Follow the rules? Who me? No!

[NECRAT]

So in replying to the post in the AM forum, I got to thinking.

Why do so many commercial broadcast stations, ones owned by larger corporations, continue to run in clear violation of their licenses?
With the ability for self inspection, alternate inspection, and GPS devices, it amazes me how many radio station sites I visit where the coordinates
are way (by more than 5-10 second degrees in some cases) off, antenna heights not correct, antenna models not matching what is on the license, etc.

Are these stations seeing the lack of enforcement from the FCC and just chancing it? Are they being cheap and not trying to correct their license?

Two examples I can give are, one station, who vacated one tower to move to another tower, DOWN THE ROAD, annnnd UP THE HILL! They are actually operating from a "new"er site, which is higher in elevation, and .25km down the road!

Another FM/TV site the tower coordinates for every single tower on the mountain are off... if you look at the tower coordinates on their FCC licenses, the towers would be in this order...

1 2 3 4

5

Instead they appear in this order

1 5

3 2

5


All over the place. Maybe I am getting grumpy, but I am starting to really lose faith in the enforcement bureau. (Not that the lack of shutting down Pirates has done that all ready.) What DO they enforce anyways?

[Deep Thought]

The EB is so severely under-funded and under-staffed that they rarely investigate anything unless a complaint is filed. Location errors are probably at the bottom of the list even though it would garner a $10,000 fine. And it's not just broadcast...everyone in the business knows that Sirius/XM still is operating lots of terrestrial repeaters in the wrong locations and at much higher than licensed power but nothing is done. Why? Clout.

The big three have no excuse for transmitter locations being incorrectly specified on their licenses. They have the personnel available to do the simple corrective applications and really should be leading the way when it comes to being good stewards of the air. That they aren't makes it easier for the wireless companies to continue chipping away at broadcast spectrum and further dilutes our credibility. Of course, these are the same companies who have essentially ruined the business model by abandoning local origination, pissing away the main advantage local broadcast stations have: Localism and relevance to the market.

Yeah, it's one of my pet peeves too...

[rockmanac]

What DO they enforce anyways?

1. That your public file has all the correct documents and it's location is publicized.
2. That you've done your EAS logs
3. That you've not spread any smut that might harm our children
4. That you've not run any "program length commercials" in kids programming

[NECRAT]

What DO they enforce anyways?

1. That your public file has all the....

It was a sarcastic question, Adam. However with those items, and tower issues, those really are the only items these days.

[dataman19]

Deepthought said it best..
"Yea its my per peeve too..."
..
I for one am also astounded how the FCC literally ignores one station - yet trotts down the road to nickle and dime a small station operator to death.
..
Compound this by filing a legitimate complaint against one of the Clear Channel bad boys. They know who files the complaint, they can always get the question answered "who filed the complaint" by asking (The FCC won't tell the little guy without a lot of paperwork - but they seem to write the complainer's name, call letters, and address on the complaint served to a clear channel station - in bold magic marker). Assuming you haven't brought up the deficiency in the clear channel station's new repeater sitting right next to your licensed frequency, and causing interference with "your station". Being a good citizen, you would naturally call the offending station engineer about it, wouldn't you? But then, when they ignore you and continue on, you file a supposedly "semi-anonymous" complaint with the local field office - which comes out and makes them quit - right? Think again, this can go on for months, even years.
..
No I am not picking on Clear Channel - I am just using their Big Boy Status to make a point.
..
The point is that the FCC does seem to ignore the antics of big money broadcasters. This is already a well known fact, and doesn't really need a lot of examples. But in retrospect - it's like a speeding ticket. Just because someone else is out there breaking the rules - does not give you or me the right to do so. Hence. when we get caught - we get slammed. When "they" get caught, they get a hand slap.
..
In respect to tower placements - yea it may seem like they are ignoring the rules. But just when was the tower placed? Is it's actual location grandfathered? Do they really have to update it? It would seem that they would, but under what circumstances would they not have to? Maybe the FCC TowerAir Database is not in line with the FAA Database (could be the FAA database was updated - but the old FCC tower Database not updated - before the two systems were actually linked together) - or maybe the new tower was placed without using DAT29? maybe 'your" GPs is using the wrong Datum and not DAT29 (could be a few minutes discrepancy there too). Since all Tower Database coordinates are based upon the 1929 Datum (ie: DAT29) - this is the USGS DATUM that should be used for tower siting.
..
Could be as simple as updating the GPS..
..
Dave