FCC Rules In Favor of WBDG


The Federal Communication Commissions ruled in favor of Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township Station (WBDG) FM that it would not have to share radio frequecies with Hoosier Public Radio out of Greenfield Indiana. The April 30 ruling ended a three-year battle not only with WBDG, but also in separate filings with South Madison Community School Corporation WEEM-FM, and Carmel Clay School Corporation WHJE.

Martin L Hensley of Hoosier Public Radio filed the petition in 2004 not to renew WBDG’s license based on a technicality. It also claimed the station did not operate 24 hours a day and asked for shared time to operate when the school was not in session.

Hensley said Hoosier Public Radio is a non-profit radio with no station or radio frequency. He said the FCC has not issued any new frequencies since 1997 and the only way he can obtain a frequency to broadcast is through a share time with another nonprofit station. He thought a school radio station would be a logical choice because they already use tax dollars to fund the station.

Hensley currently is a volunteer at WJCF radio that is owned by his wife. He said they are two separate entities and he cannot reach the intended market by using WJCF’s frequency. It has about a 20-mile radius from Greenfield. He wanted to reach the central Indiana market more effectively to provide more news coverage.

Tom Langdoc of Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township said whatever Hensley’s issues are; it is now a moot point because the FCC ruled in favor of WBDG.

Hensley has also filed complaints with the FCC trying to obtain share time with other educational institutions as well. However, the FCC ruled against Hensley requesting denial of the renewal application for Western Kentucky University on March 20, 2007. The FCC also dismissed Hoosier Public Radio timeshare application against Franklin Township Community School Corporation (WRFT) on April 26, 2007. His shotgun approach of researching schools’ FCC licenses for technical flaws created a buzz on the internet by the College Broadcasters Inc. The CBI saw Hensley’s tactics as a red flag for schools to lose their license.

In his response to the denial, Hensley remarked that he is disappointed with the schools because they refused to voluntarily share time when they are not using the facilities.