Prometheus Background

Frequently Asked Questions

Prometheus' crackerjack team of technical types shares the most frequently asked questions and provides the answers.

The Question

What do I need to know about using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for finding my co-ordinates?

The Answer

The Global Positioning System is a system using small consumer electronics units to determine your exact location. They do this using signals from military satellites. Basic units range from $100 to $500, depending on their accuracy and their features. Some come with interesting mapping features and CD databases of maps that can be loaded on to the unit from a PC. Differential GPS units use a supplementary signal from a network of coast guard buoys that allow even greater accuracy.

Simple GPS units are generally available off the shelf at large chain department stores, sporting goods outlets and electronics stores. With some of these, you can add a special cable and antenna which will make it into a more accurate differntial GPS unit. The antenna and cable is usually only available through boating supply stores and mail order. Some applicants have gone out and bought a GPS unit from a monster chain store, used it to get the co-ordinates for their site, and returned it the next day for their money backSÿ"I didn't like the color, etcSÿ"

The FCC website says that a regular GPS unit is not accurate enough for radio station allocations. Handheld GPS units are usually accurate to two or three seconds, The FCC wants the co-ordinates that you submit to them to be accurate to the nearest second. A second of latitude or longitude averages about 20 meters in the United States. The FCC says is that you should use a differential GPS, but those don't work unless you are within 100 miles or so of a coast guard station. I have a differential antenna that hooks into mine, but it only works in some regions.

The FCC continues to use the NAD 27 set of maps for its allocation studies. GPS units use the somewhat more recently revised NAD 83 maps. If you use a GPS, make sure that it is using NAD 83 co-ordinates. Then go to this website: www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd and click on the red box on the left side that says NAD 27 to NAD 83 (depending on your browser , you may have to scroll down to see this button). Convert the nad 83 to nad 27 co-ordinates so that the information is compatible with the FCC database. You could also look at your town hall surveying maps. Your local highway department often has extremely accurate maps at a scale that is useful for this work.

You should strive for accuracy in what you submit to the FCC. Realistically speaking, probably no one will ever know that it is off by a few seconds here or there- unless a spiteful commercial station sends an engineer out to check the site. While this is very unlikely, any inaccuracy on your part could be the basis of a Petition to Deny your application. It is unlikely that the petition to deny would be successful based on a few seconds inaccuracy, but it might end up having to be investigated and could hold your application up for many months. On the other hand, using a GPS for altitude is a more serious problem. Your altitude must be accurate to the nearest meter, and no standard GPS can do this. You should use an accurate topographic map to determine your altitude. A library or town hall is best for this, but you can also see them on line at www.topozone.com

The Question

What is the potential liability of being the licensee of a radio station?

The Answer

Many organizations are concerned about their potential liability as a result of operating a radio station. This concern is valid, but easy to blow out of proportion. The FCC rules governing LPFMs are fairly minimal, and are not too hard to comply with. These are mostly rules you would never think of breaking anyway- common sense things like not pulling a broadcast hoax and causing a public disturbance with false information. The FCC is generally fairly generous with broadcasters. If there are minor rule violations, the broadcaster is commonly let off with a warning, and perhaps a deadline to bring itself into compliance. Major, repeated rule violations can sometimes incur fines. These are really pretty rare. Of the 11,000 radio stations in the country, only a handful are fined each month. Usually this is for only the most egregious behavior- shock morning jocks who throw live chickens out the 6 fourth story window of the station onto the sidewalk below for a cheap laugh- etcetera . I know of no case in which criminal charges of any kind have been brought against a broadcaster by the FCC.

Another issue is libel and slander. True violations of these rules are fairly easy to avoid with proper training of station staff. The FCC has recently revised it's policy with regard to obscentity and indecency on the airwaves. You can find their (quite racy and entertaining) notice about the subject here. You can technically be fined up to $11,000 per violation- it would be very uncommon for a low power station to be fined anywhere near that. If you are ever fined by the enforcement bureau, it is very common to appeal the fine and have it reduced by the FCC commissioners.

Technical violations are commonly let off with a warning the first time, as long as there was not serious danger to the public or some form of extremely irresponsible practice.

Broadcasters liability insurance is available, if that makes a parent organization more comfortable. We are not sure of the exact costs yet, but NPR quotes annual coverage for its' affiliates for $1,225. Their coverage pays for: liability arising out of any form of defamation; any form of invasion, infringement or interference with rights of privacy or publicity; infringement of copyright or trademark; plagiarism, piracy, or unfair competition resulting from unauthorized use of titles, formats, ideas, characters, plots, performances or artists or performers.

We will write more about the subject of insurance in the near future, after we get some quotes for low power radio stations. We expect the prices to be lower than what is listed above, because of the relatively small listener base of low power stations.