For radio executives, chief engineers, and Black music programmers managing station licenses, the release of new self-inspection guides by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) offers a critical tool to protect broadcast assets and ensure regulatory compliance. This update fills a two-decade gap left by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which stopped publishing its own self-inspection checklists in 2003 despite significant evolution in federal rules and policies.
Closing a Two-Decade Regulatory Gap
The FCC previously issued self-inspection checklists until 2003 but discontinued updates even as regulations changed, leaving stations to operate without an updated reference for more than 20 years. NAB and SBE developed these new guides jointly to provide standardized, up-to-date guidance that chief engineers or general managers can actually walk a station through rather than parse from scattered rule text. Unlike the previous FCC checklists which only provided references to rules, the new guides include recommended practices for stations to establish policies and procedures to ensure overall regulatory compliance. These documents are the first part of a planned series intended to cover all broadcast services, including upcoming guides for low-power FM and translator stations.
Dual Use for Stations and Contract Inspectors
The guides serve a dual audience, functioning as a resource for station self-checks and for contract inspectors working under the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP). Most state broadcaster associations administer ABIP on the FCC’s behalf, and in some states, stations participating in ABIP can receive a three-year exemption from routine FCC inspections. This dual utility gives the new guides a strong chance of becoming the default reference for AM and FM compliance across the industry. The guides are available as a free member benefit to NAB and SBE members, downloadable through the NAB member portal or directly from the SBE website. While the organizations emphasize these guides have not been approved or endorsed by the commission, they reflect extensive expertise and work to help broadcasters assess compliance with regulations most likely to pose enforcement risk.
For editorial consideration and industry coverage inquiries, contact Radio Facts.
