Licencing Broadcasters

The FCC did away with licensing individual broadcasters in 1994 in the US, but can anyone who worked in radio before this point me to some information about what getting licensed involved. I am interested in getting information about the USA or any other country which has at any time licenced broadcasters.

Thanks  

If you are referring to the licensing of folks like myself (board-ops), yes they did do away with this type of licensing. SBE (Society of Broadcast Engineers) has a certification that replaces this licensing it is called Certified Radio Operator or CRO. I recall when I first started in 1986 all I had to do was fill out a form and mail it in and in a few weeks they sent me my license which I still have today. The license was a Restricted Radio Telephone Operator License. Before 1986 I think you had to take a test that was from what I hear was rather difficult to even get the license.  As far as the license to actually start or buld a radio station, that is still a long and extremely expensive process. Hope this helps.

Well I am referring to a license for jocks (radio DJs), where you had to pass some sort of proficiency test, like be able to read the news etc.

Well I am referring to a license for jocks (radio DJs), where you had to pass some sort of proficiency test, like be able to read the news etc.

To the best of my knowledge -- and this probably won't surprise anyone who listened to US radio in the 60's and after -- there was no FCC requirement for reading proficiency, intelligence, common sense, etc.  All the Feds cared about was not violating technical standards, documenting program content and transmitter status, knowing how/when to do a legal station ID, avoiding profanity, etc.  Anything related to the ability to read news was probably at the discretion of the station.

Yes this is correct, you once had to pass the proficiency test if you were a jock or board-op to get the FCC license. If the test is anything like the one I took for my SBE certification and if you've worked any at all in radio as a board op/jock then you could pass the test quite easily. It wasn't that difficult the only thing that sort of stumped me was the transmitter meter reading part since I hadn't done it in a while with analog meters. The rest was usual stuff dealing with the EAS, equipment types, FCC rules as pertaining to the duties for a board op, etc. The old test back then though had a lot of RF theory and other more technical issues. The SBE has a study gude for the CRO. I don't remember its price, but it includes the cost of the exam as well. There is a comprehensive sample test in the back of the book. In order to take the certification exam you must be a current SBE member. I give this information for those who may new or unaware of this new certification. This new certification is gaining acceptance in the industry here in the US and as I stated it replaces the FCC license, but is not necessary for the position (job).

Since I didn't start in radio when this proficiency test was a requirement by the FCC I cannot say what it was like. I suspect that the FCC may have some information on it's web site or you could e-mail them to find out what you are looking for. They do respond quickly because a year or so ago I asked them if my license was still current and valid and they responded within 48 hours with a definate yes.

Well I am referring to a license for jocks (radio DJs), where you had to pass some sort of proficiency test, like be able to read the news etc.

To the best of my knowledge -- and this probably won't surprise anyone who listened to US radio in the 60's and after -- there was no FCC requirement for reading proficiency, intelligence, common sense, etc.  All the Feds cared about was not violating technical standards, documenting program content and transmitter status, knowing how/when to do a legal station ID, avoiding profanity, etc.  Anything related to the ability to read news was probably at the discretion of the station.

Yep, this is true.

Do you guys think this type of licencing for broadcasters is a good idea to raise/maintain standards or not?

Personally I think there should be some sort of standard by which to judge a prospective jock or board-op. I've seen some folk come into the station that really didn't belong behind a console. Most people outside of the radio biz think that it is a glamerous job, but it is not. You either love it or you don't. I think it's good for both the employee and employer. I'd much rather have some way of mesuring their abilities than just their experience. I also look at it from the perspective that I'd like to have a way to know I have the skills that employers want and know that if I have this license/certification then that says something about me. I look at it in the same way either Microsoft or Cisco certification is in the IT field. You can't get a job in the IT field unless you HAVE some sort of certification - period or have tons of experience. It puts everyone on the same page. They (the FCC) had to "dumb down" the standards for certain groups to get into the biz. IMHO, that should have never been done. Granted it doesn't take too much intelligence to push a button, but there is more to radio than pushing a button and talking into a microphone. So I say keep some sort of standards. There is only so much technology can do, but a sloppy ran board or station will sound crappy on air and this is not good for both the station nor the advertisers.

I agree that a board op should have to meet minimum requirements with a certification of some kind. In the ideal world of broadcasting where the manager manages, the sales force sells, the engineer maintains the equipment, the announcer announces, and the board op pushes the buttons, everyone has their own job. But what to do about the very small station, where an on-air personality is his own board op, and, perhaps, also sells air time? In such cases, everyone but the secretary (if there is one) would be required to have the certification, and the certifying process would have to very minimal...which is where we are right now.

Station owners and managers see the whole licensing thing as a pain in the butt; all they want to do is run a business with no interference from the government. In their mind, the function of a technical staff would be to plug in a new pc board when an old one fails. After all, you don't need a license to use Word or Excel, why should you have to have one to talk into a microphone or play a CD? I would like to see a little stricter set of requirements for anyone in a radio station who touches any broadcasting equipment, but doing so may very well put a lot of small broadcasters out of business.

Now, would anyone like to start a discussion thread about certifying "engineers" in recording studios? Talk about a can of worms! I would definitely stay out of that one

Phil

The SBE certification replaces what once was the license. I don't think that the cost of the SBE certification would impact the station since the member (individual) has that decision to be a member and therefore get the certification. I believe membership is $60/yr and the cost of the book was only about $35.

I agree with the statement "..I would like to see a little stricter set of requirements for anyone in a radio station who touches any broadcasting equipment.." There is a lot more equipment that even a board-op has to deal with that they should have competency with before they enter the station. One wrong thing could cost the station or even the board-op him/herself thousands of dollars in fees or worse the station's license. Yes radio is fun, but too many think it is a playground and they think they can just do whatever they want to. This thinking may be fine for a satellite radio outfit (like XM or Sirus) or internet radio where there is little or no government guidelines.

As for the audio engineer being certified there is an SBE certification just for that. It is called Certified Audio Engineer (CEA).  There's also the AES (Audio Engineering Society) they may even have a similar certification program.

The SBE certification replaces what once was the license. I don't think that the cost of the SBE certification would impact the station since the member (individual) has that decision to be a member and therefore get the certification. I believe membership is $60/yr and the cost of the book was only about $35.

I was thinking more along the lines of what it might do to the payroll if smaller stations were forced to hire more competent operators at, perhaps, a higher salary...operators that had to meet higher standards and more rigorous certification procedures.

As for the audio engineer being certified there is an SBE certification just for that. It is called Certified Audio Engineer (CEA).  There's also the AES (Audio Engineering Society) they may even have a similar certification program.

That little bit was a tongue-in-cheek afterthought, referring mostly to recording studios and some of the "recording engineers" whose credentials consist of b.s., blarney, and (sometimes) charisma. You know, the ones who use the overload led as a "channel active" indicator. Sorry if my mind and humor wandered away and contributed to the general confusion. Be prepared though...it will happen again.

Phil

You know, the ones who use the overload led as a "channel active" indicator. Sorry if my mind and humor wandered away and contributed to the general confusion. Be prepared though...it will happen again.

Nothing wrong with that occasionally, IMHO. Some excellent ideas have surfaced that way - we invented an entire church once, as a few people will no doubt remember...

And incidentally, you shouldn't let these 'engineers' cook for you either, unless you like carbonised repasts - they also tend to use the smoke alarm as a cooking timer.

The SBE certification replaces what once was the license. I don't think that the cost of the SBE certification would impact the station since the member (individual) has that decision to be a member and therefore get the certification. I believe membership is $60/yr and the cost of the book was only about $35.

I was thinking more along the lines of what it might do to the payroll if smaller stations were forced to hire more competent operators at, perhaps, a higher salary...operators that had to meet higher standards and more rigorous certification procedures.

As for the audio engineer being certified there is an SBE certification just for that. It is called Certified Audio Engineer (CEA).  There's also the AES (Audio Engineering Society) they may even have a similar certification program.

That little bit was a tongue-in-cheek afterthought, referring mostly to recording studios and some of the "recording engineers" whose credentials consist of b.s., blarney, and (sometimes) charisma. You know, the ones who use the overload led as a "channel active" indicator. Sorry if my mind and humor wandered away and contributed to the general confusion. Be prepared though...it will happen again.

Phil

AH! I see what you mean. Agreed. Certification would most definately require more pay and yes there are some stations that couldn't pay the extra. Even some of the "BIG TIME" ones won't pay it either (those with a CC logo on them you know the ones).

Oh you're fine and I know exactly what you mean. I've seen a few people in the station who think that the meters are SUPPOSED to stay in the red area. I also agree about not letting those types cook!