One Fine Leads to Another

Last Updated on September 14, 2011 by askcbiorg

This notice from the FCC should help stations to notice that the FCC, once given a reason to inspect a station, will inspect a station beyond the original issue.  In this case the station had a problem with its tower lighting.  The FCC inspected and confirmed the problem.  It then asked the station to produce its public file and it could not.   More fines.

Just today, I attended an SBE meeting with a local FCC representative who said that if the FCC is compelled to visit a site via a complaint or a random draw of stations to inspect, it will look at a lot of things, including the Public File.  This representative reported that the biggest problems with inspections are related to the public file and that every person in the station should be aware of the need to promptly provide access to the public file to the public and the FCC.  They should know the location of the file and not require an appointment to see it.

This representative also stated that the most common violation was the lack of inclusion of the required issues and programs list.

He also stated that any waivers the station has should be presented upfront, such as main studio waivers.

Finally, he noted that when inspecting a station, if the employees were aware of the rules and have taken reasonable actions to comply with the rules, that those stations might be afforded some latitude.

In general, his tone was that he wanted to make sure stations knew and understood the rules and were taking reasonable steps to comply with the rules if they were not already in compliance, but if given a reason to inspect a station, you better be ready.

On a side note, this author notes that the potential risk to human life carried a smaller fine than the failure to abide by commission rules concerning the Public File (which is a rule that many have said it should be done away with).   Something is wrong with this picture.

On that note, if your station is licensed by the FCC, be sure to register for the pre-convention session, FCC 101 and attend the other FCC related sessions at the CBI conference at the National Student Media Convention.