How often must a broadcast station be identified over the air?

Broadcast stations are required to identify themselves by announcing their call letters over the air at specific intervals to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. The established standard mandates that a station must identify itself at the beginning of each hour, as well as at the moment it signs on and when it signs off the air. This practice serves multiple purposes: it provides listeners with clear information about which station they are tuned to, promotes station recognition and accountability, and complies with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements.

By requiring identification at these key moments, the regulation ensures that listeners can easily identify the source of the content they are consuming. This is particularly important for maintaining a transparent relationship with the audience and ensuring proper broadcasting practices. The combination of identifying at sign on and sign off, along with hourly announcements, maintains a regular rhythm for the audience and adheres to regulatory expectations.