Volunteer inspections and checklists have been around for some time now.
What I find ironic is the public file. Out of everything else, that public file seems to be the utmost important. The fact is this however. Out of the 365 days in the year, how many of the public actually take the time out to go visit a station and sift through that public file, or even know that it is there, or even care two bits about a pubic file, or even know what is contained in it?!!
Heck back in the hey day of radio there was next to no interest by the public concerning stations keeping a public file.
Not long ago, the FCC had a public opinion window open up regarding the public file. They did not get very much response, and that should have proven to the FCC that the public could care less about a station keeping a public file.
It's just more useless work for stations, and gives a pretty lame excuse to tag stations, which that comes with a hefty fine if even one little thing is missing.
I know of a broadcasting company violating rules FAR MORE SERIOUS than the stupid public file, even though it's public file is a mess too, but this outfit keeps committing perjury on official FCC documents, lies to the FCC and keeps getting granted STA's for stations being silent for over a year, and has over 100 grand in outstanding NAL fines.
Talk about a tilted picture.
RFB
As I often point out, the majority of stations with which I have any acquaintance do anything of value to a public. The public ignores those stations and there amounts to nothing to place in any public file.
In the case of most stations building a public file would require a fiction writer.
Of course the so-called "public file" might be an industry substitute for serving the public over the air.
The public file issue is so outdated it's not even funny. I'm finding situations like RFB described to be accurate.
There's an AM station that's maybe 35 miles away that has been off the air for almost 5 years. There is no power at the studio/transmitter/tower site; the tower, of course, is unlit;
there's been no service, public of otherwise, since at least the end of 2008; yet they were granted a 6 month STA in February "as our engineer works to secure a transmitter."
I guess there really is no character requirement any longer to be a licensee. You just have to be rich.
In the early 90s, I needed to inspect the engineering section of an application for an un-built AM station. The applicant was based somewhere in California so I finally just went searching for the public file.
It was in the basement of an elementary school. The secretary was quite helpful, located the file, and then said,"We've actually never met anyone from this company. You are the only person who has ever looked at the file."
Interestingly enough, that station was never built out - the CP expired.
I think the public file has turned into an easy way to generate revenue for the gubment. It serves no other useful purpose.