-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
How long can a TIS station stay off air?
- Thread starter Radio Bob
- Start date
No. In fact, many are only operated during times of the season when needed for things like potential fire danger, detours during highway construction, or seasonal travel around National Parks or tourist sites.
So a city or county or whatever can hold a license but never actually broadcast?
Further proof of @Kelly A statement, @Radio Bob .. Univ. of Wy in Laramie has a 10 watt TIS on 1670 whos antenna is on a pole pole near a parking lot
The only time i ever heard it on in 2 years ... was 1 a year during graduation for parking and traffic info.
The reason I ask I know of two cities that got a TIS license and then proceeded to broadcast local talk shows about safety within their community. One even broadcast all the city council and various department's public meetings. In both cases the program length shows came to an abrupt halt and nothing has been aired for 3 years not even during bad weather or hurricanes.
Another example of an idea whose time came and went. It likely boiled down to nobody was listening so why bother?
Probably because those types of content violate the Part 90 rules for what can be broadcast on a TIS facility.
Travelers' Information Stations shall transmit only noncommercial voice information pertaining to traffic and road conditions, traffic hazard and travel advisories, directions, availability of lodging, rest stops and service stations, and descriptions of local points of interest. It is not permissible to identify the commercial name of any business establishment whose service may be available within or outside the coverage area of a Travelers' Information Station. However, to facilitate announcements concerning departures/arrivals and parking areas at air, train, and bus terminals, the trade name identification of carriers is permitted. Travelers' Information Stations may also transmit information in accordance with the provisions of §§ 90.405 (imminent safety-of-life and property) and 90.407 (emergency communications when normal facilities are disrupted as a result of a natural disaster). 47 CFR §90.242(a)(7).
Not completely on topic, I suppose, but New Mexico used to do a pretty impressive job with its TIS stations. When I visited 20 years ago, its stations sounded professionally produced, and you could pick them up most anywhere on the I-40 run from Tucumcari to Albuquerque.
I have no idea if its network is still operating, but I've never heard any other TIS station like those before or since.
I have no idea if its network is still operating, but I've never heard any other TIS station like those before or since.
A TIS in my area used to be run by a retired radio DJ. It had regularly updated messages and sounded excellent (see video below). But now all it does is play a message saying to visit the borough's web site, and that the message on the TIS will only be updated in the event of an Internet outage.
- Status