[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94371-94374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30898]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MB Docket No. 16-357; FCC 16-153]


Entercom License, LLC, Applications for Renewal of License for 
Station KDND(FM), Sacramento, California

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

[[Page 94372]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document commences a hearing to determine whether the 
applications (FCC File Nos. BRH-20050728AUU and BRH-20130730ANM) 
(Applications) of Entercom License, LLC (Entercom), for renewal of FM 
Station KDND, Sacramento, California (Station) should be granted. The 
hearing will include issues regarding whether Entercom operated the 
Station in the public interest during the relevant license term, in 
light of record evidence that Entercom formulated, promoted, conducted, 
and aired over the Station an inherently dangerous contest in which one 
listener-contestant died of water intoxication and others suffered 
serious physical distress.

DATES: Persons desiring to participate as parties in the hearing shall 
file a petition for leave to intervene not later than January 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please file documents with the Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 
20554. Each document that is filed in this proceeding must display on 
the front page the document number of this hearing, ``MB Docket No. 16-
357.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Kane, Special Counsel, 
Enforcement Bureau, (202) 418-2393.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Hearing Designation Order (Order), FCC 16-153, adopted October 26, 
2016, and released October 27, 2016. The full text of the Order is 
available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in 
the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Portals 
II, Washington, DC 20554, and may also be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554. This document is available in alternative 
formats (computer diskette, large print, audio record, and Braille). 
Persons with disabilities who need documents in these formats may 
contact the FCC by email: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 
202-418-0432.

Synopsis

    1. This Order commences a hearing proceeding before an 
Administrative Law Judge to determine whether the Applications of 
Entercom for renewal of FM Station KDND, Sacramento, California, should 
be granted. During the relevant license term, on January 12, 2007, 
Entercom conducted and aired a contest (Contest) that resulted in the 
death of one of its listener-contestants, Jennifer Lea Strange (Ms. 
Strange), and endangered others. At a civil trial (Trial), Entercom was 
found liable for the wrongful death of Ms. Strange.\1\
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    \1\ William A. Strange et al. v. Entercom Sacramento LLC et al., 
Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento (Dept. 44), Case 
No. 07AS00377.
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    2. Section 309(k) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 309(k), requires the Commission to determine whether the 
``public interest, convenience, and necessity'' will be served by the 
granting of each renewal application. If the Commission, upon 
examination of such application and upon consideration of such other 
matters as the Commission may officially notice, shall find that public 
interest, convenience and convenience would be served by the granting 
thereof, it shall grant the application. If a substantial and material 
question of fact is presented or the Commission for any reason is 
unable to make the finding that the station has, inter alia, served the 
public interest, it shall formally designate the application for 
hearing. If the Commission determines, after notice and opportunity for 
a hearing, that a licensee has failed to meet the requirements for 
renewal and that no mitigating factors justify the imposition of lesser 
sanctions, the Commission shall issue an order denying the renewal 
application.
    3. In this case, significant and material questions exist as to 
whether Entercom: (i) Designed and conducted a contest that was 
inherently dangerous; (ii) increased the danger to the contestants by 
changing the announced Contest terms; (iii) was aware of the potential 
dangers of the Contest and water intoxication; (iv) failed to protect 
the contestants from the potential dangers of the Contest; (v) failed 
to warn the contestants of the Contest's potential dangers; (vi) 
prioritized entertainment value over the welfare of the contestants; 
and (vii) failed to conduct adequate training and exercise appropriate 
supervision of Station KDND employees and the Contest to ensure the 
safety of the contestants. Because the Commission is unable to make a 
determination on the record currently before it that grant of the 
Applications would serve the public interest, convenience and 
necessity, it designates the Applications for hearing.
    4. Inherent dangers of the Contest. Entercom's Station KDND held 
the Contest, called ``Hold Your Wee for a Wii,'' live on its January 
12, 2007, 5:30-10:00 a.m. Morning Rave Show (Show). The premise of the 
Contest was that the contestant who was able to drink water at regular 
intervals for the longest time without urinating or vomiting would win 
a Nintendo Wii video game console. At the Trial, a medical expert 
testified that such over-consumption of water may cause pressure in the 
brain leading to confusion, disorientation, impaired judgment, and 
ultimately risk of death. In this case, Ms. Strange returned home after 
participating in the Contest, slipped into a coma, and died, leaving a 
husband and three children. The autopsy revealed that she had died of 
water intoxication. Accordingly, the Commission designates for hearing 
the issue of whether Entercom designed and conducted a contest that was 
inherently dangerous.
    5. Increased danger to participants by changing the Contest terms. 
In a number of over-the-air announcements prior to the Contest, 
Entercom staff stated that contestants would be drinking water every 
fifteen minutes from eight- or 16-ounce glasses of water. These 
promotional announcements did not mention any risks associated with the 
Contest in general or with water intoxication (also known as 
hyponatremia) specifically. When the contestants arrived at the 
Station, they were informed for the first time by Entercom staff--
acting throughout in the course of their employment for Entercom--that 
they would be drinking eight ounces of water every ten minutes rather 
than at the fifteen minute intervals previously announced on air, again 
without mention of any specific risk. No medical personnel were present 
at the Contest. About 90 minutes into the Contest, apparently concerned 
that the Contest would not be concluded before the end of the Show, the 
hosts increased the required water consumption to 16.9-ounce bottles of 
water every 10 minutes. A medical expert at the Trial testified that 
these modifications to the Contest heightened the risk of death for the 
contestants, including Ms. Strange. Accordingly, the Commission 
designates for hearing the issue of whether Entercom increased the 
danger to Contest participants by changing the Contest terms from those 
announced previously on air.
    6. Entercom's awareness of the potential dangers of the Contest and 
water intoxication. The record suggests that, prior to and during the 
Contest, Entercom was aware that water intoxication could cause severe 
health consequences, and even death. Specifically, during at least two 
Shows broadcast before the Contest, Entercom staff had discussed on air 
the fraternity hazing death of a college student by water intoxication, 
and even attempted

[[Page 94373]]

a humorous reenactment of that event, during which an Entercom employee 
drank a large quantity of water and suffered water intoxication 
symptoms. During the Contest, the hosts of the Show again referred on 
air to the possibility of ``water poisoning'' like ``that poor kid in 
college.'' In addition, during the Show, the producer and hosts 
received several phone calls from concerned listeners--including 
medical professionals--specifically warning that the Contest was 
dangerous and even potentially lethal. Entercom employees responded 
dismissively to these calls, simply telling callers that the 
contestants had signed releases. Finally, Entercom employees ignored or 
joked about the symptoms displayed by contestants, including Ms. 
Strange, who had a visibly extended abdomen, difficulty walking, and 
stated on air that her head hurt. Accordingly, the Commission 
designates for hearing the issue of whether Entercom was aware of the 
potential dangers to the contestants associated with the Contest.
    7. Failure to protect contestants. At the Trial, a medical expert 
testified that Jennifer Strange could have been saved if she were 
provided with medical assistance at any time prior to her having a 
convulsion or losing consciousness. However, Entercom did not provide 
medical assistance even after contestants began to complain of extreme 
discomfort. Therefore, the Commission designates for hearing the issue 
of whether Entercom failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the 
contestants' safety and to protect them from the dangers of the 
Contest.
    8. Failure to warn contestants of the potential danger posed by the 
Contest. The record reflects that, in promotional announcements and on 
the day of the Contest, Entercom did not inform participants of risks 
associated with the Contest in general or water intoxication 
specifically, even after Station staff were specifically notified of 
the danger by callers. Rather, the hosts of the Show made jocular 
statements to the contestants that dismissed or otherwise minimized the 
risks or the severity of the symptoms they were experiencing. Even 
after learning of Ms. Strange's death, Entercom did not contact the 
other participants to inform them of her death or suggest that they 
seek medical attention. Accordingly, the Commission designates for 
hearing the issue of whether Entercom failed to warn the Contest 
contestants about the possible dangers associated with water 
intoxication.
    9. Prioritization of entertainment value over welfare of 
contestants. The record suggests that Entercom ran the Contest in a way 
to maximize its entertainment value to listeners at the expense of the 
dignity and well-being of the contestants. For example, Show staff 
induced themselves to vomit near the contestants to get them to do so, 
photographed the contestants in various states of physical distress, 
including emerging from the bathroom, and otherwise heckled contestants 
to create a theatrical atmosphere that may have fostered the discomfort 
and degradation of the contestants for entertainment value. 
Accordingly, the Commission designates for hearing the issue of whether 
Entercom may have prioritized the entertainment value of the Contest 
over the welfare of the contestants.
    10. Failure to train and supervise Station staff. It appears from 
the record that Station staff largely conceived and ran the Contest 
without adequate supervision or guidance from Station management and 
Entercom's corporate parent, Entercom Corp. In apparent violation of 
corporate rules and procedures, the Contest was not presented to 
Entercom Corp.'s legal department for vetting. Nor did Station staff 
independently research or otherwise make an objective determination on 
the Contest's safety or compliance with corporate contest guidelines. 
The facts on record indicate that there may have been systemic problems 
with Entercom's training and contest review and oversight process. It 
appears that Station management had minimal involvement in the 
conception or conduct of the Contest, perhaps in light of the Show's 
high ratings and resulting contribution to the licensee's financial 
bottom line. No individual, at either the Station or corporate level, 
had clear responsibility for compliance with contest policy, and 
guidelines formulated at a corporate level were not necessarily 
communicated to the Station staff who would be actually conducting 
contests. For these reasons, among others, the record suggests that 
although the hosts of the Show may have exercised poor judgment during 
the course of the Contest, they were also not adequately trained or 
supervised by Entercom with respect to contests. Accordingly, the 
Commission designates for hearing the issue of whether Entercom 
conducted adequate training and exercised appropriate supervision over 
the contest-related activities of KDND personnel, including, in 
particular, the Contest.
    11. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to section 309(e) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 309(e), the 
Applications, File Nos. BRH-20050728AUU and BRH-20130730ANM, are 
designated for hearing in a proceeding before an FCC Administrative Law 
Judge, at a time and place to be specified in a subsequent Order, upon 
the following issues: (a) To determine whether Entercom designed and 
conducted a contest that was inherently dangerous; (b) To determine 
whether Entercom increased the danger to the contestants in the ``Hold 
Your Wee for a Wii'' contest by changing the contest terms; (c) To 
determine whether Entercom was aware of the potential dangers of the 
``Hold Your Wee for a Wii'' contest and water intoxication; (d) To 
determine whether Entercom failed to protect the contestants of the 
``Hold Your Wee for a Wii'' contest from its potential dangers; (e) To 
determine whether Entercom failed to warn the contestants of the ``Hold 
Your Wee for a Wii'' contest of the contest's potential dangers; (f) To 
determine whether Entercom prioritized entertainment value over the 
welfare of contestants of the ``Hold Your Wee for a Wii'' contest; (g) 
To determine whether Entercom failed to properly train and exercise 
appropriate supervision of Station KDND(FM) staff and the ``Hold Your 
Wee for a Wii'' contest to ensure the safety of the contestants; (h) To 
determine, in light of the evidence adduced under the foregoing issues 
and the totality of circumstances, whether Entercom License, LLC 
operated Station KDND(FM) in the public interest during the most recent 
license term; and (i) To determine, in light of the evidence adduced 
under the foregoing issues and the totality of circumstances, whether 
Entercom's Applications for Renewal of License for KDND(FM), File Nos. 
BRH-20130730ANM and BRH-20050728AUU, should be granted.
    12. It is further ordered that, irrespective of the resolution of 
the foregoing issues, the Petition to Deny filed by Irene M. Stolz, on 
November 1, 2005, is dismissed as moot in part and denied in part.
    13. It is further ordered that the Petition to Deny filed by Media 
Action Center and Sue Wilson on October 31, 2013, and the Petition to 
Deny filed by Edward R. Stolz II on November 1, 2013, considered as an 
informal objection, are granted in part, to the extent that they seek 
designation for hearing of the subject Entercom license renewal 
applications on issues (a) through (g) above, and are otherwise denied.
    14. It is further ordered that the Informal Objection filed by 
Roger D. Smith on October 22, 2013, is granted.
    15. It is further ordered that the Chief, Enforcement Bureau, shall 
be made a party to this proceeding without the need to file a written 
appearance.

[[Page 94374]]

    16. It is further ordered that Media Action Center and Sue Wilson 
shall be made parties to this hearing in their capacity as a petitioner 
to the captioned applications.
    17. It is further ordered that pursuant to Section 309(e) of the 
Act and Section 1.221(c) of the Commission's Rules, to avail itself of 
the opportunity to be heard and to present evidence at a hearing in 
this proceeding, Entercom, in person or by its attorneys, shall file 
with the Commission, within 20 calendar days of the release of this 
Order, a written appearance stating that it will appear at the hearing 
and present evidence on the issues specified above.
    18. It is further ordered that, pursuant to Section 1.221(c) of the 
Commission's Rules, if Entercom fails to file a timely written 
appearance, or has not filed prior to the expiration of that time a 
petition to dismiss the captioned Applications without prejudice, or a 
petition to accept, for good cause shown, such written appearance 
beyond expiration of said 20 calendar days, the Applications shall be 
dismissed with prejudice for failure to prosecute.
    19. It is further ordered that to avail themselves of the 
opportunity to be heard and the right to present evidence at a hearing 
in these proceedings, pursuant to Section 1.221(e) of the Commission's 
Rules, Media Action Center and Sue Wilson, shall file within 20 
calendar days of the release of this Order, a written appearance 
stating their intention to appear at the hearing and present evidence 
on the issues specified above. Any entity or person so named above who 
fails to file this written statement within the time specified, shall, 
unless good cause for such failure is shown, forfeit its hearing 
rights.
    20. It is further ordered, in accordance with Section 309(e) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the burden of proceeding with 
the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof, with respect to 
all issues designated herein, shall be upon Entercom.
    21. It is further ordered, that Entercom herein shall, pursuant to 
Section 311(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and 
Section 73.3594 of the Commission's Rules, give notice of the hearing 
within the time and in the manner prescribed in such Rule, and shall 
advise the Commission of the publication of such notice as required by 
Section 73.3594(g) of the Commission's Rules.
    22. It is further ordered that copies of this document shall be 
sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, and by regular first 
class mail to the following: Carrie A. Ward, Esq., Entercom License, 
LLC, 401 City Avenue, Suite 809, Bala Cynwyd, PA 65483; Dennis P. 
Corbett, Esq., Lerman Senter PLLC, 2000 K Street NW., Suite 600, 
Washington, DC 20006-1809; Media Action Center and Sue Wilson, 18125 
Tyler Road, Fiddletown, CA 95629; Edward R. Stolz, II, c/o Dennis J. 
Kelly, Esq., Law Office of Dennis J. Kelly, P.O. Box 41177, Washington, 
DC 20018; Roger D. Smith, 6755 Wells Avenue, Loomis, CA 95650.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-30898 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P