Ukrainian Group Targets NJ Stations in Petition Against Radio Sputnik

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America filed another petition asking the FCC to revoke the licenses of stations belonging to Arthur and Yvonne Liu. The two own a Washington-area station that broadcasts the Russian-sponsored news channel Radio Sputnik, WZHF(AM) Columbia Heights, Maryland (see 2203230054). The new petition targets the license renewals of six stations in New York and New Jersey owned by the Lius’ company Multicultural Broadcasting, and contains a testimonial from a New Jersey UCCA member who listens to the stations. The previous filing used much of the same language and contained a testimonial from a D.C. UCCA member. UCCA attorney Arthur Belendiuk, of Smithwick and Belendiuk, told us the new version is necessary because FCC staff told him the petitions had to target an application -- such as a license renewal application -- to be valid. The new filing is “fundamentally identical” to the previous one but addresses the agency’s standing issue, he said. The stations in the petition include WZRC(AM), New York; WHWH(AM), Princeton, New Jersey; and WPAT(AM), Paterson, New Jersey.