[2] With the transfer of Good Radio, Inc., to four new principals approved by the Federal Communications Commission on July 25, the station was clear to sign on.
[10] In December 1977, the WBRL case moved from the administrative law judge to the FCC itself as the commission heard oral argument in the station's appeal.
[11] In May 1978, the FCC in a 6–0 decision upheld the law judge's findings and the denial of the renewal application, saying that WBRL's scheme had run for more than three years and enabled retailers to overcharge manufacturers more than $22,000; while Blais had known of the issues since buying the station, general manager Robert T. Dale, who had also been involved in the double billing at WMOU/WXLQ, had said that stopping the practice would cause the station to lose advertisers, and Blais did not protest again until the FCC began investigating in 1974.
[12] That October, Berlin Communications was denied reconsideration of the FCC decision;[13] in 1979, a federal appeals court upheld the denial,[14] forcing the top 40[15] outlet to cease broadcasting.
[18] That sale never consummated, and McLaughlin sold the station for $185,000 in 1983 to Metrocomco, Inc.[19] Late in the 1980s, WBRL entered financial difficulties, and its assets were put up for auction on May 21, 1990.