Toowoomba community radio station 4DDB is once again in trouble, with another adverse finding against the station made by ACMA. A few days before the finding was released, station president Pat O’Shea resigned from his board position, but will continue to present his regular program. The station is currently up for its licence renewal.

4DDB has been in trouble before, with enforceable undertakings placed on it last year by ACMA after three investigations into advertising on the station (see our earlier story).

Pat O’Shea was quoted in the local paper citing family reasons for his resignation from the board. His breakfast program was the cause for some of the complaints, as detailed in the investigation reports. radioinfo has contacted the station for an official statement, but to date has received no response.

In this most recent instance, the Australian Communications and Media Authority found breaches because the station broadcast an advertisement and aired more than 5 minutes per hour of sponsorship announcements.

The ACMA’s decision follows two earlier investigations in which the ACMA found that 4DDB had broadcast advertisements and sponsorship announcements which ran in excess of the five minute per hour limit in late 2008. As a result of these findings, the ACMA accepted enforceable undertakings in May 2009 which required 4DDB to implement new policies and procedures to prevent the problem in the future.

The ACMA is “currently assessing 4DDB’s compliance” with the enforceable undertaking as part of the licence renewal process.

The ACMA will determine what action is required in relation to these new breaches following the completion of its assessment of these two current matters.

To view the most recent investigation report, click the link below.