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Legal IDs: How much can go between the calls and the COL?

> I'm told the correct form would be "WXXX, WXXX-FM Citytown".
> I worked for an AM/FM Simulcast that did say "WCSM AM and
> FM, Celina" ..that wasn't proper but no one complained.

Given that the legal ID is supposed to make clear a simulcast is taking place, I doubt anyone would be cited for saying "AM and FM" when both stations have the same basic call letters. (Spirit of the rule.)<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
> > I'm told the correct form would be "WXXX, WXXX-FM
> Citytown".
> > I worked for an AM/FM Simulcast that did say "WCSM AM and
> > FM, Celina" ..that wasn't proper but no one complained.
>
> Given that the legal ID is supposed to make clear a
> simulcast is taking place, I doubt anyone would be cited for
> saying "AM and FM" when both stations have the same basic
> call letters. (Spirit of the rule.)

And potentially clearer than the correct form. Here's an actual ID from a couple years ago--the legal part is after the colon in each sentence.

Simulcasting--"Lite Rock 96.9: WFPG, WFPG-FM Atlantic City"

Not simulcasting--"Lite Rock 96.9, WFPG: WFPG-FM Atlantic City"

Sounded identical on the air...
 
It's this simple

Y'know, Radio Geeks [self included] love to bicker about stuff like this, but the FCC has legitimately bigger fish to fry -- to say nothing of the Indecency Crusade -- than to worry about this issue.

I'm not saying that the letter of the rule should be completely ignored, but it's the spirit that matters....and it's the only thing the FCC really cares about on the subject.

So, every time you hear an ID, ask yourself this one question:

"Is it clear which station this is?"

If your answer is "yes" then the FCC isn't going to cite said station -- partly because there's no money in it and partly because it doesn't really matter since the goal has been achieved.

As long as a station is making the effort to clearly identify itself and not somehow be vague or confusing, especially with respect to another station, then the FCC -- and might I add, the Average Listener -- couldn't care less.

The rest of this stuff is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
 
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