Re: [IRCA] [Amdx] [NRC-AM] Tornado radio in OKC

[Doug Smith W9WI <dougw9wi@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chernos Saul wrote:
> Re the 88.1 Oasis station in Moore - I don't know the rules - would the FCC have anything to say about a station right in the affected community not veering at all from its regular programming?

Things that a U.S. radio station *must* broadcast:

- Call letters & city-of-license, once an hour and every time the station signs on or off the air.
- An EAS Required Weekly Test, once a week.  Not necessary in weeks when the Required Monthly Test is relayed, or if an actual emergency alert is 
broadcast.
- Must relay the EAS Required Monthly Test.  (which originates from state emergency authorities)
- When the license is up for renewal, the station must broadcast announcements to that effect and informing listeners of their right to contact the 
FCC and object to (or support) the renewal.  (kinda pointless as it's nearly impossible to derail a renewal)
- Must broadcast *something* for at least 2/3 of the hours the station is authorized to operate between 6am and 6pm, and at least 2/3 of the 
authorized hours between 6pm and midnight.  For Class D AM stations ("daytimers") this requirement doesn't apply after sunset.  It doesn't matter 
*what* is broadcast although a TV case suggests that test patterns & "dead air" don't count.  Operation on Sunday is not required.
- Commercial stations must allow political campaigns "reasonable access" to airtime -- they can't refuse to air political material.
- If it is not obvious that a program was paid for by a third party, the station must announce that fact.

There are a few additional requirements for TV, related to the TV-PG etc. ratings and to children's educational programming.

Nothing else is required anymore.  At one time, stations were required to make promises to air certain amounts of public-service, news, and religious 
programming; and to live up to those promises.  There wasn't really a minimum amount you were required to promise, but if a competing applicant 
promised more, they'd probably get the license.  Those rules are long gone.

One might imagine thousands of people in central Oklahoma who normally listen to 88.1 are listening to some other station this week.  One might wonder 
how many of those people will go back to 88.1 once this disaster is only a memory.

--

Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View, TN  EM66
_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx