ABIP: Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program

A cooperative program of the Nevada Broadcasters Association and the Federal Communications Commission


An agreement between the NVBA and the Los Angeles and San Francisco Field Offices of the FCC provides NVBA member stations an opportunity to be voluntarily inspected by an FCC-approved NVBA provided inspector. Upon completing the application process, stations receive a friendly inspection from an NVBA contracted inspector using the standard FCC field service checklist. If violations are found, no fines are imposed nor are they reported to the FCC.  Instead, stations are given ample time to correct the problems before a re-inspection.  Once a station is determined to be in compliance,  both the station and the FCC Field Office, in either L.A. or San Francisco, receive a copy of the stations Certificate of Compliance. This certificate is good for three years and exempts the station from routine FCC inspections for the three year period.

Why Participate?

Participation in the ABIP program will enable  your station to operate in full FCC compliance, reducing the possibility of an FCC inspection. The FCC recognizes that in broadcasting, as in all business endeavors, owners have to rely upon personnel and outside consultants to carry out a variety of tasks, including those that involve compliance.  However, the Commission does not tolerate ignorance on the part of the station ownership. Station ownership must have systems in place to ensure that its personnel and consultants are qualified and diligent. The FCC wants broad participation in the State Associations’ ABIP Programs in order to reduce the need for FCC inspections and to raise the level of compliance throughout the entire country.