[BC] Legal ID Question

[Phil Alexander]

On 27 Aug 2006 at 7:36, Steve Newman wrote:

> Now AC, Top-40, or any others of the pop genre, who throw 
> the I.D. in the :50-:53 break are stretching the definition. 

No, they are breaking it IMHO.

> The music (like 
> the classical station) is their program offering and when a song is over and 
> another is ready to go that would end near the top of the hour is where the 
> I.D. should be. Yes? No?

Correct.
 
> So, I believe the classical format model would cut the mustard (and has I'm 
> sure) with the FCC's definition.

Classical music, and other programming WITHOUT a natural break was the reason
the rules were written with a loophole for stations to use when demanded by
the programming even in the days when ID's were required at no more than 30
minute intervals.

Recall that while there has always been a TOH ID requirement, stations were
once required to give an ID either at 30 past the hour or at 15 AND 45.
Primarily, the purpose of ID's was positive determination of signal source,
either for purposes of measurement or IX or for roving FCC inspectors.

The same could be accoplished in other ways today, and there is really little
point in the old rules. As Harold posted yesterday, the record shows very
little enforcement at a time when we are all aware of many violations. In
fact, it appears that 73.1201 violations are added on when the FCC is trying
to build a case against a flagrant violator and wants to pile on as much as
they can. IMHO if they paid half as much attention to ID's as to "indecency"
all stations would be following 73.1201 to the letter. The one addition I'd
like to see, however, is a requirement that the ID be clearly spoken with 
modultation peaks of at least 85%, without background noise, musical bed or 
other audible detraction from clarity. Either that, or eliminate the 
requirement.


---------------------------------------------
Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037





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