Knoxville's Black-owned radio station WJBE prevails in FCC case to strip broadcast license

A Federal Communications Commission judge rejected an effort by the agency to strip the license of "Jammin" 99.7 FM/1040 WJBE, ending a lengthy wait to learn the fate of Knoxville's only Black-owned radio station.

The FCC’s enforcement bureau initiated a license revocation hearing against the station in March 2022 alleging that its owner, Joe Armstrong, a former state representative, had breached ownership regulations because of his 2016 conviction for filing a false income tax return. Additionally, FCC enforcers said he failed to disclose the conviction in two separate license renewal applications.

The station, owned in the 1960s and '70s by James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," has been a cultural touchpoint for Black radio listeners in East Tennessee for generations.

Armstrong told Knox News last year he was shocked to receive the FCC notice because the station was never the subject of complaints from the agency, listeners or advertisers in a decade.

He teamed up with the Institute for Justice, whose self-described mission is "to end widespread abuses of government power," to defend the station in the FCC’s administrative court process last year. The institute helped him fight the case, arguing that a seven-year-old conviction that happened years before he bought the station should not disqualify him from operating a radio station.

After the ruling Sept. 14, Armstong told Knox News that his beloved community helped him get through the grueling process.

"I am amazed at how much love and support I received from the people right here in Knoxville," he said.

"All the churches, clergy, elected officials and our everyday listeners from age 8 to 80 made this all happen. I owe thanks to my family and all who volunteered their time at the station, and to my employees at the station who showed up not even knowing if they will have a job or not."

Armstrong said he was grateful the FCC judge ruled in his favor.

“Owning WJBE is how I continued to serve Knoxville after leaving the state legislature," he said.

“I’m glad that the notion that I should be permanently punished was rejected and I hope that this example will help other people who face similar barriers to jobs and opportunity.”

In 2012, Armstrong took ownership and breathed new life into the radio station. Today, WJBE airs a diverse range of content, including popular music, nationally syndicated talk shows, community news and church services.

Armstrong fully served his sentence that included three years of probation, six months of house arrest and 300 hours of community service. He also was fined $40,000 and directed to make restitution payments totaling approximately $100,000. Following his conviction, he retired from his position in the state House of Representatives.

Still, the FCC raised concerns about his ability to adhere to its regulations.

Institute for Justice attorney Daniel Nelson said the decision in favor of WJBE will "allow Joe to continue broadcasting and underscores his character and the significant role he played in revitalizing Black community-focused radio in his hometown.

"The FCC's attempt to deny Joe's license, which he had used as a means of turning his life around after legal challenges, was unwarranted. This is a robust decision, and we hope that the commissioners will firmly reject any further efforts to strip Joe of his license."

Institute for Justice attorney Andrew Ward said that punishing people beyond the criminal sentences handed down by judges and juries keeps them from making a fresh start after they’ve paid their debt to society.

“Barriers like the one Joe faced exist across the federal and state governments. There is broad consensus that these laws are not productive, harming individuals and their communities," Ward said.

What's next now that WJBE is on the airwaves to stay? Armstrong says he plans to keep on pushing forward in hopes of growing the radio station to new heights.

"We are going to make this thing better and better," he told Knox News, "with more programming, more news, and to keep on serving this city."

Angela Dennis is the Knox News race, justice and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @AngeladWrites. Instagram @angeladenniswrites. Facebook at Angela Dennis.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Black-owned radio station WJBE prevails in FCC case to strip license