[BC] How A Station Can Stay Afloat...

[Gary Peterson]

" There are several rules that affect station staffing. They are:...
Harold "

Unless it was deleted when I wasn't looking, there *was* a requirement that
the designated chief operator of a directional AM be an employee, rather
than a contractor.  I know of a couple of AM DAs, where the DCO is a
contractor.  At a couple of other AM directionals, the DCOs (that *are*
employees) wouldn't know the difference between a FIM and a phasor.  If the
rule still exists, it doesn't seem to be enforced.  I see nothing about it
on the FCC's compliance checklist and it isn't addressed during ABIP
inspections.

I presume, to be considered an "employee", the radio station would have to
take withholding and FICA from the DCO's pay.  I don't recall that the rule
required the DCO to be a full-time employee...just that the DCO was an
employee, rather than a contract engineer.

Gary, K?CX
CE & DCO KFXS, KOUT, KKMK, KRCS, KKLS & KBHB
Rapid City & Sturgis, SD