| Publisher: Information Station Specialists |
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| FCC 'Not Open for Normal Operations' |
| ...But what if you are required to act while they are closed? |
| With the
FCC in
DC as
well as
the
Licensing
Branch
at
Gettysburg
hobbled
as a
result
of the
Federal
Government’s
brown-out,
Information
Station
operators
–
existing
and
potential
– are
asking
predictable
questions.
If an
action
such as
a
license
renewal
or
comment
filing
is
required
while
the
Commission
is
shuttered,
how does
one
proceed?
The
FCC’s
answer:
File as
soon as
we
reopen. For example, the closing date for reply comments on the FCC’s Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the removal of TIS transmitter filters was October 3 - three days after the close-down. The FCC’s website recently stated that “comments will be considered timely filed on the day after the Commission reopens for business.” The same approach probably can be applied to any action required by the Commission while they are closed – such as a license renewal or the filing of a construction notification. Information Station Specialists recommends watching FCC.gov daily to see when it reappears. At that time, pull the trigger on your action within 24 hours. The Commission likely will provide further guidance via the website upon reopening. Any FCC license applications that have been submitted to Information Station Specialists during the close-down will be filed immediately, once those doors reopen. |
| Low Power FM: It Gets Worse |
| Safety Agencies Add More Reasons Why LPFM is Untenable |
| Last
month’s
article
“Low
Interest
FM”
described
why
safety
agencies
are
concerned
about
using
LPFM as
a safety
tool.
Now
potential
applicants
have
raised a
more
onerous
hurdle
for
agencies
intent
on using
the
service
to aid
public
safety –
the
difficult
requirement
for 8
hours of
new
locally
produced
programming,
daily. Readers have noted that one of the "points" an agency would need to score to be fully qualified to compete for a Low Power FM license requires the applicant to commit to broadcasting 8 hours of new, local programming – every day. Even though the rules would allow the content to have one repetition – meaning that an agency could produce 4 hours and repeat it once to satisfy the 8-hour requirement – most public safety agencies are not set up to do that, nor would they have that amount of new local content to disseminate on a daily basis. Information Station licensees reportedly have been receiving unsolicited contacts for months from companies encouraging them to use their services to file Low Power FM applications – some without disclosing the caveats detailed above. Of course, the filing window for Low Power FM license applications is currently 'out the window' with the FCC closed for business. It is not known when the window will reset to open. |
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| Talk to The Source |
| Selected Reader Responses |
| “Being
retired
for 11
years,
it is
most
interesting
to see
how far
and wide
the use
of
[Information]
Radio
Systems
is. I
can only
say I am
glad
that
emergency
managers
have
seen the
radio
systems
as a
most
important
tool.”
Bill Reynolds – Emergency Manager, City of Naperville, Il (RET) “I appreciate you keeping us in the loop regarding TIS operations. It appears that broadcasts of this nature are making a significant difference around the country. It’s also exciting to see that the FCC is willing to make changes to their policies in order to improve this critical radio service.” Matthew Bishop – US Marine Corps, Camp Lejeune, NC “Congratulations on your 30th anniversary. Longevity in any business is a tricky proposition, but your firm seems to have mastered the process. Please allow me to congratulate you and your excellent staff on this momentous occasion and here’s wishing you continued success as you embark on your next 30 years.” Larry Peterson – National Park Service |
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Fax 616.772.2966, Email
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