Avoid Steep Fines

A Checklist to Comply with FCC Rules and Regs

The beginning of each year is a great time to review how well you're complying with FCC rules and regulations. Deregulation has reduced the paperwork and the strict legal guidelines, but you are still responsible for keeping your station legal. It's time to pull out the FCC checklists and go through your station once again. Here's a few areas to get you going. Let the steep fines be your incentive!

Chief Operator

The chief operator must hold at least a restricted radiotelephone operators permit

Each station is required to have a chief operator. He or she must hold at least a restricted radiotelephone operator permit. If your station operates with greater than 10 KW or utilizes a directional antenna, the chief operator must be an employee of the station. If you have an FM station or an AM with less than 10KW, the chief operator can be hired on a contract basis. Don't forget to post a statement in your air studio identifying your chief operator. (It should be signed by the general manager). If you're using a contract chief operator make sure that the agreement is kept in your local public file.

Tower lighting-

Any failures needed to be logged and the FAA should be notified

The tower lights need to checked at least once a day, preferably at sunset. If you can't do the checks visually, you'll need to install an alarm system that remotely detects any lighting malfunctions. Your on-air personnel should make a notation on the log each time the lights are checked. Any failures needed to be logged and the FAA should be notified of the tower illumination problems. If you are on a community tower you are still responsible for painting and lighting of the tower. The FCC will allow you to designate one of the stations on the shared tower to handle inspections and maintenance of the tower and associated lighting. This agreement should be in writing and kept in your public file.

Station identification-

The station ID should be made as close to the top of the hour as possible.

The station ID should be made as close to the top of the hour as possible, "in a natural break in programming". In addition the ID should be given at the beginning and end of the station's operation. If your transmitter dies and the station goes off the air, the on-air personality should give a legal ID when you're back on the air.

You may insert the frequency and the name of the licensee between the call letters and the city of license.

Recording Telephone Conversations-

Inform callers before broadcast or record any conversation

Before any conversation is recorded, callers must be informed that you intend to broadcast the conversation.
Exception: If a listener calls in to a program that normally broadcasts phone conversations,
it is assumed that the caller is aware that the call will likely be aired. Calls associated with
station employees are also an exception to the rule.

Operation at reduced power --

Must not be less than 90% or more than 105% of your authorized power

To be legal your station's operating power must not be less than 90% or more than 105% of your authorized power.

If you are forced to operate at a power level that is less than your authorized power:

1. Notify the FCC before 10 consecutive days of power reduction
2. If normal power is restored before 30 days have lapsed, notify the FCC of normal operation
3. If power reduction is to exceed 30 days, an written informal request must be submitted to the FCC

FM Stations With Subcarriers-

If you station uses subcarriers, you can increase your total modulation up to 110%. For every 1% of modulation used for your subcarriers you can increase your total modulation .5%. Example - If you have two subcarriers each using 8% injection (for a total of 16%).You can legally increase your station's modulation to 108%. The maximum allowable modulation is 110%!

Common Antenna Sites For FM Stations

You may jeopardize your station's license at renewal time by keeping the Competition off of your tower!

If your FM station owns, leases or controls a tower site that is peculiarly suitable for FM stations, give some long hard thought before you restrict other FM stations from broadcasting from your tower. You may not want the competition on your tower, but you might jeopardize your station's license at renewal time by keeping them off of your tower.!

If your tower meets the following conditions, and you prohibit other FM stations from using your tower, you may have problems at renewal time:

A. Your tower site is not available for other stations
B. No other comparable site is available in the area
C. Exclusive use of the site will limit the number of stations in a particular area or would restrict competition among FM stations