Unsure of FCC Compliance? Time to Tap TAB’s Inspection Program

Station owners and managers wondering whether their stations are complying with the FCC's maze of regulations can put their minds at ease with TAB's Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP).

TAB's contract ABIP inspectors physically review stations and tower sites for FCC compliance.

We keep the inspection fees low for member stations by underwriting part of the cost of these regulatory reviews.

Meet TAB's ABIP Inspectors at the 2025 TAB Show

TAB's ABIP inspectors Wayne Kube and Steve Sandlin will be at the 2025 TAB Show Aug. 6-7 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

AGENDA & REGISTRATION

Kube and Sandlin have some 80 years of broadcasting experience between them.

This knowledgeable duo has logged thousands of miles reviewing Texas stations over the past decade and they are available to review your station too.

Kube and Sandlin welcome your ABIP questions, so when you see them next week at TAB's annual gathering of Texas broadcasters, be sure to talk to them about the TAB station inspection program, now in its 28th year.

TAB's ABIP inspectors say some types of non-compliance show up more frequently such as this list of common deficiencies as encountered by TAB's station review team over the years.

Where to Sign Up

Interested in getting a station inspection? Download the TAB ABIP contract here.

What's Involved in an ABIP Review?

Typically, it takes about 3-4 hours to review one station, and less time to review others located under the same roof.

TAB inspectors review the physical studio facilities and procedures for FCC compliance as well as the transmitter site for various tower regulations.

When a station's physical review is completed, TAB inspectors issue a report to station staff detailing the state of the station's FCC compliance.

Successfully completing a review earns a three-year waiver from routine, surprise FCC inspections of a station's physical facilities.

The waiver comes in the form of a Certificate of Compliance which is often posted in the lobby of the station.

While many stations pass the inspection without issue, those stations that have deficiencies related to their physical facilities may correct them within a reasonable period and still garner one of the coveted certificates.

FCC forfeitures typically start at $4,000 and rise steadily from there, so it is far less expensive if TAB's inspectors find a problem and it is addressed, than if the FCC finds the problem during a surprise inspection.

The FCC may still inspect an ABIP reviewed station to review tower safety issues or investigate complaints received.

Additionally, since stations' public inspection files migrated to the FCC's website in the past decade,
the commission has continuous capability to review materials required not only to be in the file, but
also ascertain if they were timely filed.

Questions? Contact TAB's Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.