The Federal Communications Commission conducts unscheduled inspections of broadcast facilities at random and if they have a reasonable belief a problem exists. A poor inspection report can result in substantial fines and put your license in jeopardy.

The California Broadcasters Association (CBA) has worked out a program with the FCC to insure against surprise FCC visits. And the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters is now making this program available to its members!

The inspectors will be in Hawaii September 23, 2005. Just fill out the short application attached and mail it to the CBA with your fee. They will provide an independent inspector – Orchard Media Services (see brochure) - to come to your station and perform a complete survey – just like the FCC would do. You will receive a confidential report outlining any problems or violations of FCC rules.

Once the inspector advises the CBA that you have passed the voluntary program, the CBA notifies the FCC. No information about any corrective action is shared with the FCC, the CBA or the HAB. The contract with the FCC prevents them from performing random inspections of your station for the following three years. If they show up at your station between the time you ask for a CBA inspection and one is performed, just show them the request and they will be on their way.

The CBA Voluntary Inspection Program ensures the survey is a CONFIDENTIAL and cooperative effort rather than a public confrontation with government regulators. Obviously, this program will not exempt your station from a visit by the FCC if there is outside evidence of a specific problem that exists in your facility.

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