ABIP ALERT: FCC Inspectors Target EAS Compliance
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On behalf of Stewart Broadcasting and WHEP Radio in Foley, thank you for your visit and inspection of our station. I greatly appreciate the time you spent examining our operation, and there's no question that I gained some valuable knowlege that will help me be a better chief operator.
Thank you to you and the Alabama Broadcasters Association for offering the Alternative Inspection Program to the broadcasters of this state. It was a great refresher course for me, and I will certainly recommend it to others.
Clark Stewart, Pres/GM, WHEP
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As a licensee of a broadcast station you are require to maintain your operations in accordance with current Federal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations.
The FCC conducts unscheduled inspections of broadcast facilities, both randomly and when they have a reason to believe a problem exists. The Alabama
Broadcasters Association realized the rapidly changing FCC Rules, along with varying interpretations around
the country, were creating problems for stations trying to stay in compliance. Meanwhile, the FCC realized
that state broadcasters' association inspections could help broadcasters find out if they have overlooked any FCC
Rules, and then, once in compliance, avoid most FCC inspections.
To aid your operation in staying compliant the ABA, in association with the FCC offers the Alternative
Broadcast Inspection Program. The ABIP is conducted similar to - and uses the same protocol as - a standard
FCC inspection by a qualified engineer approved by the FCC and ABA.
To make the program more appealing, the FCC has stipulated that once they are notified of a satisfactory
inspection the subject station will be precluded from surprise, random inspections for three years.
However, there are a couple of "exclusions" to the inspection-free period. Even if your station has gone through
and passed an ABIP inspection, the FCC always reserves the right to inspect stations for the following reasons:
1. A “Compliant Driven Inspection” triggered by a compliant filed against the station.
2. A “Targeted Tower Safety Inspection” which is limited to the stations transmitter site for public safety
issues.
3. Public inspection file of a station for compliance with the FCC’s political time or equal employment
opportunity public file regulations.
During the inspection, the inspector will make notes and discuss any issues of non-compliance as they come up.
After the inspection is over, the inspector will sit down with you, your management, and Chief Operator.
Together you can discuss the non-compliance areas, as well as the necessary remediation.
Several days after the inspection, you will receive a more detailed (and confidential) report on violations and
deficiencies found - and the possible forfeitures that would have been realized if the FCC had found them. You
now have a list of what needs to be fixed and corrected. The inspector will give the station a reasonable period
of time to correct violations. Where necessary, a re-inspection may be conducted at the station's expense.
When the inspector is satisfied that the station is in compliance with FCC rules and/or has taken all required
remedial actions, ABA, upon approval of the inspector, will send a Certificate of Compliance to the station and to
the FCC’s Field Office in Atlanta, GA.
Participation in the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program is voluntary and is open to all broadcasters in
Alabama, not just ABA members (although there is a substantial financial incentive to be an ABA member!).
For more information contact Larry Wilkins (ABIP inspector) or Sharon Tinsley (ABA):
Sharon Tinsley (205) 982-5001
stinsley@al-ba.com
Larry Wilkins (334) 303-2525
lwilkins@al-ba.com
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