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KSDB MISSION STATEMENT

KSDB-FM is Kansas State University’s student-run educational radio station dedicated to embodying professional, ethical and legal standards while promoting leadership experience for its students and providing broadcasting services to the students and surrounding communities.

INTRODUCTION

KSDB-FM, 91.9 MHz, is the student-run radio station of Kansas State University. KSDB is licensed as a non-commercial education FM station by the Federal Communications Commission to the Board of Regents of the State of Kansas under the name of Kansas State University. KSDB holds a Class A noncommercial license granted by the FCC to operate in the public interest at 91.9 MHz on the FM band, with an effective radiated power of 1400 watts. The station operates 24 hours per day.
According to FCC regulations, a noncommercial educational broadcast station must advance an educational program. KSDB meets the FCC purpose by serving as a laboratory for the university, where journalism majors and non-majors gain practical experience that will benefit them in their careers. It is a place where they can discover both freedom and responsibility in broadcasting.
In its programming, the station may primarily serve the University community or a segment of the community, such as students. It must be sensitive to the needs and desires of the community and the student body. The station must serve audience needs by providing programming that meets the public interest, convenience and necessity, particularly Kansas State University students. The radio station cannot serve only the whims of a few and must operate in a business-like manner with standard business procedures, professional attitudes and on-air delivery, appropriate language, and standard office and security measures.
KSDB-FM receives financial support from the university and from underwriting announcements, which are solicited from the business community.

STAFFING GUIDELINES

Statement of Equal Opportunity

KSDB-FM actively seeks student participation in all available news, sports, announcing and other types of activities associated with the station’s operation. Station positions are open to all students of good standing at Kansas State University (not just journalism/mass communication majors), regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or physical disability. Students working at the station during the fall or spring semesters must be enrolled at least on a half-time basis. Students working at KSDB during the summer term must be enrolled for the following fall semester if they are not enrolled in summer classes.

General Staffing

Station executive staff members (the directors of programming, underwriting, rock music, urban music, production, promotions, sports, news and talk shows) are chosen in the Spring semester to serve for the following summer term and/or full academic year. Students may serve in any executive staff position for a period not exceeding three semesters. Executive staff members seeking an extended term may apply for such extension upon approval of the program director and/or the station manager/faculty adviser.
The program director is chosen by the KSDB Advisory Board no later than April 15 of the semester preceding her/his term. Once chosen, the program director then fills the remaining executive staff openings no later than May 15. If this timeline cannot be met, a new one will be issued by the Advisory Board.
The station’s approximately 50 announcing positions, as well as the more specialized slots in news, sports, promotion, underwriting and music, turn over each semester. That is, a student who has held a particular position with the station for a semester must re-apply for that position the following semester. Incumbency does not necessarily ensure that a position will automatically be awarded in successive semesters, since the executive staff will actively solicit applications for all positions each semester. If a more qualified person emerges from the pool of new applications, preference will naturally be given to the better applicant.
All general staffing decisions are made by the station’s executive staff board, with the station manager/faculty adviser having the ultimate authority over all personnel matters. The news director is naturally responsible for filling and supervising all news department personnel. Sports personnel report to the sports director. Underwriting staff members report to the underwriting director. Station announcers/disc jockeys are hired, trained and supervised by the music director.

Staffing Timetable and Procedures

KSDB-FM operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week each semester, an operational demand that requires approximately 80 staff members. Therefore, staffing is a very important function of the station’s executive staff, requiring a program of constant recruitment, training and supervision.

The station manager/faculty adviser and program director shall advertise vacant staff positions via the station Web site and recruiting announcements on KSDB-FM. Additionally, the station shall recruit potential talent by notifying various campus organizations, multicultural groups (or organizations with a large multicultural membership) and the Office of Student Activities and Services.
Students wishing to volunteer during the fall semester should apply by August 1 preceding the fall semester. Spring semester applicants must be turned in by January 2, and persons wishing to apply for a summer appointment must submit applications by May 1.

To apply for general staff positions at the station, students should fill out and submit an official application form along with a resume. Other supporting materials such as port-folios, air checks and resume tapes, are encouraged. Since the station is committed to training novice staff members, no previous broadcasting experience is necessary.

The departmental directors and the station program director choose staff members for the various departments. Staffing decisions must be completed by the above-mentioned deadlines, and all applicants must be notified of their acceptance or rejection by letter or e-mail no later than one week past the application deadline.

PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT

Working for any radio station is a high profile position, and at KSDB-FM, you are expected to meet standards established by the station’s executive staff, as well as federally instituted technical and programming guidelines. Moreover, as a student at Kansas State University, you should be aware of how the K-State Code of Student Conduct and industry codes of conduct can affect your day-to-day role at the station.

At Kansas State University students have a direct and primary role in the establishment and enforcement of campus and living group policies and regulations. The basic philosophy of discipline is one of education and enforcement of community standards. Since that is the ultimate purpose, we focus on the growth and development of the student. Most efforts are directed at preventing problems, or at least correcting them, rather than concentrating on punishment. The responsibility for proper conduct is put upon the student, not the university, with the assumption that most students do not try to intentionally cause violations, and will generally respect the rights and property of others.

The following principles govern the disciplinary process.
• Every effort is made to bring about outcomes that are positive for all parties involved;
• students will be members of all Student Governing Association judicial bodies;
• formal hearing processes are fundamentally fair and respect the rights of the individuals involved; confidentiality will be respected;
• records of proceedings will be released only on written authorization of the student(s) involved unless otherwise authorized by law or court order.

The procedures are outlined in the SGA Judicial Code, included in the by-laws to the SGA.

Kansas State University Student Constitution

Descriptions of the judicial structure and process, as well as university policies, are free and are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services in the K-State Student Union.

Kansas State University Prohibited Conduct

Important information regarding the judicial process and student rights is available in the Office of Student Activities and Services in the K-State Student Union. In general, the following behaviors constitute misconduct in which disciplinary sanctions will be imposed:

1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:

• Furnishing false information to any university official, faculty/staff member, or office.
• Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document, record, or instrument of identification.
• Tampering with the election of any organization or student governing body.
• Impersonation of another staff member, manager or faculty advisor of KSDB.

2. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceeding, other university activities, including its public-service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-university activities.

3. Conduct that threatens or endangers the mental or physical health or safety of any person, including, but not limited to physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, and coercion.

4. Attempted or actual theft of, or damage to, property.

5. Hazing, which is defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, which destroys or removes public property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. Consent by the person hazed shall be no defense to the hazing.

6. Telephone harassment, which shall include:
a. Making calls containing lewd or obscene remarks.
b. Making calls intended to harass whether or not conversation ensues.
c. Making the telephone ring repeatedly with intent to harass.
d. Making repeated calls in which conversation ensues solely to harass.

7. Failure to comply with directions of university faculty, staff, or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.

8. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys, or other devices that provide access to any university premises.

9. Unauthorized presence in or use of university premises, facilities, or property.

10. Violation of university policies, rules, or regulations, including plagiarism policies.

11. Violation of federal, state, or local law, including copyright infringement laws.

12. Unauthorized distribution, use, or possession of a controlled substance (as described in Chapter 65, Article 41 of Kansas Statutes Annotated on university premises) or at university-sponsored activities.

13. Unlawful use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or violation of the university's alcoholic beverage policy.

14. Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of firearms, explosives, weapons, or dangerous chemicals on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity.

15. Intentionally initiating or causing to be initiated any false report, warning, or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity.

16. Participation in a campus demonstration which unreasonably disrupts the normal operations of the university and infringes on the rights of other members of the university community; inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction which unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus.

17. Intentionally interfering with the freedom of expression of others on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity.

18. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on university premises or at university- sponsored activities.

19. Any violation of the stated Information Technology Usage Policies.

20. Abuse of the SGA Judicial Program, including, but not limited to:
• Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information.
• Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a judicial proceeding.
• Knowingly initiating a complaint without cause.
• Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the judicial system.
• Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a judicial board prior to, or during the course of, the judicial proceeding.
• Verbal, written, phone, or physical harassment, and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial board.
• Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under this code.
• Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the judicial system.

21. Any illegal or unauthorized taking, selling, or distribution of class notes.

Code of Ethics

KSDB-FM’s code of ethics is based upon the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and covers the following criteria of professional conduct as applicable to the operation of the station. You should know and understand these ethical guidelines and keep them in mind as you execute your duties at the station.

• Public Trust
o Professional broadcasters should recognize that their first obligation is to the public.

• Integrity
o Professional broadcasters should maintain integrity and decency, avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity and intelligence of the audience.

• Accountability
o Professional broadcasters should recognize that they are accountable for their actions to the public, the profession and themselves.
• Truth
o When covering news, broadcast journalists should pursue truth aggressively and present the news accurately, in context and as completely as possible.

• Fairness
o Broadcast journalists and public affairs personnel should present the news fairly and impartially, placing primary value on significance and relevance.

• Independence
o Broadcast journalists should defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking influence or control over news content. In addition, students in student media should support and do the same for all student media organizations.

• Professionalism
o Students are expected to be professional and strive toward excellence in all on-air duties as prescribed by the management of the station

All KSDB-FM executive staff members are subject to semester performance evaluations by the station manager and program director. Persons holding executive staff position with the station can be removed from their jobs at any time for insubordination, non-performance of duty, non-collegiality, ineffective administration, and /or inappropriate use of administrative authority. A dismissed executive staff member may appeal her/his case directly to the chair of the KSDB-FM Advisory Board.

General staff members can be removed from their positions by the executive staff member who oversees each respective department, the program director or station manager/faculty adviser. KSDB-FM holds all staff members to the highest standards of professional conduct while working on the air or in any aspect of representing the station. Each member of the station’s staff should know and understand the policies reflected in this manual. Ignorance is never an acceptable excuse for violating station, University or federal policies and procedures.

Grounds for a Warning:

Persons committing infractions that impair normal station operations and/or programming objectives will be given a written warning by their respective executive staff supervisor, the program director or station manager/ faculty adviser. A written warning indicates that a staff member’s conduct does not meet expectations and that the person will be given an opportunity to improve her/his conduct or s/he will be removed from the staff. The program director will keep a written record of the violation that includes the staff member’s name, the date and time the violation occurred and the reason for the warning.

Such infractions include, but are not limited to:

• Missing a scheduled show or assigned task.
• Unauthorized use of station equipment.
• Missing, without Program Director approval, regular staff meetings.
• Failure to comply with a reasonable request from a station executive.
• Having food or beverages in an unauthorized area.
• Failure to follow prescribed play list or station formatics.
• Any other action deemed unprofessional by the program director or station manager/faculty adviser.

Grounds for automatic suspension and possible termination:

Again, staff members are expected to uphold KSDB-FM’s federal, state and campus legal and policy obligations, which are a necessary part of our daily operations and our role as a member of the University community. The following infractions will constitute immediate suspension and possible termination (to be determined by the station program director and manager/faculty adviser):
• Repeat of any action for which a staff member has received a prior written warning.
• Smoking in facilities.
• Failure to complete the broadcast and program logs.
• Not following the broadcast log.
• The broadcast of obscene, indecent or profane language, including lyrics found in music not officially designated as part of the station format by the program director or music director.
• Failure to comply with campus, state or federal regulations (especially rules and regulations established by the Federal Communications Commission).
• Stealing KSDB property or the malicious destruction of station or college property.
• Possession or consumption of alcohol in or around any KSDB-FM facility.
• Possession, use or being under the influence of any illegal substance.
• Accessing information on station computing facilities that violate University computer use policies.
• Allowing access or use of station facilities to anyone not authorized by a department director, the program director or station manager/faculty adviser.
• Violation of campus, state and federal regulations applying to the Internet.

Mandatory Variable Credit Course Enrollment
Ratified 3/1/04 by the KSDB Advisory Board and KSDB Student Executive Staff

All students who participate in KSDB activities must enroll in a credit-optional class. Any student who takes part in any regular KSDB activities not limited to the on-air staff is included and expected to enroll in either MC365 or MC484. Credit is available to students who wish to receive it but is not required.

Students must be enrolled in the class by the third general staff meeting of each semester. Students who are not enrolled by that point will no longer be allowed to take part in station activities.

Any student who continues their work for the station without enrolling will be suspended for a period no shorter than one semester and must appeal to the program director and station manager to be allowed to come back on staff. The program director and station manager will then decide if the appeal should be granted.

FCC RULES AND REGULATIONS

The airwaves are owned by the public, not the broadcasters. The FCC licenses radio and television broadcast stations, including university stations, and holding such a license is considered a privilege, not a right. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have charged broadcasters with serving the public interest, convenience and necessity by serving as public trustees of the airwaves. The FCC regulates broadcasters differently than other media because of spectrum scarcity (the limited number of space on the electromagnetic spectrum), the pervasiveness or intrusive of the broadcast media, and public ownership of the airwaves.

The Public File

The FCC requires KSDB-FM to maintain a public file. KSDB’s Public File is available online at http://wildcatradio.ksu.edu, McCain 315, and KSDB’s Auxiliary Studio in the Kansas State University Student Union 1st Floor (across from the food court).

The following is adapted from The Public & Broadcasting, 1999. (http://www.fcc.gov)

Requirement to Maintain a Public Inspection File. The FCC rules require all TV and radio stations and applicants for new stations to maintain a file available for public inspection containing documents relevant to the station's operation. The public inspection file generally must be maintained at the station's main studio.
Purpose of the File. As discussed above, stations have an obligation to serve their local community's needs and interests and to comply with certain programming and other rules. Because the FCC does not monitor a station's programming, viewers and listeners are a vital source of information about the programming and possible rule violations. The documents in each station's public inspection file have information about the station that can assist the public in this important role.
As discussed above, all stations have an obligation to cover important issues facing their communities, to comply with requirements governing use of their facilities by candidates for public office, and to refrain from airing indecent programming during times children are likely to be in the audience. In addition, TV stations must air educational programming for children and limit the amount of advertising in children's programs. The FCC encourages a continuing dialogue between broadcasters and members of the public to ensure that stations meet their obligations and remain responsive to the needs of the local community.
Viewing the Public Inspection File. The station must make its public inspection file available at its main studio at any time during regular business hours. The public does not need to make an appointment to see the Public File
The public may request copies of materials in the file by visiting the station in person. In addition, if the station's public file is located outside of its community of license (and they live within the station's service area and the request does not involve the station's political file), you may also request copies of materials in the file over the telephone. Persons requesting photocopies of the Public File must pay $.20 per page requested. KSDB does not own a photocopier, so requests will be mailed to the requester within 48 hours of official request.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the basic Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules included in this manual. You may obtain more specific information by talking with the management staff or conducting your own research (both of which we encourage you to do). The FCC requires certain standards from the station and the operators, or disc jockeys. You are responsible for the proper operation of the station during your shift. In the event of a random and unannounced FCC inspection, you—if you are the operator on duty at that time—will be expected to accurately answer any questions or address any concerns. Always be prepared to do so.

FCC Policy on Fines and Revocation of License

The Federal Communications Commission is authorized by Congress to issue fines for violations of its rules. The FCC can issue fines of $25,000 for each violation, up to a total of $250,000 for repeated willful violations.

Either revocation of the license or a large fine would take the station off the air.

Therefore, as a representative of the licensee, the staff is obligated to present the programming that the licensee finds appropriate.

If you violate the licensee’s programming guidelines, you are subject to sanctions: reprimand, dismissal, and/or failure of course or lab.

Underwriting and Calls to Action:

Underwriting is the financial support for KSDB-FM, which is solicited from the business community. All underwriting will be broadcast on KSDB-FM in the form of spot donor announcements, which must be run as scheduled.
As a non-commercial station, KSDB-FM may not broadcast "advertisements." However, the station is permitted to use donor announcements and enhanced underwriting announcements.
For underwriting, the station identifies the underwriting account and location in a value-neutral way. On the other hand, commercial broadcasters may promote the products or services of their accounts.
In non-commercial formats, announcers may give "value-neutral" descriptions of products or services. In addition, they can list brand names and trade names. The station can factually describe the underwriter, but announcers cannot use superlatives, comparatives, prices or deadlines. Phrases to avoid include: “cleanest,” "best deal," "fast service," "come to," "go to," "call us," "watch for our coupon," "special limited time offer," "sale ends Sunday," and other language of this nature.

Calls to Action: In a non-commercial format, it is an FCC violation to express any qualitative or quantitative statements, opinions, or suggestions directed to the listening audience for the benefit of a person, business, or for-profit service. You may offer information, but do not command the audience to do something or mention a price. Examples of each follow:

Qualitative: providing any influential information that would direct someone to an action of purchase, attendance, or use of a person, business, or for-profit service.

DO NOT SAY:
• “Tonight at Crazy Horse Saloon, Kansas Blue will be on stage, so go see them because they rock!”
• “The Little Apple Theatre is the best in town”
• “The India House features daily specials”
• “Call Crazy Horse Saloon for ticket information”

Quantitative: giving any monetary information to the listening audience to create an action to purchase a product, attend an event, or use a service.

DO NOT SAY:
• Tickets for Kansas Blue will be on sale tonight for $5 at the door.
• Buy your tickets early and save a buck!”

YOU MAY SAY:
• “Kansas Blue will be at Crazy Horse Saloon”
• “Kansas Blue plays classic rock and jazz”

In summary, remember that KSDB-FM is a noncommercial radio station, and therefore "commercials" are not allowed. Violations of the station’s noncommercial license, as well as other violations, can result in a minimum fine of $25,000 per violation up to $250,000, or revocation of the license.

Station Identification:

Station IDs must be official and appear between 4:00 before and 4:00 after every hour. IDs must say “KSDB, Manhattan, Kansas.” NOTHING comes between the station call letters and the city of license. During special circumstances, such as political debates and sports programs, the legal ID can be inserted at the nearest convenient time to the FCC-mandated requirement.

Alert Systems

Emergency Alert System (EAS) Procedure:

The FCC demands that all licensed broadcast stations participate in weekly and monthly tests of the Emergency Alert System. The EAS replaced what was the Emergency Broadcast System.

If it is a monthly test, the test should automatically retransmit within 15 minutes. Be sure you’re listening to the air (not program) signal so you can hear the retransmission. Record the appropriate information on the operating log and then staple the printout to the upper left corner of the log.

As a DJ of KSDB-FM, it is your responsibility to understand and to execute both weekly and monthly EAS tests when they appear on your log. Failing to do so places KSDB-FM’s license in jeopardy and will result in disciplinary action from station management, which may include dismissal from all responsibilities at Wildcat Radio.

Weekly EAS tests must be conducted a minimum of once per week. The traffic department therefore schedules two such tests per week to ensure our compliance. Weekly EAS tests must appear in the schedule on different days at different times.

Monthly EAS tests occur once per month and are automatically transmitted by the EAS equipment in the control room. If, for some reason, the equipment does not automatically retransmit, then you must send the monthly test signal within 15 minutes of receipt. You will not hear the retransmission unless you are listening to the air signal (not program) in the studio.

To conduct a weekly EAS test (be confident about location of equipment, ask station manager if you need to!):
1. In McCain (main) Studio, press “week” button
2. Play “EAS Test” Cart from Wavecart
3. Immediately following “this is just a test,” press “proceed” button on EAS machine.
4. After test has finished (about 10 seconds), proceed with normal programming.
5. Record date and time of test in appropriate space on the Operations Log and initial.

NOTE: The ticker printout will provide all the information you need to know. It will say “station receive log” if a message is received, or “station transmit log” if you’ve transmitted a test. Simply read the ticker printout and record the appropriate information; this corroborates that KSDB-FM accurately participates in its EAS test obligations.

In the case of a national emergency, the EAS equipment will automatically take over the board. You will have no control over this, so just log the data on and staple printouts to the operating log.

Amber Alert:

Amber Alert serves the State of Kansas. An Amber Alert operates much like an EAS Alert. Its purpose is to inform radio listeners that a child has been reported abducted or missing. The Alert will be automatically transmitted over the station. On-air staff must log all alerts in the appropriate sections of the Operation Log.

OTHER ALERTS: Federal and State Homeland Security Committees are discussing the addition of new kinds of alerts.

Station Logs:

All broadcast stations are required by the FCC to maintain several sets of logs that serve as records of schedules, programming, and technical issues of the station. These logs must contain specific information and must be completed correctly. If and when the FCC arrives to inspect KSDB-FM, the logs must be in order; if they are not, the station will incur a fine. KSDB-FM will hold the staff members responsible for any financial penalties they generate.

The most important log is the Engineering Log, which serves as the record that KSDB-FM operates within the legal limitations of the FCC license.

>>>Make sure you sign in at the start of your shift and sign out when leaving your shift. DO NOT make a habit of signing out as soon as you arrive for your shift since doing so could result in an FCC fine if an inspector were to catch this.

>>>You must conduct and record EAS tests as they appear on your log.

>>>You must conduct meter readings as they appear on your log.

1. In McCain Studio, select Channels (2,3,4,5)
2. Record information for each channel on Operation Log in appropriate section and initial.
3. Report out-of-range readings to Engineer immediately.
4. If Engineer is not available, contact Station Manager or turn off the transmitter following appropriate guidelines.

NOTE: Be sure to always read and record the meters 15-minutes after carrier on time and again exactly at carrier off time. Never are you to enter readings that are inaccurate with regard to power or time. Doing so is illegal. Any meter reading that falls outside of the 90%-105% zone must be IMMEDIATELY communicated to the Program Director or Station Manager. We are illegal above 105% since we bleed onto neighboring signals at that level.

Also of importance is the Program Log. Check off all air materials that you play so we can maintain and track the format as well as guarantee that public service announcements receive proper play.

Log Corrections:

If you must make a correction on a log, do so by drawing one line through the mistake, writing the correction next to it, then initial and date the correction.

TURNING OFF THE TRANSMITTER

Occasionally, KSDB must be powered down. This process is simple.

FOR UNION:

1. Play the “KSDB SIGN OFF” cart (available on WAVECART).
2. If you are in the Union, log on to AutoPilot (left computer).
3. With your cursor, press the down arrow on CHANNEL 2. Audio signals will no longer transmit.
4. If you are in the Union your next step is, with your cursor, press the down arrow on CHANNEL 1. The transmitter is now off.
5. Look at the CLOCK. Write down the time you powered down CHANNEL 1 in the appropriate space on the Operation Log.

FOR MCCAIN:

1. Play the “KSDB SIGN OFF” cart (available on WAVECART)
2. Arrow down to CHANNEL 2 on the STL (where you take your readings). Then press the down button.
3. Arrow down to CHANNEL 1 on the STL (where you take your readings).Then press the down button.
4. Look at the CLOCK. Write down the time you powered down CHANNEL 1 in the appropriate space on the Operation Log.

TURNING ON THE TRANSMITTER

To turn the transmitter on, reverse the steps for turning the transmitter off.

FOR UNION:

1. Log onto Auto Pilot (left computer).
2. Look at the CLOCK.
3. With your cursor, press the up arrow on CHANNEL1. The transmitter is on. Write down the time you powered the up CHANNEL 1 in the appropriate space on the Operation Log.
4. Wait 5 minutes, and then press the up arrow on CHANNEL 2. The transmitter is now ready to begin broadcast programming.
5. Play the “KSDB SIGN ON” cart (available on WAVECART).
6. Begin your programming.

FOR MCCAIN:

1. Look at the CLOCK.
2. Arrow down to CHANNEL 1 on the STL (where you take your readings). Then press the up button. The transmitter is on. Write down the time you powered up CHANNEL 1 in the appropriate space on the Operation Log.
3. Wait 5 minutes, and then arrow up to CHANNEL 2 on the STL (where you take your readings). The transmitter is now ready to begin broadcast programming.
4. Play the “KSDB SIGN ON” cart (available on WAVECART).
5. Begin your programming.

FCC POLICY ON CONTENT

News:

Under the First Amendment and the Communications Act, the FCC cannot tell stations how to select material for news programs, and it cannot prohibit the broadcasting of an opinion on any subject. The FCC also does not review anyone's qualifications to gather, edit, announce, or comment on the news; these decisions are the station's responsibility.

Format:

The FCC does not mandate that stations follow a specific format. Generally, when a station changes format, it is not required to notify the FCC. However, according to the FCC, it is good practice to keep a record of format changes in the public file for at least two years.

Hoaxes:
Broadcasting false information concerning a crime or a catastrophe violates the FCC's rules if:
• the station knew the information was false;
• broadcasting the false information directly caused substantial public harm; and
• it was foreseeable that broadcasting the false information would cause substantial public harm.
All executive and staff members at KSDB are expected to understand the following sections from the Federal Communications Act of 1934 and the Code of Federal Regulations. (Appendix B)

Section 317

a) Announcement With Respect to Certain Matter Broadcast (Reprinted from the Communications Act of 1934, as amended)

1) All matter broadcast by any radio station for which any money, service or other valuable consideration is directly or indirectly paid, or promised to or charged or accepted by the station so broadcasting, from any person, shall, at the time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the case may be, by such person: Provided that "service or other valuable consideration" shall not include any service or property furnished without charge or at a nominal charge for use on, or in connection with, a broadcast unless it is so furnished in consideration for an identification in a broadcast of any person, product, service, trademark or brand name beyond an identification which is reasonably related to the use of such service or property in the broadcast.

2) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from requiring that an appropriate announcement shall be made at the time of the broadcast in case of any political program or any program involving the discussion of any controversial issue for which any films, records, transcripts, talent, scripts or other material or service of any kind have been furnished, without charge or at a nominal charge, directly or indirectly, as an inducement to the broadcast of such program.

b) In any case where a report has been made to a radio station, as required by Section 507 of this Act, of circumstances which would have required an announcement under this section had the consideration been received by such radio station, an appropriate announcement shall be made by such radio station.

c) The licensee of each radio station shall exercise reasonable diligence to obtain from its employees, and from other persons with whom it deals directly in connection with any program or program matter for broadcast, information to enable such licensee to make the announcement required by this section.

d) The Commission may waive the requirement of an announcement as provided in this section in any case or class of cases with respect to which it determines that the public interest, convenience or necessity does not require the broadcasting of such announcement.

e) The Commission shall prescribe appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

On-Air Contests:

Strict rules exist about how station contests are run. The only contests allowed on-air at KSDB-FM are those with prior approval from the Promotions Director and the Program Director.

If you run an unauthorized contest on air, you will be held legally and financially responsible for any repercussions.

Plugola and Payola:

The FCC has a policy known as sponsorship identification. Any type of program that is sponsored or underwritten must be identified and acknowledged. Station management also must know about the sponsorship. The underlying premise is that the public has a right to know when someone has a financial interest in influencing what they hear on the air. You will be dismissed from KSDB-FM if you violate rules of payola or plugola.

• Payola: You cannot receive money or gifts from a record company, group or individual to play a recording. Failure to disclose sponsorship is a criminal offense.

• Plugola: You cannot receive money or gifts to publicize an event, business or promotion. Failure to disclose sponsorship identification is a criminal offense. Fines and jail terms in federal prison are punishment for this offense.

Obscenity and Indecency:

It is a violation of federal law to broadcast obscene or indecent programming. The prohibition is set forth at Title 18 United States Code, Section 1464 (18 U.S.C. § 1464). Congress has given the FCC the responsibility for administratively enforcing 18 U.S.C. § 1464. The Commission may issue a warning, impose a monetary forfeiture or revoke a station license for the broadcast of obscene or indecent material. It is the policy of KSDB-FM to abide by these guidelines. The statute the FCC enforces states: Whoever utters any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

Obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. To be obscene, material must meet a three-prong test: (1) an average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (2) the material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law; and (3) the material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, which is often summarized as social value.

Broadcast indecency, as defined by the FCC, is “language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.” In applying the "community standards for the broadcast medium" criterion, the Commission has stated, "The determination as to whether certain programming is patently offensive is not a local one and does not encompass any particular geographic area. Rather, the standard is that of an average broadcast viewer or listener and not the sensibilities of any individual complainant." Because indecent programming contains sexual or excretory references that do not rise to the level of obscenity, the courts have held that indecent material is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned entirely. It may, however, be restricted to a “safe harbor” period in order to avoid its broadcast during times of day when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience. Note that intent and innuendo are key factors in indecent speech.

While the FCC deems 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. as the “safe harbor” period and thus a time when such potentially offensive music can be played, KSDB will play such music only between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. in an effort to protect children in the Manhattan market. The “safe harbor” period in broadcasting refers to the time period during which broadcast radio and broadcast television stations can air indecent material without incurring FCC sanctions. The music staff holds the responsibility to screen and mark all potentially inappropriate audio content. The program director ensures compliance based on the format structure.

There is distinct difference between KSDB staff speech allowed over the air and speech allowed through lyrics, news actualities, and other non-staff utterances. KSDB’s on-air staff speech must abide by the following statement: “Strive not to offend.”

At NO TIME is an air staff member allowed to violate any of these rules. Use of obscene language is strictly prohibited during the entire 24-hour broadcast day.

Some music may contain language deemed inappropriate or indecent, though not obscene. The airing of such music will be limited.

Ultimately, though, the air staff member maintains decisive control to ensure that no obscene material ever is aired and that no indecent material reaches the air outside the accepted time window. The air staff member should take whatever steps necessary to avoid or rectify any infractions.

Each staff member should consult the FCC rules for the exact and specific information on these issues. If staff members remain unsure about what constitutes appropriate material, they should seek guidance from station management.

The Seven Dirty Words: George Carlin eloquently taught these to us: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, tits (See FCC v. Pacifica Found., 438 U.S. 726 (1978)). Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words serve as only a brief introduction to obscene and indecent material. Much more material is included in this category. These words are NEVER to be said over the air. Music containing these words will not air in any day part.

Criticism, Ridicule, And Humor Concerning Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

The First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech protects programming that stereotypes or otherwise offends people with regard to their religion, race, national background, gender, or other characteristics. It also protects broadcasts that criticize or ridicule established customs and institutions, including the government and its officials. If there is to be genuine free speech, people must be free to say things that the majority may abhor, not only things that the majority finds tolerable or congenial.

However, libel, privacy and copyright laws limit freedom of speech to some extent.

Libel Laws

Individuals are protected under state libel laws. For a person to win a libel case, he/she must prove all of the following six elements:

-Defamation (expression that damages a person’s reputation and tends to expose a person to hatred, ridicule, contempt or spite)
-Identification
-Publication/dissemination/broadcast of information to just one other person
-Fault (negligence or recklessness)
-Falsity (a false statement)
-Personal harm (such as loss to reputation, loss of business revenues or emotional distress).

NOTE: Although there are several defenses for libel, courts disagree on where to draw the line between non-defamatory humor and defamatory ridicule. It is in your best interest and that of the station not to become a local “test case.”

Privacy Laws

While the First Amendment protects the publication or dissemination of most truthful information that is lawfully acquired, individuals are protected by privacy law and may choose to sue under one of the four privacy torts or laws:

-Embarrassing private facts: Private facts are those which would be highly offensive to the reasonable person and are not of legitimate concern to the public—this involves the disclosure of very personal information that is not justified by its newsworthiness. In private facts cases, the person suing you is most likely to win if the broadcast includes information about illness, hospitalization or certain medical conditions.

-Intrusion: Physical or technological intrusion to engage in harassment, assault or overzealous surveillance. This applies to public places, as well as private places. Technological intrusion includes the use of hidden microphones, hidden cameras or telephoto lenses.

-False light: False publicity about someone with knowledge of the falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

-Appropriation/commercialization: Use of another’s name or likeness for your own benefit and without his or her consent. Examples include the commercial use of another’s name or picture in an ad, poster, public relations promotion or other commercial context.

Copyright Laws

Copyright is protected by the United States Constitution and federal statutory law. A copyright is an original work or authorship (such as a sound recording or a literary, musical, artistic, photographic or film work) that is fixed in any tangible medium of expression, giving the holder the exclusive right to reproduce, adapt, distribute, perform, and display the work.
The Fair Use Doctrine permits limited copying of copyrighted work, usually only for “productive purposes,” such as news reports, criticisms, comment and personal entertainment. Otherwise, without expression permission from the copyright holder, others are not allowed to use copyrighted work.
KSDB-FM has a special licensing and royalty-payment agreement with ASCAP and BMI, which allows the station to play copyrighted music.

Plagiarism

KSDB-FM staff members are expected to abide by K-State’s plagiarism policy, which is listed below.
Definition of plagiarism: "Plagiarism is the academic and literary equivalent of robbery, taking somebody else's property. If you copy somebody's test answers, take an essay from a magazine and pass it off as your own, lift a well-phrased sentence or two and include them without crediting the author or using quotation marks, or even pass off somebody's good ideas as examples of your own genius, you are guilty of intellectual thievery. If you are caught you should expect punishment or contempt or both." Quote from Robert M. Gorrell and Charlton Laid, Modern English Handbook, 6th edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1976), p. 71.

Plagiarism covers unpublished as well as published sources; borrowing another's term paper, handing in as one's own work a paper purchased from an individual or agency, or submitting as one's own any papers from living group's, club's, or organization's files; all are punishable as plagiarism.
Avoidance of plagiarism: "Acknowledge indebtedness ":
• whenever you quote another person's actual words;
• whenever you see another person's idea, opinion, or theory, even if it is completely paraphrased in your own words; and
• whenever you borrow facts, statistics, or other illustrative material--unless the information is common knowledge." William W. Watt, An American Rhetoric, 4th edition (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1970) p. 8.

In summary, students must not use another’s work as their own and must obtain permission to use others’ work and give credit where credit is due.
Examples of copyright infringement and plagiarism include dubbing your own voice into someone else’s interview and reading copyrighted material, such as a brief story from a newspaper or magazine, on the air without giving attribution to the source. In the latter example, you also may need to obtain express permission from the news organization to air the copyrighted material.