The NMBA/FCC Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) is a cooperative program of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association and the Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau.

What is ABIP...

The New Mexico Broadcasters Association, in cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission, provides a service to the broadcasters of New Mexico to assist them in FCC compliance, and to provide for a three-year exemption from routine FCC inspections.

Here is how it works...

• The NMBA has contracted with an independent inspector who will do an FCC inspection of your station(s). If no problems are found to exist, the NMBA will report compliance to the FCC Denver Office and issue you a Certificate of Compliance.

• If problems exist, the inspector will provide you with a confidential report outlining any problems or FCC violations. You/your station(s) correct the problems to the inspector's satisfaction and NMBA will notify the FCC of your compliance and provide you with a Certificate of Compliance.

• The FCC then agrees NOT to perform a random inspection on your station for a period of THREE YEARS.

Let's get started...

Complete the Request for Inspection Agreement and send it to the NMBA with the appropriate inspection fee. An inspection will occur soon after receipt of your request. The inspector will call to schedule a time. Payment must be made PRIOR to inspection.

   The NMBA Inspector will notify the station at least 48 hours in advance to insure that personnel, keys and field meters (at DA’s) will be available.  This notice will be the responsibility of the inspector.  Stations’ field strength meters will be used for AM directional.

How long does an inspection take?

It takes approximately four hours to inspect one station. The time can be shorter in the case of station clusters. AM directional stations take the most time, especially if extensive tower arrays are involved.

NMBA's contracted inspector will review stations for compliance on most FCC regulations. He does not review a station's compliance with the FCC's EEO regulations or the contents of a station's Political File. Additionally, NMBA's inspector will not perform RF exposure compliance tests as part of the inspection.

For more information about FCC requirements visit the FCC website.

NMBA's inspector will issue a report for each station reviewed. A copy is sent to the station and to the NMBA. The reports discuss compliance with FCC regulations and in the case of deficiencies that are found, what needs to be corrected in order for the station to achieve compliance.

Inspection windows start on the date of the station contract and last 150 days. There are no extensions of the window. If the 150-day grace period expires, a station is responsible to complete a new contract and send it to the NMBA.

NMBA assigns stations to its inspector who then contact a station to arrange a date. Typically, an inspection date is set within the first 60 days of the contract in order to allow the most time for correction of any deficiencies that are found.

FCC may inspect stations for the following reasons:

• to check tower safety issues
• to investigate complaints received
• and to review EEO or political broadcasting materials required to be in the station's public file

Tower safety inspections will be limited to the antenna site and include compliance with the FCC's regulations relating to tower lighting, tower painting, fencing of AM towers, and signage such as structure registration number and RF hazard.

Visit the FCC Checklist Online to download PDF versions of the AM, FM, TV, Class A TV, FM translator and LPFM checklists (revised May 2004)