Russia’s state-owned broadcasters infiltrate into media environment of the United States, investing in existing media assets and recruiting the US citizens. They are searching the ways to get around the legislation on foreign agents, using airtime reselling.
A Kansas City area radio station can broadcast Russian state-owned media Radio Sputnik programming, the type that U.S. intelligence called a “propaganda machine,” for six hours a day through a lease agreement struck by a local radio operator. RM Broadcasting LLC, a Florida-based company that has agreements to broadcast the Russian state media program Radio Sputnik, reached a deal on Jan. 1 to lease airtime through Alpine Broadcasting Corp. in Liberty. Its license expires 02/01/2021.
RM Broadcasting is run in Florida by a man named Arnold Ferolito, a 76-year-old American, born in Bronx, New York. After graduating from Bronx Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Mr. Ferolito began working at the American Broadcasting Company in 1962. In 1968, Mr. Ferolito founded A.F. Associates, Inc., which was an engineering firm specializing in design and fabrication of high-end video and television facilities. Additionally, Mr. Ferolito founded and served as Executive Vice President of Video Services Corporation, the parent company of several video/television enterprises, including Atlantic Satellites Communication, Inc., which operated a state-of-the-art facility that transmitted television programs globally; an Waterfront Communication Corp., a provider of fiber optic communication links in the New York area and around the world. In December 2000, Video Services Corporation was sold to Liberty Media Corporation. From 2001 through 2008, Mr. Ferolito served as Executive Vice President of Building Performance, Inc., a company that manufactured heating units used in connection with ventilating commercial buildings. In December 2000, Video Services Corporation was sold to Liberty Media Corporation.
From 2001 through 2008, Mr. Ferolito served as Executive Vice President of Building Performance, Inc., a company that manufactured heating units used in connection with ventilating commercial buildings.
After leaving his position at Building Performance, Inc., Mr. Ferolito attempted a retirement; however, he missed the excitement and challenge of the business world. In 2010, he founded RM Broadcasting, a company engaging in the business of leasing broadcast airtime.
RM Broadcasting is in the business of purchasing airtime from Federal FCC, who transmit programming on licensed radio broadcast stations, and reselling that airtime to radio programmers pursuant to commercial service agreements.
RM Broadcasting does not participate in, own, control, operate, or have any decision-making authority whatsoever with respect to the content of any programming. Moreover, RM Broadcasting does not own any broadcasting facilities. So, Russians try to build a mechanism of broadcasting propagandist information without facilities under control. This gives an opportunity to lower risks and enhance mobility, involving different broadcasters.
In 2018 RM Broadcasting had argued that it merely bought and re-sold airtime on radio stations, some of which happened to include Russian state media programs, so it could not be a foreign agent. But a federal judge found that argument unpersuasive.
lansinginstitute.org analysts found a Court case Arnold P. Ferolito, Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Respondent, v. Park Hill Association, Inc.1 and Pagano Company, Defendants-Respondents/Cross-Appellants, Fay Berlin, Mary Chrisler, Joan Domas, Joseph Rose and John Walters, Defendants that was heard in Superior Court of New Jersey and decided July 27, 2009. The underlying dispute involves plaintiff’s request for the condominium’s Association to install a satellite dish system. Mr.Ferolito claimed that his condominium unit was occupied by his mother-in-law, who spoke Russian. And installation of the satellite antenna system would allow her to receive programs broadcast in that language.
So, there are evidences of Ferolito’s links with Russia. His wife, Olga Ferolito (before marriage Olga Gustutina) was born on Oct 24, 1954 in Leningrad (now Peterburg, Russia). Studied there Liberal arts at Institute of Culture. Probably immigrated to the United States in the end of 1980s before Soviet Union collapsed. Olga is former Vice President at ABFW Media International. Studied Marketing and Advertising at NYU SCE.
According to her Facebook account, she continues keeping up with contacts in Russia, including those from state-owned media companies.
There are no signs of her links with Russian intel, but we are convinced that it was her idea to sell airtime to Rossiya Segodnya. We are also convinced that Ferolito sent offers to several Russian broadcasting companies.
From 2010 through 2013, RM Broadcasting resold airtime on a Washington, D.C. area radio station known as WZHF 1390 AM, along with a New York area radio station known as WNSW 1430 AM. The opportunity to broadcast in Washington D.C. and New York (concentration of government officials and their staff) was probably a key factor in Russia’s decision to use this American asset.
Russia is interesting in broadcasting propagandistic content in the West, especially at the noon of the presidential elections 2020. So, there are no doubts that Ferolito’s deal will be used by Russia in undermining campaign and to influence the elections results.
When RM Broadcasting first registered as a foreign agent, it disclosed that it had received $1.43 million in payments from Rossiya Segodnya to buy airtime for Radio Sputnik from 2017 to 2019.
Alpine Broadcasting Corp. broadcasts on three frequencies in the Kansas City area: KCXL 1140 AM, 102.9 FM and 104.7 FM. The lease agreement lets RM Broadcasting air its programming from 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. seven days a week. KCXL’s website, which says that it’s the radio station that will “tell you the things that the liberal media wont (sic) tell you,” lists Radio Sputnik in its morning programming.
A 2017 report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that evaluated Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election described Sputnik as “another government-funded outlet producing pro-Kremlin radio and online content in a variety of languages for international audiences.” Sputnik, along with Russian television outlet RT — formerly Russia Today — “contributed to the influence campaign by serving as a platform for Kremlin messaging to Russian and international audiences,” the DNI intelligence assessment said.
RM Broadcasting in 2019 was ordered by a federal judge to register as a foreign agent under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires political agents in the U.S. acting on a foreign government’s behalf to disclose their relationships, finances and activities. Ferolito took exception to the government’s requirement to register as a foreign agent.
Kansas KCXL’s president is Peter (Pete) Schartel. Schartel bought the station in 1993, according to a 1997 story in The Star and his Linkedin profile. That story quoted Schartel characterizing himself as “basically a liberal, patriotic American, but our government has done some horrible things.” Scartel also is owner of owner at Alpine Broadcasting Corp. (310 S La Frenz Road, Liberty, Missouri, 64068). He was born May 1, 1955 – May 31, 1955. Mr. Schartel was twice charged for driving while Intoxicated. In 1996 he was sentenced for $250 fee and in 2007 he incarcerated.
There are no signs of his links with Russia. But he was selected because of his views on American government and sympathy to conspiracy theories.
KCXL grabbed attention in 2018 for providing air time to Steve West, a Republican candidate in Clay County for the Missouri House of Representatives who used his “Jack Justice” radio show to discuss what The Star then described as “fanatical conspiracies about ‘Jewish cabals’ that are ‘harvesting baby parts’ through Planned Parenthood, that torture and molest children and that run the Republican Party.” Such narratives and conspiracy theories are often used by Russian state media to discredit he USA. Russian intel is monitoring western media to select those that are skeptical about their government to use them against authorities.
