NAB Broadcasting Regulations & Industry Standards 5

Question 1

What is the significance of a broadcast station's 'protected contour' under FCC rules?

Accepted Answer

It is the geographic boundary within which the station has interference protection rights

Answer

It defines the area within which the station may sell advertising

Answer

It marks the maximum coverage area the station may claim in ratings surveys

Answer

It defines the zone where the station must provide emergency alert coverage

Question 2

Under FCC political broadcasting rules, what is the 'lowest unit charge' (LUC) requirement?

Accepted Answer

Stations must charge political candidates no more than the lowest rate charged any advertiser for the same class and time period

Answer

Stations must provide free airtime to all qualified political candidates

Answer

Political ads must be sold at a 50% discount from standard rate card prices

Answer

Stations must charge all candidates the same flat rate regardless of time slot

Question 3

What is the FCC's 'indecency' standard for broadcast content, and when does it apply?

Accepted Answer

Content that is patently offensive by community standards for sexual or excretory material; applies outside the 10 PM–6 AM safe harbor

Answer

Content depicting sexual or excretory material in a patently offensive way by community standards; applies 24 hours a day

Answer

Any profanity or adult language; applies from 6 AM to midnight only

Answer

Content rated TV-MA; applies during prime-time hours on all broadcast stations

Question 4

Which FCC rule requires broadcast TV stations to air local news or public affairs programming in their communities of license?

Accepted Answer

The public interest obligations under the Communications Act

Answer

The must-carry rule

Answer

The retransmission consent rule

Answer

The network non-duplication rule

Question 5

What does the FCC's 'retransmission consent' rule allow a local TV station to do?

Accepted Answer

Negotiate compensation from cable and satellite operators before allowing carriage of its signal

Answer

Retransmit cable programming over the air without a license fee

Answer

Require cable systems to carry its signal without payment

Answer

Broadcast programming from national networks without a separate affiliation agreement

Question 6

Under FCC rules, a broadcast station that changes ownership must file which application?

Accepted Answer

Form 314 or Form 315 — Application for Assignment or Transfer of Control

Answer

Form 301 — Application for Construction Permit

Answer

Form 396 — Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report

Answer

Form 323 — Ownership Report

Question 7

What is the role of the 'contour overlap' test in FM station spacing under FCC rules?

Accepted Answer

It prevents FM stations from placing their service contour inside the protected contour of a co-channel or adjacent-channel station

Answer

It ensures FM stations' 60 dBu service contours overlap with adjacent-channel stations for efficiency

Answer

It requires all FM stations in a market to share the same transmitter site

Answer

It measures the degree of signal overlap needed to qualify for translator status