BRISTOL – Roger Williams University’s student-run radio station has agreed to pay a $1,700 federal fine in order to gets its license renewed after failing to comply with public records laws.
While reviewing a renewal application from WQRI-FM 88.3, the Federal Communications Commission found that the station had failed to maintain its public file properly from 1998 to 2006, the agency said. Many other non-commercial stations have had similar problems.
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The $1,700 fine, while smaller than those levied in similar cases, represents 7 percent of the 800-watt station’s annual budget, the FCC said. WQRI also agreed to a three-year compliance plan to ensure it does not violate the rules again.
The compliance plan calls for WQRI’s volunteer student staff to keep a log of its public affairs broadcasts and for the station’s efforts to be inspected by a university administrator.
The $1,700 settlement “was an anticipated expense and will be paid through Student Senate funds,” RWU spokeswoman Ruth Bazinet said in an e-mail. “Although the outstanding regulatory matter did not impact the station’s continued on-air operations, we are very pleased that this matter is now concluded.”
The FCC first granted RWU a license for WQRI in April 1995. The station says it reaches listeners in Bristol, Warren, Barrington, East Providence, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, as well as Fall River and New Bedford.
Additional information is available at wqri.rwu.edu.
