The FCC appears to be cracking down on abuse of Traveler’s Information Stations, CGC Communicator reports.
The newsletter notes that the FCC has given the state of California 20 days to respond to its July 12 notice of violation concerning one of those low-power AM systems in Los Angeles. The station is WPHJ962.
A commission agent found that the station was airing only a continuous loop saying “This is Caltrans highway advisory radio WPHJ962 broadcasting. This is a test message.” The FCC points out that TIS stations must transmit only “noncommercial voice information pertaining to traffic and road conditions, traffic hazard and travel advisories, directions, availability of lodging, rest stops and service stations and descriptions of local points of interest.”
The state’s response, the FCC said, must be signed by an officer of the State of California. The CGC newsletter, which is based in California, said readers “have pointed out that these stations have been observed repeatedly abusing the program content rule over the years.”
A separate notice went to the City of Santa Monica, where a TIS system was retransmitting the National Weather Service station.
