On-air underwriting announcements (credits) on TV 30 and FM 91 give organizations and businesses the opportunity to reach a desirable audience. Your underwriting announcement is crafted to suit your marketing needs, while complying with FCC regulations applicable to non-commercial stations.

Specific underwriting guidelines:

1. Underwriting announcements can include name, location information, and a “value-neutral” description of products or services. Logograms or slogans, which identify and do not promote, may be used.

2. In addition, up to three generic product lines or target markets for a company’s products may be mentioned. For example: “Made possible by Digital Equipment Inc. (the underwriter), makers of the VAX-111 computer (a specific product name) and other computers for business, government, and personal use (three target markets).”

3. Standard phraseology will be used in the preamble of the underwriter’s announcement. e.g. “Program is made possible in part by the XYZ Company..."

4. To help maintain the overall noncommercial tone of a credit, additional information beyond the introductory phrase “made possible by (Funder)” should be limited to no more than twenty (20) words.

5. In general, any language that in WGTE’s judgment is gratuitously or blatantly promotional is not acceptable. In addition, information that would be self-congratulatory or that could be construed as an advocacy position on a particular issue or subject will not be acceptable.

6. Some words and phrases that the FCC has found unacceptable, at least in the context cited include:

Efficient, Economical, Dependable, Dedicated, Prompt, Fair price, Reliable, Excellent, Leading, Luxury, Quick, Clear, Delightfully, Honest, Number One, Quality.

In cases where a slogan does not clearly violate the standard of promotionalism but is nonetheless questionable, WGTE will consider two other factors that may mitigate the promotional effect of a slogan: (1) the extent to which a slogan is an established part of a corporate identity system; and (2) the extent to which the slogan avoids specific product claims or promotion.

General Underwriting Guidelines

Specific Television Underwriting Guidelines

WGTE FM 91 Corporate Pledge Challenge Program

WGTE Studio Rentals and Production Capabilities