Station Handbook NACB 1995 STATION HANDBOOK Nineteen Ninety Five NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE BROADCASTERS ©1995 NACB starting a station Radio Handbook Table of Contents NACB 1995 STATION HANDBOOK COVER 1 SECTION TWO: ENGINEERING 24 INTRODUCTION 9 GETTING READY FOR A NEW YEAR 25 CREDITS 10 PRESERVING AUDIO QUALITY... STATION 27 ACTIVE8: MINDS • MESSAGES • MEDIA 11 SOME IDEAS ON STUDIO WIRING: PART ONE 29 THE GROUND SYSTEM 29 SECTION ONE: STARTING A STATION 12 LIGHTNING PROTECTION 29 POWER FEEDS 29 SURGE PROTECTION 29 STARTING A STUDENT RADIO STATION 13 CARRIER CURRENT 13 SOME IDEAS ON STUDIO WIRING: PART TWO 31 CABLE FM 13 ON-THE-AIR LAMPS 31 LOW POWER BROADCAST 14 PATCH JACKS 31 FULL POWER BORADCAST 14 AUDIO CABLING 31 EQUIPMENT 14 NOTES ON CARRIER-CURRENT TRANSMISSION 33 RESOURCES 15 C-C IS TRICKY 33 C-C SYSTEM REPAIR CHECKLIST 33 PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 16 MEETINGS 16 CABLE FM: HOW IT WORKS 35 PREPARING THE MANAGEMENT TO MANAGE 16 BASIC STATION SECURITY 37 MANAGERS & MANAGEMENT 18 INTRODUCTION 37 MAKE YOUR MANAGERS FEEL LIKE MANAGERS 18 DOOR LOCKS 37 CONTROLLING LOCKPICKING 37 TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE RADIO 19 ALARMS, PORTABLE EQUIPMENT 38 AVOID “REINVENTING THE WHEEL” 19 TRAINING PROGRAM COMPONENTS 19 PRESERVING OPEN SPACE 39 OPEN HOUSE 20 SAWING RACK PANELS 39 SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS 20 CERAMIC CAPACITORS FAILING 39 BEING AT THE STATION 20 LIGHTNING AND PCS 39 TESTING 21 LIGHTNING — PHASE TWO 40 ONGOING TRAINING 21 FUSES 40 OTHER COMPONENTS 22 LIQUIDS IN THE CONSOLE 40 SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 22 AUDIO OSCILLATOR 40 WHAT TRAINING CAN’T DO 22 “N” CONNECTOR TRICK 40 A WARNING ON DO-IT-YOURSELF POWER WIRING 40 SECTION THREE: LEGAL 62 TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS... PROGRAM LINES 41 LEGAL Q&A 63 GETTING GOOD ACOUSTICS... STUDIOS 43 “COMMERCIALS ON CABLE ACCESS?” 63 “COMPENSATION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING” 63 ISOLATION 43 “HANDS OFF STATION FUNDS” 63 CONTROLLING ROOM “LIVENESS” 44 “ILLEGAL CREATIVITY” 64 MEMBERSHIP CLUBS 64 FLEA-MARKET BROADCAST PARTS 45 PLEDGE DRIVES 64 ORDERING THE FCC RULES 45 “SLOGANS IN MODERATION” 64 THE TECH LIBRARY: KEEP SOME “OLDIE” CATALOGS 45 “SYNDICATED RADIO PROGRAMS” 64 TOUCHING UP THE CONSOLE 46 TRANSLATOR RULES CHANGES 65 “TV UNDERWRITING SPOTS” 65 NOTES ON EBS 47 “UNDERWRITING BEDS” 65 “UNDERWRITING VIOLATIONS” 65 ENGINEERING Q&A 48 “ANNOUNCEMENT LENGTH” 66 MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE APPLICATIONS 48 “COMMERCIALS ON CABLE ACCESS?” 66 UPGRADE POSSIBILITIES 48 “COMMERCIALS FOR NON-PROFITS” 66 ANSI COMPLIANCE 49 “COMMISSIONS ON UNDERWRITING ANNOUNCEMENTS” 67 NEW NCE-FM CHANNEL SEARCH 49 “COMPENSATION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING” 67 MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE APPLICATIONS 49 “DEPOSITING UNDERWRITING FUNDS” 67 UNLICENSED FM ON CAMPUS 50 “HIRING UNDERWRITING STAFF” 67 IMPROVING SIGNAL STRENGTH 50 “ILLEGAL CREATIVITY” 67 “MUSIC BEDS” 68 SETTING UP A TELECONFERENCE 52 EQUIPMENT LIST 52 “DIGITAL BROADCASTING” 69 STATION UPGRADES 54 FINES 70 COSTS 54 “FINING NOVICES” 70 THE POSSIBILITIES 54 “NEW FCC FINES” 70 STEPS AND STUDIES 54 COST ESTIMATES AM BROADCASTING (CARRIER CURRENT) SYSTEMS THE FCC 71 55 $35 DJ FEE 71 COST ESTIMATES FM BROADCASTING SYSTEMS 56 $35 DJ FEE CONTROVERSY 71 “BAD ADVICE” 72 UPGRADE RECOMMENDATIONS... FM STATIONS 57 “CABLE ACT 1992” 72 “CABLE ACT AND CAMPUS RADIO” 72 LIMITED AREA BROADCASTING 59 “CABLE COMPENSATION FOR CARRIAGE OF SCHOOL STATIONS” 73 SUMMARY 59 “CHANGING CALL LETTERS” 73 AM BROADCASTING 540 KHZ- 1700 KHZ 59 “DJ PERMITS” 73 FM BROADCASTING 88 - 108 MHZ 60 “EMERGENCY ANTENNA” 73 L O W P O W E R U N L I C E N S E D F A C I L I T I E S 60 “EQUAL STATION TIME FOR CAMPUS CANDIDATES” 73 APPENDIX I 61 “EQUAL STATION TIME FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES” 74 “FINING NOVICES” 74 “FM TRANSLATORS” 74 “LICENSE RENEWAL” 74 “TICKET GIVEAWAYS” 88 “MINIMUM OPERATIONS SCHEDULES (MOS)” 75 “MOS & COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATIONS” 75 CATALOG OF FCC PUBLICATIONS 89 “MOS & COMPLAINTS” 75 “MOS & CABLE STATIONS” 76 INDECENCY & EXPLICT CONTENT RULINGS 91 “MUSIC FORMATS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING” 76 EXPLICIT SAFE HARBOR RESTORED 91 “NEW FCC FINES” 76 INDECENCY GUIDELINES 92 “PUBLIC FILE” 76 “SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOL BREAKS” 77 MEMORANDUM 94 “STATION AUTOMATION” 77 “STATION INTERFERENCE” 77 COMMUNITY ISSUE PROGRAMMING... 94 “TICKET GIVEAWAYS” 78 “TOWER LIGHTING” 78 A. THE NATURE OF ISSUES 94 “TRANSLATOR RULES CHANGES” 78 B. HOW ISSUES ARE SELECTED 95 “USER FEES” 78 C. TREATMENT OF ISSUES 95 “WHO CONTROLS THE LICENSE?” 79 D. EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMMING 95 E. PREPARATION OF THE LIST 95 F. PERIOD OF RETENTION 95 MUSIC LICENSING 80 G. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIST 96 “BLANKET AGREEMENTS” 80 APPENDIX A 96 “BORROWING COPYRIGHTED SONGS” 80 APPENDIX B 96 “CONCERNS FOR STUDENT PRODUCTIONS” 80 APPENDIX C 96 “CREATING MUSIC VIDEOS” 81 “DIALOGUE CLIPS” 81 NONCOMMERCIAL BROADCAST LICENSEE... 98 “ID BEDS” 81 “LICENSE TO APPROPRIATE” 81 “MUSIC LICENSING” 81 MEMORANDUM 98 “MUSIC LEGAL ON COLLEGE TV?” 81 A. MATERIALS REQUIRED TO BE PLACED IN THE PUBLIC FILE 98 “MUSIC VIDEOS” 82 B. F.O.B. INSPECTION CHECKLIST 99 “PERMISSION FROM AUTHOR” 82 C. RETENTION AND DISCLOSURE OF TRANSCRIPTS OF EDITORIAL AND “SOUND-ALIKE ADS” 82 PERSONAL ATTACKS 99 “YOU’RE JINGLIN’, BABY” 82 D. INSPECTION REQUEST PROCEDURES 99 E. FACILITIES FOR REPRODUCTION OF STATION RECORDS 99 PAYOLA 84 “VOLUNTEER DJ PAYOLA?” 84 SECTION FOUR: POLICY MANUALS 101 INDECENCY & OBSCENITY 85 WRITING A STATION POLICY MANUAL 102 “INDECENT PROGRAMMING” 85 INTRODUCTION 102 WHAT TO INCLUDE 102 PROGRAMMING 86 KEEPING IT UP-TO-DATE 103 “ISSUES-PROGRAM OBLIGATIONS” 86 DISTRIBUTION 103 THE FINAL DRAFT 103 SYNDICATION 87 CONCLUSION 103 “SYNDICATING LOCAL SHOWS” 87 GIVEAWAYS 88 SECTION FIVE: OPERATIONS HANDBOOKS 104 WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT 135 THE NEW ROCK FORMAT 135 VITAL STATISTICS 136 STATION OPERATIONS 105 THE BOTTOM LINE 136 INTRODUCTION 105 EXCLUSIVE SPONSORSHIP 136 PURPOSE 105 PARTICIPATION SPONSORSHIP 136 SOME HISTORY 105 UNDERWRITING CONTRACT 137 STATION PROFILE 106 AREA OF LICENSE 106 STATION MANAGER HANDBOOK: KJHK 138 SAYING IT CORRECTLY 106 STUDENT STATION MANAGER 138 STATION POLICIES 107 EXECUTIVE MEETINGS 139 WGLS CODE OF CONDUCT 108 PROGRESS REPORTS 139 STATION ORGANIZATION 108 EXECUTIVE RETREATS 139 EXECUTIVE STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES 109 BOARD MEETINGS 139 STUDIO OPERATIONS 109 OTHER MEETINGS 139 THE BROADCAST CONSOLE 110 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 139 MICROPHONES 111 KAB AWARDS 140 TURNTABLES 111 NACB AWARDS 140 COMPACT DISCS 111 RECRUITMENT 140 TAPING SYSTEMS 112 PUBLIC RELATIONS 140 AIR CHECKS 113 FCC LICENSES 140 DALET DIGITAL WORKSTATION 114 THREE-SEMESTER RULE 141 PATCH CORDS & PATCH BAYS 115 PARTICIPATION CONTRACTS 141 EQUIPMENT UPKEEP 115 OPENING/CLOSING THE STATION 141 THE REMOTE BROADCAST-ON LOCATION WITH RADIO 116 SPINS RENTAL 141 TRANSMITTER OPERATIONS 117 OFFICE HOURS 141 TRANSMITTER OUTPUT POWER 118 HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE 141 LEGAL OPERATIONS 119 LEGAL CHECKLIST 120 WGLS-FM OBSCENITY POLICY 121 SECTION SEVEN: PROGRAMMING 142 FCC LICENSE REQUIREMENTS 121 OBTAINING YOUR FCC LICENSE 121 PRODUCING A RADIO TALK SHOW 143 WGLS-FM FORMAT 122 STAFFING 143 GLOSSARY 122 CONCEPTS 143 SELECTING A HOST 143 SECTION SIX: SAMPLE HANDBOOKS 125 TOPIC 143 GUEST COORDINATING 144 ADDED EFFECTS 144 DJ HANDBOOK: KTSB 126 A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE 144 THANK YOU 126 CLOSING 145 IN THE CONTROL ROOM 126 II. KTSB RULES 128 ROTATING IN NEW MUSIC 146 WHAT TO DO WITH NEW MUSIC 146 QUESTIONS FOR OPERATOR PROFICIENCY TEST 132 PROMOTING NEW MUSIC WITHIN THE STATION 147 PROMOTING NEW MUSIC OVER THE AIR 147 SAMPLE UNDERWRITING MEDIA KIT: KNLU-FM 135 SPORTS: NOT JUST A GAME – A PRODUCTION 148 A GUIDE TO MUSIC PUBLISHING TERMINOLOGY 167 PRE-GAME SHOW 148 GAME 148 SECTION ELEVEN: FUNDRAISING 171 HALFTIME/BETWEEN PERIODS 149 POSTGAME 149 OTHER NOTES 149 GRANTS 172 CONCLUSION 149 GREAT FUNDRAISING IDEAS 174 STARTING YOUR OWN AUDIO THEATER TROUPE 150 KEEP IN MIND THE BASICS 174 GOOD SOUND IS VISUAL 150 LEGAL COMPLICATIONS 174 THE AUDITION 151 ON-AIR FUNDRAISING 176 I’M TIRED... ARE WE DONE YET? 151 TAPPING THE STUDENT COUNCIL 176 THE BUZZERS AND WHISTLES ARE NICE, BUT... 151 A FEW RULES 152 EDITED TRANSCRIPT OF FUNDRAISING PANEL 177 THE CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE 177 STATION ACCESS TO CAMPUS CRIME REPORTS 153 EXAMPLES 178 GETTING TO THE STORY 153 PROMOTIONS 179 OPEN RECORDS LAW 154 MOBILE BROADCASTING 179 BEING PERSUASIVE 154 CLUBS 180 IMPROVING YOUR COVERAGE OF CAMPUS CRIME 155 MIXED MEDIA 181 DISCOUNT CARDS 182 LAW PRESS UPDATE 156 PUBLIC SERVUCE ANNOUNCEMENTS 182 UNDERWRITING 184 SLOGANS 184 SECTION EIGHT: U/X FORM 157 PROGRAMMING 184 SALES 185 U/X: LISTING YOUR PROGRAM 158 SUBMISSION INFORMATION 158 UNDERWRITING ANNOUNCEMENTS 186 GENERAL UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES 186 SECTION NINE: ETHICS 159 DO NOT’S 186 YES YOU CAN 186 COMMERCIAL EXCEPTIONS TO THE NONCOMMERCIAL RULES 186 ETHICS 160 THIS SECTION WILL CONSIDER: 160 NACB/INTEREP RADIO STORE... COOPERATIVE 188 THE NATURE OF ETHICS 160 THE CO-OP 188 NON-CONSEQUENTIALISM: PRO AND CON 162 INTEREP 188 CONSEQUENTIALISM: PRO AND CON 162 PARTICIPATION 188 THE GOLDEN MEAN: PRO AND CON 162 SIGNING UP FOR THE CO-OP 188 ETHICS IN THE NEWSROOM 163 PRE-TEST 188 VOLUME I: DEVELOPING AN UNDERWRITING SCHEDULING SYSTEM SECTION TEN: MUSIC LICENSING 165 189 VOLUME II: ADVANCED UNDERWRITING SCHEDULING 191 VOLUME III: COMPLETING THE AFFIDAVIT 193 MUSIC LICENSING 166 POST-TEST 194 MAY I SEE YOUR LICENSE? 166 LICENSING AND COLLEGE STATIONS 166 SECTION TWELVE: PROMOTIONS 195 LEARNING EXPERIENCE REPORT FOR INTERNSHIP STUDENTS 215 PROMOTING A RADIO STATION (WITHOUT MONEY!)196 SECTION SIXTEEN: NACB BY LAWS 217 INTRODUCTION 196 SELF-PROMOTION 196 NACB EXECUTIVE BOARD 218 PIGGY-BACK 196 TIMING