Rep. Bergman Calls for FCC Action on Radio Sputnik Stations

The FCC should “take immediate action” on two petitions against radio stations airing programming from Russia-sponsored news channel Radio Sputnik, said a letter to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel from Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. The petitions were filed in 2022 on behalf of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Smithwick and Belendiuk broadcast attorney Arthur Belendiuk prepared the filings against the two stations, which broadcast to the Washington, D.C., area. The petitions ask the FCC to hold license hearing proceedings on WZHF (AM) Capitol Heights, Maryland, and a Reston, Virginia, translator that rebroadcasts WZHF's signal (see 2203230054). “The programming being broadcast does not represent the views and interests of the audience the stations have been licensed to serve,” wrote Bergman. “It is Russian propaganda, bought and paid for by a hostile foreign government.” The FCC hasn’t responded to the petitions, but it also hasn’t granted the license renewal applications of other stations owned by WZHF owners Arthur and Yvonne Liu, said their attorney Mark Lipp of Fletcher Heald. Bergman called out the Radio Sputnik broadcasts for characterizing Ukrainians as Nazis and for “antisemitic tropes” connected with the Israel-Hamas conflict. The stations “have stated that Hamas was justified in its attacks, that Israel is guilty of war crimes and that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Bergman wrote. The letter doesn’t cite specific programming, making it difficult for WZHF’s owners to look into or address the allegations, Lipp said. “It certainly doesn’t sound like something the station would air,” Lipp added. “UCCA and its members deserve a definitive answer. The issues raised in these petitions are serious and merit the FCC’s prompt attention and response,” Bergman’s letter said.