WE ASKED MIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE ALTERNATIVE BROADCAST INSPECTION PROGRAM IS STILL A VALUABLE TOOL
Since the FCC became able a few years ago to see your On-Line Public File at all times, does the NMBA’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) program still make sense?
As many stations have experienced over the past few years, the FCC is regularly peering into stations’ On-Line Public Files, and finding lots of deficiencies. A number of stations have been fined for problems the FCC has found with their Public Files.
When Public Files were only held at stations, the ABIP program kept FCC inspectors from snooping around station Public Files unless there had been a complaint. No longer! Yes – you’re not paranoid — you ARE being watched!
While the ABIP program may no longer keep the FCC from regularly looking at your Public File, it still brings great benefits to your station – and for all the right reasons.
While seeking to keep the FCC away from your door (and your Public File) have been features of the ABIP program since it started, the real purpose of the program always was – and still is – to help your station be as fully FCC compliant as possible. That hasn’t changed!!
If your station(s) are among the many which have been part of the ABIP program in the past, you know that its primary purpose is to help your station become and stay as fully FCC compliant as possible. Since your Public File isn’t the only part of your operation that the FCC could be interested in looking at, the ABIP program looks for precisely what the FCC looks for – but without those expensive fines and forfeitures – so you can be assured that if an FCC inspector comes to your station on the heels of an ABIP assessment and any corrective action the ABIP representative suggest is taken, you’re overwhelmingly likely to be FCC fine and forfeiture free.
After all, the entire spirit of the ABIP program has always been to help our industry be compliant and to stay that way – minimizing the very non-revenue-producing fines and forfeitures that sometimes become imposed on stations for rule violations!
Back to our opening question — does the NMBA’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) program still make sense?
You bet it does – especially because the reason stations sign up for it is to operate in compliance with the FCC rules and to be good electronic citizens of our broadcasting marketplace. Plus, it’s completely free for NMBA members!
And isn’t that exactly what we want for ourselves and for all New Mexico broadcasters?
If you’d like to get a FREE ABIP inspection, simple download and complete the contract and send it to Susan Reinhart at the NMBA.
