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93.7 THE WAVE 93 DAYS OF SUMMER

While it's admirable that Forevernight's cluster runs their ID within a minute or two, it's a bit judgmental to say that the way others do it is unlawful. No one has cited the law, so here it is:

Subsection 77.1201
Station identification.
(a) When regularly required. Broadcast station identification announcements shall be made:
(1) At the beginning and ending of each time of operation, and
(2) Hourly, as close to the hour as feasible, at a natural break in program offerings.

Forevernight and the others personal interpretation of this is irrelevant. The FCC is not known to let anything go that's illegal. The "the natural break in program offerings" is subject to interpretation and the FCC's interpretation is the only one that counts. So, Forevernight, you are entitled to your own opinion, but it sounded more like "look at us and how legal we are", than concern for the well-being of your competitors.

Hasn't this horse been beaten enough?
 
I think this began with new stations in the 80's licensed to smaller towns trying sneak into a larger market and hiding their true identity. I only heard of one these that managed to do it legally and still sound cool, in Eaton, Ohio. The ID went something like "WGTZ Eaton Dayton Alive"
 
To me, and this would just apply to a music station such as the one where I work, I would consider a natural break in programming as just after the end of one song and just before the beginning of the next song at the top of the hour.
 
Forevernight said: "To me, and this would just apply to a music station such as the one where I work, I would consider a natural break in programming as just after the end of one song and just before the beginning of the next song at the top of the hour."

I'm not sure Forevernight is getting it--what he considers a 'natural break' has NO bearing on this at all. His station's policy is not law, not even close. It's the FCC's decision. Since they don't seem too worried about, I'm wondering why there is so much concern in the country's 220th market.

This whole discussion started with comments about WRMO in Milbridge. Just an observation--perhaps this powerful 'Downeast' station is making Waves (pardon the pun) and the older stations are a bit worried.
 
Just posting my opinion on a discussion board, that's all, I mean, this is just about the exchange of ideas, right? I'm not saying anybody's right or wrong, I was just positing that it is still possible to stay within the law, not resort to trickery, and still have a successful station. I wish someone would explain to me, in a serious manner free of snark and accusation, what the philosophy is in burying your legal ID at the end of a stopset. Really, for the sake of enlightened discussion, please explain to me why, for business purposes, this would be done.

And yes, we are trembling in our boots at the awesome power of the mighty Wave, you caught us...
 
Hey everybody, I'm tired of beating this horse, too. But according to my FCC lawyer buddy (whom I mentioned earlier), the FCC has advised that a natural break in program offerings is not at the end of your 20 minute sweep. It's at the end of an individual song. Which is why KBIG just got cited.

We're all entitled to disagree and to debate, but let's all agree that we've got the best interests of broadcasting in mind. Even those us of (like me) who aren't in it day-to-day anymore.

Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong, I'd just urge my broadcasting brethren to be aware of the fact that the FCC doesn't like stations that hide their ID's at :45 or :50 or wherever.

KBIG is one of Clear Channel's very top billers. The FCC just jammed it to them. I wonder if ANY Clear Channel stations are right now burying their legal ID's at :45? (Yeah, that was a rhetorical question. <grin>)
 
Ray, for the millionth time, it was not that they didn't run it at the TOH, it's that they didn't run it at all... From All Access...

CLEAR CHANNEL (AMFM BROADCASTING LICENSES, LLC) Hot AC KBIG (MY 104.3 FM)/LOS ANGELES was cited for an improper on-air legal ID, failing to offer the requisite call letters and community of license on JANUARY 23rd. The FCC monitored the station pursuant to a complaint.
 
Okay, ThatGuy, you're right.

Looking at the exact language you copied from All Access, it says that KBIG was cited for an improper station ID.

As you contend, "improper" means "didn't run one at all". Sure. I mean, if one goes to a bar and has a few and acts in an "improper" manner, it means that they didn't go to the bar at all.

I concede.
 
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