“It is amazing how much you can learn from only a few minutes on this site,” Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner says of the FCC’s digital gateway to all of its rules and regulations — FCC.gov.
More importantly, Benner notes, a visit to the Commission’s website can potentially save substantial forfeitures, consent decrees, frustrations and legal expenses.
“I spend at least a half hour each week on FCC.gov in my role both as a columnist and as an Alternate FCC Compliance Certification Inspector,” Benner says. “Frequently while conducting a station inspection I will find something that doesn’t seem right for certifying the station.”
Here is one example: Benner’s GPS meter indicates a set of coordinates at a substantial variation from what is stated on the station’s 854 tower registration form.
Here’s another hiccup: It appears the station recently changed ownership without the required document modification.
Should an official FCC inspector show up, this could be very costly.
“Ten minutes or less on this website, and I will have all the information I need to explain to the licensee where something needs correction and how to correct it,” Benner notes. “On very rare occasions I might have to phone a nearby FCC Regional Engineer who will never ask where I am but provide the info I am looking for.”
If there is something Benner cannot correct, such as improper tower paint or lighting, he will prep a photo copy of his appropriate laminated “Statement(s) of Correction,” to be completed within X number of days. Or, if it is life-threatening and/or serious situation, such as tower-light outages, the form will be an affidavit to be notarized within a very limited window (X number of days).
“If such documentation is not faxed within the specified time period, I will promptly notify the station, Federal Aviation Agency and the FCC by certified fax and cancel the stations’ certification(s),” Benner explains. “Before I conduct any inspection the station and I will have co-signed a statement of indemnification, should they attempt to shift an implied misconduct on my part in a desperate attempt to shift responsibility.”
One example involved a plane crash, with a loss of life, after the station failed to promptly address its tower lighting outage.
By regular access to “fcc.gov” you will be able to observe who is being fined how much and for what. You will also be able to pull up any FCC regulation.
“In this case, I have found there is likely substantial additional background information for a specific regulation,” Benner notes. “For example, §73.2080 related to Equal Employment Opportunity has an additional 100+ pages of additional explanatory detail for compliance. Trust me, the lawyers are well aware of such information, and you should be likewise informed.”
Meanwhile, Benner again has nothing but compliments to the FCC staffers he’s come in contact with over nearly 60 years.
“I’ve been utilizing FCC information since 1959, when I wished to obtain my first U.S. Amateur Radio license while serving in the U.S. Navy,” he says. “To this day I have never ever failed to receive 100% professional cooperation from FCC Staff, for whom I have the highest respect.”
