Local television broadcaster TEGNA has agreed to pay a $6,000 settlement to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to close an investigation into the company’s failure to maintain adequate public inspection files for one of its Arizona TV stations.
The investigation started shortly after TEGNA filed an application to renew the broadcast license of KNAZ (Channel 2) in Flagstaff, which simulcasts programming from nearby NBC affiliate KPNX (Channel 12) in Phoenix.
In the application, a TEGNA executive marked the “no” box when asked if KNAZ had filed timely reports in its public inspection file, which is supposed to be made available on the Internet. The executive later affirmed that some of KNAZ’s public inspection disclosure reports were filed late, including records that related to community-oriented programming.
The station was also late in filing timely Commercial Limits Certification reports in its public inspection report, with the FCC finding nine delayed occurrences.
Full-power TV stations are required to maintain a robust public inspection file as part of their license agreement with the FCC. Failure to do so can result in fines and, in rare cases, the revocation of a license.
The matter resulted in a prolonged delay of the FCC’s decision on what should have been an ordinary renewal of a broadcast TV license. On Tuesday, the agency’s Media Bureau said it determined renewal of the KNAZ license was in the public interest after TEGNA agreed to pay $6,000 to resolve the probe.
TEGNA is in the process of being acquired by peer broadcaster Nexstar as part of a $6 billion deal, which is largely predicated on a green-light from the FCC for the transfer of around 60 local TV licenses between the companies. The renewal of the KNAZ license allows for the broader deal to proceed.
Earlier this week, TEGNA CEO Michael Steib said he expects Nexstar’s acquisition to cross the finish line by the second half of 2026. Previously, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said the deal was expected to close by the end of the year.
