DJ Training Part 3: EAS, Legal Stuff and the FCC

General Help & Answers

Emergency Contact info is posted via label tape on the computer monitors in Air1, Air2 and Prod 1. Additional information is available on the KDHX Intranet site.

To report non-emergency issues, e-mail:

- Underwriting spot played late, early or missed: underwriting [at] kdhx.org

- Facility/Equipment: techsupport [at] kdhx.org

The KDHX Intranet also offers:

• Up to Date Blog containing most recent Staff-to-Volunteer communications about upcoming events, parties, state of the organization & fundraising initiatives, drive dates ands recaps, etc.
• Helpful links to FAQs, the free tickets for volunteers form, the current volunteer contract, staff tech and security support info, etc.

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

Our Emergency Alert System (EAS) has been upgraded to Digital, and has moved down the air chain, which means it is less of a burden on the show host/DJ. EAS message logging relay required events are no longer the responsibility of the host/DJ, but are handled automatically by the system.

Events triggered by the EAS system from the NWS (National Weather Service) will take over our air signal as required by law, but will not be aired on our online stream. This means that in the Air studio where you’re doing your show, you will not hear weather events passed through the EAS system and the subsequent FM Air signal.

Tips you should know:

• Being that the EAS message is only intended for the local / STL area audience, it will not pass through our online stream and TuneIn mobile app signal. With this in mind, you should continue programing your show normally during EAS events, assuming your online listenership is listening as usual. No need to interrupt the program for local-only weather events.
• When an EAS event begins, the red light on the Air 1 alert pole will flicker, and the SAGE ENDEC (blue rack device near the top) will begin displaying related information. The on-screen countdown will let you know when the message will begin airing and when it has completed
• Avoid doing any verbal announcing or airing any underwriting during the alert airing, as it will not be heard locally. Just keep on spinning music through it.
• On occasion, a weekly or monthly required EAS test will be scheduled for your show, but a staff member will inform you in advance of this need, and will be on hand to assist and walk you through the process.

• In order to be informed about the emergency and what is happening, click the links below and/or listen to the monitor system in the reception area, as it will contain the EAS sounds being routed to our FM transmission.

Links to National Weather Service events and Info: National Weather Service's "The Weather Story" - most current alerts National Weather Service Info for STL area

In the event of an emergency in which you need to take shelter, please place a Live at KDHX CD in one of the CD players and adjust the player from "Single Next" to continuous play mode, to avoid dead air. Ideal locations to wait out threatening weather would be the 2nd floor restrooms, or in the main stairwell.

We have an 80-mile listening radius. If a gnarly weather system is rolling in you will get multiple alerts and your broadcast will be interrupted multiple times. That’s OK. Keeping our listeners out of harm’s way is the highest priority. If you are unsure as to what action should be taken, do not suggest or editorialize. Read the message from the NWS and take it seriously.

Transmitter Log Readings

Our 40,000 watt transmitter is located in Lower Arnold,MO, and is controlled and monitored by a device in AIR1. As primary technician on air during your show, you are responsible for taking readings from the transmitter monitor, and writing them in our FCC required transmitter log. This task will be demonstrated by your trainer prior to your first air shift. The general requirement is to handle this task one time every 2 hours - review the readings of plate voltage, plate amps, temperature in the room, and power percentage, and if you're broadcasting after dark, the power reading for the red lights physically mounted on the tower. The log will show proper parameters, and if you find readings outside of these, consider it an emergency that needs to be reported to staff immediately.

Dump Button / Delay

Our dump/delay system is setup to protect us from airing content the is considered illegal by the FCC. We are typically broadcasting with a 15 second delay, which is caused by 2 spans of available to dump buffered content @ 7.5 secs each

Use is strongly encouraged - protect our license! When in doubt, leave it out. If it leaks through and you think it might be prohibited content - dump it!

- After the first dump, prepare and execute an immediate segue to a new song or message, and continue programming.

- If the infraction was committed verbally by a guest, turn off their mic, move to a spot or song and brief the guest about their infraction before turning the mic back on.

- EXT 1 is our FM signal picked up by a receiver in the building - briefly monitoring will give you sense of where you are in time with the signal.