A Little FCC Inspection "Insurance"

The FCC inspector is in the lobby and wants to inspect your station! This can be an extremely stressful situation if you aren’t prepared. Suddenly you envision all the things that you might have neglected by accident or procrastination. But he is here and he is not coming back later. Of course the best course of action is not to procrastinate and make sure your Public File is in order and neatly organized. Make sure your logs are meticulous, but eventually we are all going to miss something.

Beyond planning, there is a bit of insurance broadcasters can put in place to avoid costly fines and embarrassing FCC inspections. Interestingly many stations don’t take advantage of this valuable insurance – a way to make the FCC inspector happily go away or never show up at all.

What is this valuable service that could make such a nightmare simply go away? A sort of rehearsal inspection where you cannot be fined for violations found during the inspection. Many state broadcasters associations have made arrangements with the FCC to not perform random inspections of stations that pass the ABIP inspection for three years. You simply pay your state broadcasters association to inspect your station instead, post the certification, and sleep better.

This is just like an FCC inspection, without the FCC inspector. You will still of course be required to correct any infractions, but they will not be reported to the FCC. Once the infractions are corrected, a certificate of compliance will be issued. In addition to a technical inspection, the association inspector is well trained on matters of the Public File. They will work with you going through the self-inspection checklist, and help you answer the questions properly.

However, if you are operating with blatant violations, with variations from your license – ie, a six bay antenna when you are authorized for four, you can expect a visit from the real FCC inspector. If your transmitter is improperly maintained and wiping out the local EMS, you can also expect a visit from the FCC.

Contact Leo at: techtips@nexusbroadcast.com

Spilled Soda? Rice May Save the Day

As much as we protect our precious portable devices such as our smart phones, ipods, etc. Sometimes the worst happens – a spill, a drop into a liquid. While this certainly can destroy electronics, as water and electricity don’t play well together, the problem is more one of residue left behind by the liquid. When the worst happens, don’t panic! Follow these steps and you just may save the device from the landfill.

First, quickly remove the battery. The longer current is flowing through the new liquid connections, the more possibility for damage. Next, if there is a SIM card or memory card take that out as well. If you are sure the liquid penetrated the device, gently pour a small of rubbing alcohol into the device. Otherwise wipe off the device with a cloth dipped in the alcohol.

The higher the alcohol content the better. This will help to remove any residue and evaporate the liquid quickly. Be sure to shake out the excess as much as possible – you might use a bit of compressed air here to help. Be sure to wipe all the moisture off of the outside of the device. Now here is the big surprise, place the device (and battery) in a small container of uncooked rice.  Use a sealed container and snap the lid in place. Wait till the next day and try out the device. You might be surprised when it functions perfectly.

I have used this method on cell phones and many keyboard spills, so far with 100% success. Of course your results and mileage may vary, but what do you have to lose at this point – it’s likely bricked from your sugary soda or coffee otherwise. Some devices can take more time to dry, so the longer you can leave the device in the container the better. Next time be more careful, but when it happens you now have a bit of knowledge that just may save your device from the trash.

Contact Leo at: techtips@nexusbroadcast.com

Steps to Take for a Blown Tower Light

A blown tower light is not only dangerous to aircraft it can result in a serious fine for the tower owner. Therefore it is imperative to make it a regular task to check your tower lights and make a log entry. If a tower light is out, the tower owner is required to notify the FAA. This will create a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This notice is available to all pilots and the FAA’s NOTAM phone service, 800-WX-BRIEF.

Previously you would call the local FAA center to report the outage. Times are a changing and now, while some centers still accept calls, many are finding the phone numbers they have no longer work. The new procedure is to contact the NOTAM hotline at 877-487-6867 which will in turn route you to the proper flight center.

You will need some key information when you call NOTAM, such as the tower registration number. If you are not sure of the tower number, generally it is on the tower fence or building, and you should also be able to find it on your license – it is required to be posted at the tower location. Be sure to write down the reference number the operator gives you. It is best to describe the outage in your log.

Once you have notified NOTAM, the report will be good for 15 days. If you are unable to make the repairs during this time, you need to submit a new NOTAM report.

If you would like to verify your NOTAM or check a NOTAM for a specific tower you can do this on-line at https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/ distribution/home.html. Enter the airport code preceded by a k. Ie; Dallas/ Fort Worth Airport would be kdfw. Where do you find the airport code? It is also available on-line at http://www.airnav.com/airports/search.html

A few minutes each week checking the tower lights and keeping a detailed log will keep aircraft out of harms way and keep your tower in compliance. Another good addition is an alarm system for your lights.

Contact Leo at: techtips@nexusbroadcast.com