imported>Mvcg66b3r at 23:41, 23 May 2025

2025-05-23T23:41:56Z

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{{Short description|Television station in Morehead, Kentucky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = W10BM
| logo = W10BM TV10 logo.png
| branding = TV-10 Morehead
| analog = 10 ([[VHF]])
| digital =
| affiliations = [[Independent station|Independent]]
| founded = 1988
| location = [[Morehead, Kentucky]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns =
| owner = Vearl Pennington
| former_affiliations =
| former_channel_numbers =
| erp = 0.018 kW
| haat = {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 69839
| class = TX
| coordinates = {{coord|38|11|3|N|83|27|43|W|type:landmark_region:US-KY_source:FCC-LMS(NAD83)|display=inline,title}} (claimed on license)
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website =
}}
'''W10BM''' (channel 10) was a [[low power broadcasting#Television|low power television station]] in [[Morehead, Kentucky]], United States, that later operated unlicensed and was fined as a [[pirate television|pirate station]] by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC).

==Licensed broadcast term==
The FCC granted an amended [[construction permit#Broadcasting|construction permit]] for W10BM by December 4, 1987,<ref name="fcc-cp">{{cite web | url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=d57493fa93344ab1ba27cf6212b6c0ea&id=d57493fa93344ab1ba27cf6212b6c0ea&goBack=N | title = Amendment to a New Analog LPTV Station Construction Permit Application; File Number: BPTVL-19870702Y7 | date = December 4, 1987 | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref> and a license by March 29, 1990.<ref name="fcc-license">{{cite web | url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=3936a9348c024e28be8dcf6212b6c0ea&id=3936a9348c024e28be8dcf6212b6c0ea&goBack=N | title = License To Cover for Analog LPTV Station Application; File Number:BLTVL-19900102IG | date = March 29, 1990 | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref> A license renewal expired on August 1, 1998.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff358164c6e0158b1342aa0037f | title = License Renewal Authorization | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref> The licensed parameters were for 18 watts at {{convert|30|m|sp=us}} [[above ground level]], broadcasting on [[VHF]] channel 10 with a [[city of license]] of [[Morehead, Kentucky]], and licensee named as Vearl Pennington at a post office box in [[Mount Sterling, Kentucky]].<ref name="fcc-lms-tabs">{{cite web | url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=69839&applicationId=3936a9348c024e28be8dcf6212b6c0ea | title = Facility ID:69839; DW10BM | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref>

On April 27, 2004, the FCC sent the Mount Sterling post office box a letter saying that W10BM at Morehead, as well as W06BC at Mount Sterling, would be cancelled unless the FCC received a response.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff358164c6e0158b13344ae037e
| title = In re: LPTV/TV Translator Renewal Application of: Veral Pennington; W06BC Mount Sterling, KY; Facility ID; 69842; W10BM Morehead, KY; Facility: 69839 | date = April 27, 2004 | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref> On October 18, 2004, a letter was sent to the same address, stating that no response was received and both station licenses were cancelled.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff358164c6e0158b131af66037d
| title = In re: LPTV/TV Translator Renewal Application of: Veral Pennington; W06BC Mount Sterling, KY; Facility ID; 69842; W10BM Morehead, KY; Facility: 69839 | date = October 18, 2004 | website = Licensing and Management System | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | location = Washington, D.C. | accessdate = May 1, 2020 }}</ref>

==Pirate broadcasts and fines==
On May 12, 2017, the FCC fined the station's operators, Vearl Pennington and Michael Williamson, $144,344 for continuing to operate W10BM despite the cancellation of the license.<ref name="tvt-w10bmfined">{{cite news|last1=Balderston|first1=Michael|title=FCC Fines Unlicensed Kentucky LPTV Max Penalty|url=http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0002/fcc-fines-unlicensed-kentucky-lptv-max-penalty/281027|accessdate=May 13, 2017|work=[[TV Technology]]|date=May 12, 2017}}</ref> The fine was upheld on January 28, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-2A1.pdf |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |accessdate=January 30, 2019 |date=January 29, 2019|title=FORFEITURE ORDER}}</ref>

The channel remained on the air through carriage via local [[Charter Spectrum|Spectrum]] systems, until it was dropped on February 23, 2022.<ref>{{cite press release|title=IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SPECTRUM CHANNEL LINEUP Communities Served: Lakeview Heights, Morehead, Olive Hill, Owingsville, Salt Lick; Counties of Bath, Carter, Rowan, KY.|publisher=[[Charter Communications]]|url=https://d15yx0mnc9teae.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/W10BM%20Drop%20in%20Morehead%20and%20Flemingsburg,KY-Channel%2099%20SouthernOhio_Kentucky_KY.pdf|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> If it was still broadcasting using its transmitter, likewise, it also violated the FCC's July 13, 2021, deadline for all analog television operations to end.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_det.pl?Facility_id=69839 Station details for W10BM]

{{Lexington TV}}
{{Other Kentucky Stations}}

[[Category:Defunct television stations in Kentucky|10BM]]
[[Category:Low-power television stations in Kentucky|10BM]]
[[Category:Pirate television stations]]
[[Category:Rowan County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988]]

W10BM - Revision history

imported>Mvcg66b3r at 23:41, 23 May 2025