WESS 90.3 FM, a non-commercial educational community station, adopts an underwriting approach similar to the use of advertising in commercial radio. Instead of commercials, we present acknowledgments and mentions, designed to furnish listeners with factual information about our partners without promoting specific products or services. Our mode of operation aligns with the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These stringent rules ensure we maintain our primary educational and community-centric ethos, keeping us clear of commercial endorsements.
Per the FCC’s directives, noncommercial educational stations can acknowledge contributions on-air, but they shouldn’t broadcast promotions or advocate the goods and services of profit-driven donors. Such acknowledgments must be devoid of qualitative descriptions, pricing details, or direct calls to action. However, they can mention key details such as logograms, business locations, neutral product or service descriptions, brand names, and associated service listings without causing disruptions to the ongoing programming.
Being an underwriter at WESS 90.3-FM, ensures that your concise and informative announcements demonstrate your invaluable support for community radio. Here’s what we can include in the acknowledgment: your business name, contact information (like location, website, email, or phone), neutral details about the services or products you offer, factual highlights such as “Serving East Stroudsburg since 1990”, and basic details of upcoming events. However, we must avoid mentions of price details, direct or implied calls to action, subjective or qualitative descriptors, incentives, or comparative statements.
While the rules for our underwriting messages are comparatively strict, we believe in working collaboratively to ensure the best possible communication of your message within these bounds. Share your core message intent with us, and we’ll seek to craft a statement that not only adheres to the guidelines but effectively encapsulates your support.