Sec. 73.1870  Chief operators.

    (a) The licensee of each AM, FM, or TV broadcast station must 
designate a person to serve as the station's chief operator. At times 
when the chief operator is unavailable or unable to act (e.g., 
vacations, sickness), the licensee shall designate another person as the 
acting chief operator on a temporary basis.
    (b) Chief operators shall be employed or serve on the following 
basis:
    (1) The chief operator for an AM station using a directional antenna 
or operating with greater than 10 kW authorized power, or of a TV 
station is to be an employee of the station on duty for whatever number 
of hours each week the station licensee determines is necessary to keep 
the station's technical operation in compliance with FCC rules and the 
terms of the station authorization.

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    (2) Chief operators for non-directional AM stations operating with 
authorized powers not exceeding 10 kW and FM stations may be either an 
employee of the station or engaged to serve on a contract basis for 
whatever number of hours each week the licensee determines is necessary 
to keep the station's technical operation in compliance with the FCC 
rules and terms of the station authorization.
    (3) The designation of the chief operator must be in writing with a 
copy of the designation posted with the station license. Agreements with 
chief operators serving on a contract basis must be in writing with a 
copy kept in the station files.
    (c) The chief operator is responsible for completion of the 
following duties specified in this paragraph below. When these duties 
are delegated to other persons, the chief operator shall maintain 
supervisory oversight sufficient to know that each requirement has been 
fulfilled in a timely and correct manner.
    (1) Inspections and calibrations of the transmission system, 
required monitors, metering and control systems; and any necessary 
repairs or adjustments where indicated. (See Sec. 73.1580.)
    (2) Periodic AM field monitoring point measurements, equipment 
performance measurements, or other tests as specified in the rules or 
terms of the station license.
    (3) Review of the station records at least once each week to 
determine if required entries are being made correctly. Additionally, 
verification must be made that the station has been operated as required 
by the rules or the station authorization. Upon completion of the 
review, the chief operator or his designee must date and sign the log, 
initiate any corrective action which may be necessary, and advise the 
station licensee of any condition which is repetitive.
    (4) Any entries which may be required in the station records. (See 
Sec. 73.1820.)

[46 1997 FR 35463 , July 8, 1981, as amended at  47 FR 31580 , July 21, 1982;  48 FR 38482 , Aug. 24, 1983;  48 FR 44806 , Sept. 30, 1983;  49 FR 20670 , May 
16, 1984;  49 FR 50048 , Dec. 26, 1984;  50 FR 32416 , Aug. 12, 1985;  60 FR 55482 , Nov. 1, 1995]