MARION—After years of delays and non-communication with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an Administrative Judge has dismissed the renewal application of Marion’s low-powered WWGH-LP. Without an approved application, the station can no longer operate.

The station operates under the Marion Education Exchange.

The station was assigned the WWGH-LP call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on April 25, 2014.
WWGH-LP came under scrutiny in 2019 when radio host and manager Scott Spears was president of Marion Midget Football. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost found reason to believe that he and then-treasurer Patsy Worcester broke Ohio charity laws. MMF held the license to operate WWGH-LP.

WWGH-LP then filed a transfer of the existing license to the Marion Education Exchange.

The application came under scrutiny when board members listed as active were actually deceased. The station’s attorney George Wolfe withdrew his representation of the station, citing that Spears and others failed to communicate with him. The station was given opportunities to retain new counsel but could not. At one point, they tried to represent themselves, which is not permissible.

Spears who has crafted a niche market by interviewing antiquated guests, including celebrities like Phil Donahue, the late Pat Carroll, and Martha Douce.

Current recurring guests include retired wrestler Thunderbolt Patterson, Ted Williams, and the former United States Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow.

In her decision, Administrative Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin said in part:

“Despite the Presiding Judge giving MEE three chances to obtain new counsel, it has not done so.

MEE’s representatives have consistently evidenced an inability or unwillingness to familiarize themselves with Federal Communication Commission rules and procedures in a way that would allow this case to move forward. When a licensee that bears the burden of proof does not fully participate in a hearing, it forfeits its opportunity to show that the grant of its application is in the public interest. The Presiding Judge, therefore, has no choice at this point but to dismiss this hearing proceeding due to MEE’s failure to prosecute its application. The application of Marion Education Exchange for renewal of its license for Station WWGH-LP, Marion, Ohio, IS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE due to the applicant’s failure to prosecute.”

A case dismissed with prejudice essentially means the application is permanently denied and cannot be filed again on behalf of MEE and WWGH-LP.