Saga Communications is asking the FCC to dismiss a pending application to modify the construction permit for a LPFM in Springfield, MA alleging a series of technical defects in the application submitted by Iglesia Cristiana Jehova Vive (ICJV) for WJKM-LP (96.9). Saga also raised allegations of possible misrepresentation by the church, including potential ties to a former pirate radio operator. Saga is asking the Media Bureau to refer the matter to the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau for a broader investigation into the nonprofit that holds the station’s construction permit.

The dispute centers on ICJV’s latest application to modify its unbuilt LPFM authorization by relocating the transmitter site and changing frequencies from 96.9 to 94.3 FM. Saga — which owns classic rock “Rock 102” WAQY, rock “Lazer 99.3” WLZX and talk WHMP (1400) as well as two FM translators in the Springfield market — argues the application contains “multiple fatal defects” and therefore “cannot be granted.”

Among the engineering claims in an informal objection filed last week with the FCC, Saga says the application fails to demonstrate reasonable assurance that ICJV has access to the proposed transmitter site, and allegations the paperwork contains conflicting tower information between the FCC application and its engineering exhibit. Saga also alleges the applications doesn’t satisfy FCC rules governing non-adjacent channel changes.

The filing says ICJV has failed to make this required showing that the proposed channel change would reduce interference. Instead, Saga argues, “the proposal actually makes interference worse.”

Saga also alleges the application may contain a material misrepresentation involving the church’s listed treasurer. According to the filing, a woman identified as Berenisse Figueroa contacted Saga’s attorneys after receiving FCC-related documents. Saga says that when informed she was listed in the application as ICJV’s treasurer, she “denied any involvement, stated that someone was using her name without her consent, said she did not know the other individuals listed, and confirmed that she lives at the address alone with her two children.” The filing argues the circumstances raise “a serious question” of potential misrepresentation to the Commission as to the identity of the principals of ICJV.

Another major focus of the objection is Jonathan Alcantara, who Saga says has been identified in various FCC filings as an ICJV director or operations manager. Saga contends Alcantara may be the same Jonathan Alcantara who received a pirate warning nearly a decade ago. As Inside Radio reported in 2017, a man with the same name was issued a warning for an unlicensed Spanish-language station billing itself as “Exitos 95.5 FM” in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton market.

Saga thinks they’re a match. Its filing cites common telephone numbers, prior FCC filings and internet records that it says link the two individuals. If they are the same person, Saga argues the application would be barred under FCC rules which prohibits LPFM grants to applicants associated with unlicensed broadcasting. The filing also points to Alcantara’s marketing of his “La Súper Mezcla” programming to LPFM stations, arguing his role and involvement warrant further FCC scrutiny.

Saga also accuses ICJV of repeatedly filing modification applications only to withdraw them after objections are lodged or have them dismissed by FCC staff.

“This is the third informal objection Saga has been obligated to file against ICJV,” the company notes, adding that since the station’s permit was granted in 2025, ICJV has made six attempts to modify it, with five applications either dismissed or withdrawn. “It appears that when Saga files an objection, ICJV simply dismisses or withdraws its application thereby mooting the serious allegations in Saga’s pleadings.”

Saga argues the pattern “constitutes abuse of process” because the minor modification process “is not a vehicle for serial testing of proposals, evading objections, or burdening Commission staff and interested parties with repetitive filings lacking genuine intent to construct.”

In addition to dismissing the current application with prejudice, Saga asks the FCC to rescind WJKM-LP’s underlying construction permit, investigate ICJV and Alcantara through the Enforcement Bureau, and defer action on any future applications filed by the organization until those issues are resolved.

The Commission has not ruled on the claims. And ICJV had not yet responded to the allegations.