Hawaii Community Station Fined for EAS Alert Failure

Honolulu-based TV station KWBN Channel 44 was fined $2,000 by the FCC for failing to retransmit the required monthly test of the Emergency Alert System. According to FCC documents, Ho'ona'uao Community Television Inc., licensee of KWBN, failed to retransmit the EAS test alert in July, August and September of 2002. Ho'ona'uao Community Television contested the original fine, which was set at $4,000, and won a reduction based on its demonstrated inability to pay.