There is a section of the FCC Rules in Part73 -- Subpart H we might want to start paying attention to because of the title-heading, which says...
RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL BROADCAST STATIONS.
Without a doubt Part 15 radio stations are BROADCAST STATIONS.
One rule in particular comes to mind because of something I read in Radio magazine, page 12, "On-air Missteps to Avoid," which mentions the rule about phone calls.
73.1206 Broadcast of telephone conversations. Before recording a telephone conversation for broadcast, or broadcasting such a conversation simultaneously with its occurrence, a licensee shall inform any party to the call of the licensee's intention to broadcast the conversation, except where such party is aware, or may be presumed to be aware from the circumstances of the conversation, that it is being or likely will be broadcast. Such awareness is presumed to exist only when the other party to the call is associated with the station (such as as employee or part-time reporter), or where the other party originates the call and it is obvious that it is in connection with a program in which the station customarily broadcasts telephone conversations.
To go with that FCC Rule, there are statutory laws that differ from state to state regarding the recording of conversations. That is yet another law that needs to be obeyed, and in my state allows recording conversations IF ONE PARTY TO THE CONVERSATION KNOWS ABOUT THE RECORDING. Trouble is, some states have other variations of the law, and recording a call across state lines creates a complex situation, that is best de-fanged by getting everyone's permission to record BEFORE starting the recording.
The ALPB Works Weekends.
Partly to dissuade comic prank calls on the radio. Although posted by someone who has no clue -- this is Don Imus from the early 1970's.
Here's one from Russ Spooner, also in the 70's, from WMAK in Nashville.
I remember working "back in the day" when the phones in air studios, newsrooms, etc had a sounder that went "bink" every few seconds (I can't remember the required minimum interval) so the person on the phone new they were being recorded. You may remember this from old phone interviews.
Tim in Bovey
Those radio pranks were very entertaining, but at the receiving end it could scare the target, I guess that involving people in a skit without their awareness is not a good idea.
Also, after thinking about what I said... calling part 15 stations "broadcasters" might have been a stretch.
The word "broad" refers to far and wide, whereas we reach a "slim and narrow" area.
Part 15 stations are slimcasters.
No section of the FCC rules apply to slimcasters, except the Part 15 section itself.
Ahhh, Don Imus. He's still out there, heard him last week in fact.
He was on a Cleveland, Ohio station in the 70's and was very popular. Then he moved to the Big Apple I believe, worked several years and got cut after some inappropriate comments on air. John Lanagin replaced him in Cleveland and just retired this month after a very long, successful run.
Carl, would we be "slimcasters" or "shortcasters" not to be confused with shortwave-casters. Or how about the sometimes used "micro-"? We could be "microcasters."
But then we'd be either the ALPS or the ALPM.
Your both right, some titles could easily be confused with an already existing group... It makes sense for any title used to clearly specify the enity which it actually is.
~
Not being a Sea-Lawyer Esq. but Part 73 requlates Broadcast Radio and Part 15 requlates intentional and unintentional radiators. So when Part 73 refers to "All Broadcast Stations" the reference to parts and subparts are applicable to Part 73 not Part 15.
The Association of Intentional Radiators
A.I.R. !
you could be cited under federal wiretapping laws for airing phone calls without knowledge of all parties involved.
Ahh so Robert C is a Sea-Lawyer. Where did you get your law degree?
This months Radio Magazine has a short article about legal problems with broadcasting phone conversations.
Read it HERE in the ONLINE APRIL issue.
So do you think the FCC would issue a forfeture agaist a Part 15 station? How would they know? What does Part 73 have to do with Part 15?
What does Part 73 have to do with Part 15?
All I know is that 73.3550 (1) (says) "Users of non-licensed, low-power devices operating under part 15 of this chapter may use whatever identification is currently desired, so long as propriety is observed and no confusion results with a station for which the FCC issues a license."
Other than that, I notice that most Part 15 stations follow such Part 73 type rules as "ID on the hour", "Obscenity only after 10 PM"... and that's about it.
Not being either a Sea-or-Land Lawyer, but having played a lawyer on radio (Stag Pinstripe, of the law firm Pinstripe, Stripmine and Shaft) it would be my guess that the FCC itself has never asked nor answered the question "What does Part 73 have to do with Part 15." It is probably a nullity (a word I have always wanted to use), or it could be an unsettled point of rule.
Heck, we're not actually required to give our location, although the location of a Part 15 station is usually "right over there."
The advise was good... the drink took care of it.