert | 5034 |
| W31BU | 31 | Kentucky | Talbert | 32259 |
| W51CK | 51 | Kentucky | Talbert | 31505 |
| W53BQ | 53 | Kentucky | Talbert | 36101 |
| W54CI | 54 | Kentucky | Talbert | 40272 |
| W64CM | 64 | Kentucky | Talbert | 55230 |
| W66DA | 66 | Kentucky | Talbert | 32854 |
| W69ED | 69 | Kentucky | Talbert | 74411 |
| W39CC | 39 | Maine | Bangor | 60448 |
| W42BZ | 42 | Maine | Bangor | 15288 |
| W50BX | 50 | Maine | Bangor | 16293 |
| W54CG | 54 | Maine | Bangor | 72483 |
| W58CM | 58 | Maine | Bangor | 30249 |
| W66CL | 66 | Maine | Bangor | 32255 |
| W36BZ | 19 | Michigan | Cadillac | 26195 |
| W18CB | 18 | Michigan | Houghton | 36745 |
| W21BS | 21 | Michigan | Houghton | 40087 |
| W24CG | 24 | Michigan | Houghton | 30203 |
| W31BN | 31 | Michigan | Houghton | 57411 |
| W36CE | 36 | Michigan | Houghton | 57412 |
| W50CD | 50 | Michigan | Houghton | 30204 |
| W52CO | 52 | Michigan | Houghton | 65274 |
| W55CH | 55 | Michigan | Houghton | 65275 |
| W57CQ | 57 | Michigan | Houghton | 30865 |
| W59DC | 59 | Michigan | Houghton | 30866 |
| W61CS | 61 | Michigan | Houghton | 30864 |
| W63CH | 63 | Michigan | Houghton | 30863 |
| W65DJ | 65 | Michigan | Houghton | 15346 |
| W67DN | 67 | Michigan | Houghton | 26295 |
| W34BZ | 34 | Michigan | Ludington | 30862 |
| W48BY | 48 | Michigan | Ludington | 57408 |
| W18BX | 18 | Michigan | Petoskey | 16002 |
| W20BQ | 20 | Michigan | Petoskey | 57413 |
| W23BM | 23 | Michigan | Petoskey | 36759 |
| W25CD | 25 | Michigan | Petoskey | 30867 |
| W31BI | 31 | Michigan | Petoskey | 3918 |
| W36CD | 36 | Michigan | Petoskey | 15344 |
| W39CB | 39 | Michigan | Petoskey | 15345 |
| W51CR | 51 | Michigan | Petoskey | 57410 |
| W53BN | 53 | Michigan | Petoskey | 59391 |
| W55CL | 55 | Michigan | Petoskey | 59390 |
| W57CP | 57 | Michigan | Petoskey | 961 |
| W62CR | 62 | Michigan | Petoskey | 26260 |
| W64CK | 64 | Michigan | Petoskey | 30029 |
| W66CY | 66 | Michigan | Petoskey | 31506 |
| W68DH | 68 | Michigan | Petoskey | 39303 |
| W52CB | 52 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15995 |
| W21BN | 21 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15343 |
| W32BN | 32 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 16588 |
| W36BV | 36 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 40112 |
| W39BY | 39 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 40113 |
| W48BZ | 48 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15992 |
| W50CA | 50 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15993 |
| W56DI | 56 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15996 |
| W58CO | 58 | Michigan | Sault Ste. Marie | 15994 |
| W15BM | 15 | Michigan | Traverse City | 63307 |
| W23BL | 23 | Michigan | Traverse City | 26193 |
| W34CE | 34 | Michigan | Traverse City | 26196 |
| W48CC | 48 | Michigan | Traverse City | 3219 |
| W52CP | 52 | Michigan | Traverse City | 3220 |
| W56DF | 56 | Michigan | Traverse City | 3218 |
| W58CN | 58 | Michigan | Traverse City | 36760 |
| W62CQ | 62 | Michigan | Traverse City | 36761 |
| W66CX | 66 | Michigan | Traverse City | 57379 |
| W68DD | 68 | Michigan | Traverse City | 57380 |
| K52HH | 52 | Minnesota | Rochester | 38509 |
| K33EQ | 33 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 17405 |
| K47FB | 47 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 31578 |
| K55HL | 55 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 19445 |
| K58FD | 58 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 57008 |
| K65GP | 65 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 6757 |
| K67HF | 67 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 24098 |
| K69HT | 69 | Missouri | Cape Girardeau | 57009 |
| K04OV | 4 | Missouri | Joplin | 26154 |
| K52FC | 52 | Missouri | Joplin | 64406 |
| K55HU | 55 | Missouri | Joplin | 30586 |
| W12CR | 12 | Mississippi | Grenada | 32300 |
| W28BP | 28 | Mississippi | Grenada | 57007 |
| W36BT | 36 | Mississippi | Grenada | 15379 |
| W41BV | 41 | Mississippi | Grenada | 72545 |
| W46CK | 46 | Mississippi | Grenada | 55274 |
| W53CE | 53 | Mississippi | Laurel | 39328 |
| W20BS | 20 | Mississippi | Meridian | 22429 |
| W26BR | 26 | Mississippi | Meridian | 26293 |
| W27DD | 27 | Mississippi | Meridian | 39327 |
| W35CQ | 35 | Mississippi | Meridian | 31525 |
| W36BY | 36 | Mississippi | Meridian | 31526 |
| W46CL | 46 | Mississippi | Meridian | 31523 |
| W52CS | 52 | Mississippi | Meridian | 31524 |
| W54CD | 54 | Mississippi | Meridian | 31527 |
| W59DE | 59 | Mississippi | Meridian | 39330 |
| W65DE | 65 | Mississippi | Meridian | 57542 |
| W69DJ | 69 | Mississippi | Meridian | 57544 |
| W49BK | 49 | Mississippi | Tupelo | 74412 |
| K57IP | 57 | Oklahoma | Tulsa | 27647 |
| W14BW | 14 | Tennessee | Acton | 24304 |
| W20BJ | 20 | Tennessee | Acton | 37493 |
| W27CL | 27 | Tennessee | Acton | 37069 |
| W32BG | 32 | Tennessee | Acton | 70874 |
| W34BU | 34 | Tennessee | Acton | 37070 |
| W43BH | 43 | Tennessee | Acton | 5033 |
| W46CE | 46 | Tennessee | Acton | 72556 |
| W56DA | 56 | Tennessee | Acton | 18154 |
| W62CK | 62 | Tennessee | Acton | 15333 |
| W66CG | 66 | Tennessee | Acton | 33441 |
| W69DB | 69 | Tennessee | Acton | 849 |
| W26CJ | 26 | Tennessee | Clarksville | 74410 |
| W22BR | 22 | Tennessee | Jackson | 30268 |
| W25BY | 25 | Tennessee | Jackson | 38506 |
| W38BY | 38 | Tennessee | Jackson | 24729 |
| W46CG | 46 | Tennessee | Jackson | 38507 |
| W52CZ | 52 | Tennessee | Jackson | 5047 |
| W54BU | 54 | Tennessee | Jackson | 28642 |
| W62CJ | 62 | Tennessee | Jackson | 26259 |
| W64BZ | 64 | Tennessee | Jackson | 32253 |
| W06BU | 6 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 57860 |
| W16AY | 16 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 56194 |
| W18CS | 18 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 63274 |
| W24BV | 24 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 15759 |
| W31CI | 31 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 36099 |
| W40BC | 40 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 22382 |
| W60CI | 60 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 8019 |
| W62DA | 62 | Wisconsin | Whiting | 24730 |
References
edit- ^ a b Morlino, Robert (2014-05-19). "Two Hundred Channels and Nothing On – Literally". Well Connected. Washington, D.C.: The Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ a b Hashemzadeh, Hossein (October 28, 2010). "Re: Low Power Television Stations Authorizations held by MS Communications, LLC". Letter to MS Communications, LLC. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ "Fast Track". Broadcasting & Cable. London: Future Publishing. 2018-03-16. Archived from the original on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ "Search by Party Name". FCCdata.org. REC Networks. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
Further reading
edit- "MS Communications, LLC. LPTV Station W68DD, Traverse City, Michigan, et al". Washington, D.C.: Federal Communications Commission. 2007-02-01. Citations: DA-07-496; 22 FCC Rcd 2167 (4). — Denied petitions for reconsideration and affirmed and dismissed displacement applications, file number BPTTL-20000327AAX et al. Contains a list of 106 stations involved.