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Things To Think About

Perhaps the reason a city newspaper or television report about a part 15 station can sometimes have a negative consequence is because it is wide area coverage about a small-area station, causing people to think you are bigger than you actually are.

There may not be much point getting publicity beyond your operating range.

An idea that comes to me that I don't think has been mentioned is to print a mini-newspaper and make it part of your multi-media empire... radio station and newspaper, each promoting the other.

Your little newspaper, maybe a single page of paper folded in half and printed with 4-pages, could contain news about your programming and neighborhood happenings like street repair, lost pets, small businesses...

It could double the fun to be a newspaper owner/publisher and radio station operator.  www.criminalgovernment.com/pix/flyer.html


For Carl:

Playing It Safe

JimHenry wrote: "I really have to question how the FCC has the manpower to track down LP broadcasters for minor technical violations. Interference with other broadcasters or broadcasting obscene content is a different story, but if they actually have the resources to go after LPBs for things such as exceeding the 10 meter total length of antenna and ground lead, then their budget needs to be put on a strict diet."

After years of following this hobby I will share what I have come to believe with the proviso that I don't truly know what FCC policy really is regarding small radio.

I think the FCC is complaint driven. If someone complains about a small unlicensed station the FCC might investigate.

If the complainant is a licensed station the FCC may be more likely to crack down by digging for a reason to stop the small station.

Complaints about language or politically controversial or racial or ethnic stations might be enforced more stringently than some small-timer playing rock music.

Occasionally the FCC stumbles across an unlicensed station while they (FCC) happen to be in the area for other reasons, and in such cases may check out the station to determine what action they might pursue.

Based on an accumulation of anecdotes some agents tend to be hard-line while others may be lenient for reasons known only to the agents.

Unfriendly HAM or engineering radio cops are sometimes known to make sport out of tracking down and reporting unlicensed stations. They've even been known to vandalize outdoor installations or even impersonate FCC inspectors.

Finally, in the case an agent of the FCC finds a station in excess of the part 15 limits, they will issue an NOUO (Notice of Unauthorized Operation) which requires shutting down and responding to the notice. If a station operator obeys and responds the problem dissolves, and business can restart upon declaring compliance.

The actual risk may be overblown by some commenters.