CBT Quality Assurance & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FCC's loudness rule (CALM Act) standard for broadcast television commercials?
- Commercials must not exceed -10 LKFS average loudness
- Commercials must match the average loudness of the programming they accompany at -24 LKFS (Correct answer)
- Commercials are limited to a maximum peak of -3 dBFS
- Commercials must not exceed 85 dB SPL measured at the transmitter
Correct answer: Commercials must match the average loudness of the programming they accompany at -24 LKFS
The CALM Act requires TV commercials to match the average loudness of adjacent programming, standardized at -24 LKFS per ATSC A/85.
Question 2: Which document serves as the primary reference for FCC broadcast station technical standards in the United States?
- Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (Correct answer)
- ATSC Digital Television Standard A/53
- IEEE 802.11 Wireless Standards
- NAB Engineering Handbook
Correct answer: Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Title 47 CFR contains all FCC rules and regulations governing broadcast stations, including technical operating standards.
Question 3: A broadcast engineer notices the station's EAS equipment has not been tested in over 30 days. What is the required weekly EAS test called?
- Required Monthly Test (RMT)
- Required Weekly Test (RWT) (Correct answer)
- Emergency Action Notification (EAN)
- Local Area Emergency (LAE)
Correct answer: Required Weekly Test (RWT)
The Required Weekly Test (RWT) must be conducted weekly and originates from local broadcast stations or cable systems.
Question 4: What does the term 'program log' refer to in broadcast compliance?
- A record of all signal strength measurements taken during the broadcast day
- A chronological record of all programming and commercial content aired (Correct answer)
- A log of all technical malfunctions and corrective actions
- A document listing all FCC license renewal dates
Correct answer: A chronological record of all programming and commercial content aired
A program log documents all programming aired, including commercials, public service announcements, and program titles, for FCC compliance purposes.
Question 5: Under FCC rules, how long must a broadcast television station retain its public inspection file?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 7 years
- The public file must be maintained continuously and certain items kept for the license term (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The public file must be maintained continuously and certain items kept for the license term
TV stations must maintain their online public file continuously, with certain documents retained for the duration of the license term and others for specific shorter periods.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'facilities check' or 'proof of performance' test in broadcast engineering?
- To verify a station's transmitter output power meets FCC licensed parameters
- To confirm that all studio equipment meets OSHA safety standards
- To measure and document that broadcast equipment meets performance specifications (Correct answer)
- To test emergency backup power systems under load conditions
Correct answer: To measure and document that broadcast equipment meets performance specifications
A proof of performance test documents that broadcast equipment meets manufacturer and regulatory performance specifications, often required for FCC compliance.
Question 7: Which organization publishes standards for audio loudness measurement used in broadcast compliance?
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
- ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
- Both ATSC and ITU publish relevant loudness standards used in US broadcasting (Correct answer)
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Correct answer: Both ATSC and ITU publish relevant loudness standards used in US broadcasting
ATSC A/85 and ITU-R BS.1770 are both used as references for broadcast audio loudness measurement and compliance in the US.
CBT Quality Assurance & Compliance 2
What is the FCC's loudness rule (CALM Act) standard for broadcast television commercials?