I apologize if you have already seen this.
Try this again:
I haven't seen it. Looked like an interesting post. You didn't post?
Now I see, that's all it is?
Thought there'd be more than that.
My Take
It appears that those three pages are written in short-hand language for FCC Inspectors and not for part 15 end-users.
Understanding some of the points requires prior knowledge about aspects that are not fully expressed in the abbreviated wording.
Carl: You are correct. Guidelines for inspectors. Still waiting for our Resident Hobby Agent give it a thumbs up or down.
Mark: Yes I excerpted a 100 plus page document. This is the only section that applies to AM radio transmitters.
Interesting.
It's too bad that some of the points (i.e., elevated installs with long ground lead to the ground plane) haven't been put directly into the rules. Instead, the rules (which should be the reference point) are left open to interpretation.
Although that could be what they want.
II put my Radio Shack transmitter module away up in the rafters, and I just connected my 8 track player amplifier output to the speaker in my collector tomb stone radio, that way I will have no problem meeting the part 15 rules and regulations- Thats the way I did it years ago so that’s the way I will end up doing it, put the tape player in a box under the radio nobody knows the difference and nobody can say I caused some kind of interference or imposed on somebody playing some kind of goofy music nobody wants to hear anyway. I wonder if I should contact my congress person and have them draft a bill creating this method I use as law- I think this would be a good law to have on the books, but the audio must be from an 8 track player or there would be heavy fines.
I don't believe there is any reason to mothball your transmitter, if it's compliant with the Part 15 rules.
From what I've read and can see, the pirate bill that just passed is mostly political, and the intent is to demonstrate publicly (by both lawmakers and the FCC) that the pirate problem is being taken seriously.
As far as I can tell, no new money has been allocated to FCC enforcement. The penalties have been upped for blatant pirates, there are new standards for FCC reporting, the role of states in handling pirates has been confirmed, etc. Largely housekeeping on the practical side.
The bottom line is that if you are using an FCC certified Part 15 transmitter, or you are technically competent and can prove that the non certified transmitter you are using is compliant, you really have nothing to worry about.
The rest is all fear mongering by others because they have their own agenda.
There may, and I do stress may, be some potential concern that Part 15 operators could be mistaken for pirates. But I don't think that local police, or whomever ultimately does the enforcement, are going to smash down doors and go into people's homes with guns blazing. They have to follow due process, and determine if you really are a pirate. AMRadioLegend's suggestion that you print out a copy of your 'authorization' to be on the airwaves (i.e., the Part 15 rules) and keep it in your studio is a good one. But then, it was always a good suggestion, as anyone, even before the PIRATE act passed, could have initiated a complaint with the FCC or local authorities, and earned you a visit.
Bill DeFelice over at Hobbybroadcaster is concerned that there is no distinction in the rules between pirates, and Part 15 operators who may be slightly out of compliance "by mistake".
There are really only two possible cases here. The first is a nudge nudge, wink wink mistake, such as a long ground lead with an elevated install, which any reputable operator should fully know is not within the rules. Those people who are operating in the so-called gray area (not really, but it's been called that) of the rules might be advised to rethink what they are doing.
The second is where there truly might be a mistake, such as a defective transmitter. But as RichPowers (End80 elsewhere) has pointed out, the range of Part 15 compliant transmitters is well known, and if you're getting significantly more than that (i.e., into pirate range territory), you should figure that something is wrong.
There has to be some responsibility on the part of the Part 15 operator.
RE: ... if you are using an FCC certified Part 15 transmitter... you really have nothing to worry about. ...
A gentle reminder: even transmitters that are officially certified for Part 15 (AM or FM) can be installed and/or operated in a non-compliant manner — for which, after a field inspection, the FCC may see fit to cite those operators.
Even the owners/landlords of installation sites not belonging to the Part 15 operators there have received FCC citations, along with the operators.
Whatever happened to the day when "Citations" were a good thing?
Shifting Back
The full comment originally made by Artisan Radio is correct: '"...if you are using an FCC certified Part 15 transmitter, or you are technically competent and can prove that the non certified transmitter you are using is compliant, you really have nothing to worry about."
By redacting the middle part of Artisan's statement Rich shifted the meaning to something incorrect and incomplete.
Therefore Rich's preach is invalidated as not fitting the context.
Yes, we all recognize that, Rich. My point was that using an FCC certified transmitter goes a long way to demonstrating to any authorities investigating your station that you are at least attempting to be legal (and that you are not a pirate).
And as I stated, there is evidence that those who have been cited (when using certified transmitters) haven't cooperated with the FCC during the investigation.
And Carl completes the rebuttal.
RE: ... The bottom line is that if you are using an FCC certified Part 15 transmitter, or you are technically competent and can prove that the non certified transmitter you are using is compliant, you really have nothing to worry about." ...
That bold text in AR's post clip above required no followup comment(s), because it is true. If a technically competent operator can prove that his/her non-certified transmitter is compliant with the applicable rules of Part 15, and the FCC accepts that finding, then likely the FCC would not cite that installation.
It also would apply to the operator of any FCC-certified AM/FM transmitter whose operation and/or installation was questioned by the FCC.
RE: And Carl completes the rebuttal.
Not for me -- see post 109878 above.