Federal Communications Commission and Local Rules and Regulations

​

The FCC has installed stricter rules and regulations for non-commercial radio language and content than for our commercial counterparts. This has been true since the inception of public broadcasting.

If there's ever any question about language and content, please speak with a representative of KYWS-lp.

 

 

Pricing information

You cannot mention prices or refer to discounts or sales of any kind. You may tell listeners where tickets are available for an event. Words such as "free," "sale," "discount," “purchase,” and other references to prices and values are absolutely not allowed. If an event is free you may say it is “open to the public” or “the public is invited to attend.”

 

Value neutral descriptions

You cannot qualify a product, service or event as something that may be more or better in some way than another event, service or product. The FCC disallows non-commercial broadcast outlets from comparative language in describing products, services, or events. Commercial broadcasters can say that something is the best, or number one, or one of kind, but non-commercial broadcasters cannot.

When describing something in value neutral terms you will be describing the actual event, product or service exactly as it is without embellishing language.

 

Here's an example of what is allowable:

 

The XYZ Organization will present its annual spring concert this Saturday at 6 PM, and will feature the music of Grammy winning artist, Dude. Lawn chairs, coolers and blankets will keep you comfortable under the night sky. Information at 555-1234.

 

Here's an example of the same one that is not allowable:

 

The XYZ Organization, one of the leading organizations of its kind, will present its fantastic annual spring concert this Saturday at 6 PM, featuring the country's favorite artist, Grammy winning Dude. Lawn chairs, coolers and blankets will keep you comfortable under the night sky. Information at 555-1234.

 

The bold portions of this example are not compliant with rules regarding value neutral descriptions.

 

Language for Fundraisers

A concert to raise money for a service organization can be promoted as a concert with a brief statement in the body of the announcement that states who will benefit.

 

An example is:

 

…Proceeds benefit XYZ Organization.

 

This is the only statement allowable in a PSA to acknowledge a beneficiary. Words such as "fundraiser" are not allowable. There are some fundraising activities that we simply cannot promote such as silent auctions, telethons, and yard sales.

 

Calls to Action

Calls to Action are, perhaps, the most common offense made in PSAs. The FCC disallows calls to action on non-commercial broadcasting stations. A Call to Action is a statement or phrase that commands or invites someone to action.

 

The best way to explain this is to give some examples.

 

Example 1) "Bring lawn chairs and blankets."

 

The word "bring" is a call to action, you are telling a listener to "bring" something with them. The compliant manner of stating this would be "Lawn chairs and blankets    welcomed." You are not telling the listener to do something; you are merely stating that the event’s organizers will allow people to have these items with them at the event.

 

Example 2) "Come to tonight's presentation of Dude."

 

In this statement you are telling the listener to take action by coming to the event. The compliant version of this statement would be "The XYZ organization will present Dude tonight." This simply says that the event is tonight and does not instruct a listener to be there.

 

Example 3) "Don't forget to get your tickets."

 

Don't forget" and "get" are both instructions to the listener to take action, in this case, get tickets. To be compliant you would say "Tickets available by pre-order only." You   can see that it is the same message, which is to get your tickets ahead of time, but the language falls within the parameters of what the FCC and KYWS-lp does permit.

 

Example 4) “For more information call 555-1234."

 

The word "call" is clearly an inducement for a listener to take action, in this case to pick   up their phone and "call." The same message is communicated by changing the language to "Information at 555-1234."         

 

Tone

The tone you use when reading PSAs is important. PSAs must sound consistent with our other announcements. PSAs that are read like a commercial, even with compliant language and content, is inconsistent with our overall presentation.

 

Additional language/content guideline

All PSAs must end with "Information at…" This creates a "consistency of sound", an important component of KYWS-lp's overall sound. Do not qualify the word "information" with words like "further" or "more".  A web site or email is also acceptable with or without a phone number, but may not include added language, either. Please review the following examples.

 

Acceptable PSA close:  "Information at 555-1234 and/or info.org."    

 

Unacceptable PSA close: "Further information on this event at 555-1234 or you can visit our new website at info.org."

 

Examples of non-compliant words and phrases

The following list includes some of the words and phrases that are either comparative, price related, or calls to action, and that are not allowable on KYWS-lp. They are in no particular order. This list is also not a complete list of all words and phrases that are not acceptable.

 

• best

• finest

• number one

• discount or discounted

• price

• specially priced

• free (unless it's in the name of an event)

• call us

• come and…

• visit us

• visit our…

• buy

• purchase

• don't miss

• don't forget

• better than

• more interesting

• your money

• get your…

• don't go

• hurry and get…

• fundraiser

• auction

• silent auction

• sale

• close out

• bring

• savings

• dig in

• stay for

• your only…

• flea market

• yard sale

• thrift sale

• fee

• low cost

• raffle

• most beautiful (or any other word preceded by "most")

• fantastic