[BC] LMA's

[Mike McCarthy]

The engineer need not be autonomus. Only the manager which mans the 
main studio. The engineer can do work for both so long as the lines of 
responability and chain of command are clearly spelled out. Also, the 
LMA holder can also perform the public service component as long as 
the paper work backs up the aired programming.

MM

> 
> " Having several clients with LMA's the rules require an automonous 
manager
> and staff. The engineer is to be autonomus as well.
> The staff can simply be the person answering the phone at the front 
desk,
> but all must be paid independently from the LMAing operator. And the
> "management" had better be there or at least available for interview.
> The "management" had best be providing at least an hour or so a week 
of
> programming under the licensee's direction, even tho this can simply 
be
> "started" by the LMA'er.
> Now I realize that many many thwart these simple requirements, but a
> complaint that would be tendered to investigate the operation could 
bring a
> substantial fine to the licensee and possibly withdrawal of the 
LMA'ers
> priviledge.
> harold stanton "
> 
> LMAs are a sore subject with me.  An AM-FM combo I worked for was 
LMAed
> prior to sale.  When the soon-to-be new owner took over (two and one 
half
> months prior to the FCC's issuance of the consent to assignment), all
> employees were stripped of their seniority and unused vacation.  The 
GM read
> that he had been replaced in the local newspaper.  All full-time 
employees
> were required to sign a one year non-compete contract (with no 
compensation
> whatsoever) or be fired.  The soon-to-be, new owner took absolute, 
100%
> control, ten weeks before the FCC approved the sale.  (At least, 
that's what
> I understand a consent to assignment to mean.)  The seller had 
absolutely no
> one in control of the engineering, programming, staffing or any 
other part
> during the LMA period.  Even ALL paychecks came from the buyer 
rather than
> the licensee.
> 
> I believed that this operation was illegal, in addition to being 
hostile.  I
> made up my mind to look for other sources of income.  At the time, I 
was
> contracting for three companies.  I agonized for some time as to 
whether to
> blow the whistle on this fiasco.  Within a few months, there was 
almost 100%
> staff turnover.  I hoped that a disgruntled former employee would 
file a
> complaint with the Commission.  It didn't happen.
> 
> I never filed a complaint, because I was afraid that if I had been
> associated with the eventual fallout, I would have been branded a 
whistle
> blower.  My perception has been that whistle blowers are some of the 
most
> principled people in the unemployment line.  I rationalized that 
even if the
> LMA had been done legally, the outcome would have been the same.
> 
> Not proud, but still employed
> 
>