*Part 15 AM Broadcast Etiquette...
Coexisting with other broadcasters especially licensed radio stations in or near your community is an essential ingredient to keeping your station on the air. Here are a few suggestions on how to get along with other radio stations in your area.
Some other broadcasters may resent your presence despite the fact you are operating a legal, part 15 station. There have been some instances where a licensed station will attempt to get an unlicensed station thrown off the air simply because they don't like its presence. Fortunately this is a rarity and the FCC as a rule will not force a part 15 AM broadcaster off the air just because one or more licensed stations object. Even so, it is best to observe the FCC regulations and to "play nice" with the other radio stations.
You must be asking yourself "what does he mean by playing nice?" By that I mean don't step on their toes or negatively impact their station. Make sure your station does not interfere with their signal by following good engineering practices. Using a quality transmitter like the Hamilton Rangemaster is your best bet at avoiding a problem of this nature. Also, try not to use a station format that closely resembles that of another station in your town. If they are playing Oldies and you decide you'd like to play Oldies then the perception may be that you are deliberately trying to take their listeners from them. While they may not have a legal means of putting you off the air they do have other means to make your life miserable at the local level.
Boycotts? Someone can organize an effort that will ulitmately lead to the demise of your station. Zoning? Another way anyone at the local level can give you trouble. Remember, you may run commercials on your station and another station cannot have you shut down just because you want to make a buck or two from your station. A smart licensed station manager will realize that if your station can grow a small business into a bigger business ultimately they can get their business too!
If all else fails and you find that you simply cannot coexist with one or more licensed broadcasters in your city or town and they constantly call the FCC to complain etc. then you still have one little trick up your sleeve to help put a stop to the nonsense. Call the FCC and complain about the station or stations that have been giving you trouble.
Recently a number of licensed stations in one market were constantly calling the FCC to complain about other stations in their market over a variety of issues. The FCC finally grew weary of the hissy fits these stations were throwing and the FCC decided to "audit" every single licensed station in the market. Moral of the story? If the licensed stations constantly complain to the FCC about one another or a part 15 station eventually it falls upon deaf ears and FCC retribution against ALL of the stations in the market is probable.
While licensed stations often give the illusion that they are fully compliant with FCC regulations the truth of the matter is quite the opposite. In fact a greater percentage of licensed stations are found to be in non compliance than part 15 AM radio stations operating with an FCC Type Accepted transmitter like the Hamilton Rangemaster!
Obviously you don't want to call the FCC on another station unless you have to but if your back is to the corner and you have exhausted nearly every possible means of remedying the conflict then seriously consider calling the FCC to complain about the offending licensed station. More than likely they are violating at least one or more FCC regulations and if they get wind that you mean business they will likely try to get along with your station from this point forward. After all, they have much more to lose than you do when the FCC pays a visit!
