CBT - Certified Broadcast Technologist FCC Rules and Regulations Questions and Answers

Question 1

According to FCC regulations, what is the minimum required content for a legal station identification announcement?

Accepted Answer

Call letters and city of license

Answer

FCC rule § 73.1201 states that the official station identification must consist of the station's call letters immediately followed by the community or communities specified in its license. While other information like frequency or licensee name may be inserted between the call letters and city of license, they are not the minimum requirement.

Question 2

A television station's tower is located in a remote area and its monitoring system fails at 10 PM, causing the top beacon to extinguish. According to FCC regulations, what is the most critical immediate action required?

Accepted Answer

Report the outage to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if it lasts more than 30 minutes.

Answer

FCC Part 17 rules, which incorporate FAA standards, require that any failure of a top light or flashing obstruction light lasting more than 30 minutes must be reported to the FAA. This allows for a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to be issued, ensuring aviation safety. While logging the event and dispatching a technician are also necessary, the immediate safety-critical step is notifying the FAA.

Question 3

Which of the following items is a broadcast station required by the FCC to maintain in its Public Inspection File?

Accepted Answer

Quarterly lists of programs that have provided the most significant treatment of community issues

Answer

The FCC requires all broadcast stations to prepare and file a quarterly list of programs that have addressed issues of importance to their community. This is a key component of the Public Inspection File, which must be accessible to the public. The other options are not required to be in the Public Inspection File.

Question 4

A broadcast station receives a Required Weekly Test (RWT) of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). What is the station's primary obligation regarding this test?

Accepted Answer

Log the receipt of the test.

Answer

FCC rules require that EAS participants log the receipt of Required Weekly Tests (RWTs). Unlike Required Monthly Tests (RMTs), stations are not required to re-transmit RWTs to the public. The purpose is to verify that the equipment can receive the alert.

Question 5

A station's Chief Operator is reviewing the station logs. According to FCC rules, how long must station logs generally be retained, assuming no entries pertain to an FCC investigation or disaster communication?

Accepted Answer

2 years

Answer

FCC rule § 73.1840 specifies that station logs shall be retained by the licensee for a period of two years. If the log contains information related to a disaster or an FCC investigation, it must be kept longer.

(CBT) Certified Broadcast Technologist Practice Test

(CBT) Certified Broadcast Technologist Practice Test

CBT - Certified Broadcast Technologist FCC Rules and Regulations Questions and Answers