FCC radio station contest meta-rules
In a comment on megamunch, “Will” Bill Myers says he picked up a copy of the Wing Bowl 16 rules when he competed in today’s qualifier. Rule #2 follows:
Wing Bowl 16 is an IFOCE/MLE officially sanctioned and sponsored event, any member of, or person affiliated with, non-IFOCE/MLE professional eating organizations, including but not limited to AICE, are also not eligible to participate in the contest.
The FCC’s web site has a page about regulations about radio station contest rules which states that eligibility restrictions must be publicized in some manner from the time a contest is announced:
“Material terms” include those factors which define the operation of the contest and which affect participation therein. Although the material terms may vary widely depending mentioned in a cupon the exact nature of the contest, they will generally include: (1) how to enter or participate; (2) eligibility restrictions; (3) entry deadline dates; (4) whether prizes can be won; (5) when prizes can be won; (6) the extent, nature, and value of the prizes; (7) the basis for valuation of prizes; (8) time and means of selection of winners; and/or (9) tie-breaking procedures.
In general, the time and manner of disclosure of the material terms of a contest are within the licensee’s discretion. However, the obligation to disclose the material terms arises at the time that the audience is first told how to enter or participate and continues thereafter. The material terms should be disclosed periodically by announcements broadcast on the station conducting the contest, but need not be enumerated each time an announcement promoting the contest is broadcast. Disclosure of material terms in a reasonable number of announcements is sufficient. In addition to the required broadcast announcements, disclosure of the material terms may be made in a non-broadcast manner.
Wing Bowl rules do not appear on 610WIP’s web site. The Wing Bowl 16 page has “Official Rules for Wing Bowl 16” at the bottom, but there is no link or following information. I do not know how frequently WIP has announced Wing Bowl 16 eligibility restrictions on the air. We might get a chance to learn if the FCC views those restrictions as satisfactorily disclosed if an AICE eater files a new FCC complaint.
update GJoe’s FCC complaint mentioned in a previous comment is based on being excluded from a previous Wing Bowl, not the upcoming one.
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Gentleman Joe said
January 13, 2008 @ 12:44 am
I meant from my initial banishment, along with the outright lies regarding it. I do not know if the FCC has a ‘statute of limitations’.
Wild Bill said (Registered September 19, 2006)
January 13, 2008 @ 8:43 am
OJ, I didn’t type the entire thing in – the rules are almost two pages long. I’ll see if I can get them scanned and send them to you.
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
January 13, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Do the rules mention anything about residency requirements, Bill? Juris Shibayama said the person at WIP he talked to said there were no residency restrictions for Wing Bowl 16, but it is possible that the radio station employee did not know what he or she was talking about.
beautifulbrian said
January 13, 2008 @ 10:36 am
I thought it was a cold move to ban Joe the first time out. in 2004 I understand the tension that was mounting during that time as well as the animosity involving the Shea’s and Joe , but he ate 10 big mac’s in 10 or 15 min which is not the easiest thing in the world to do. There were rumors that i was slated to fill his spot after i placed 2nd in the wingoff but i would never have accepted the offer .
Wild Bill said (Registered September 19, 2006)
January 13, 2008 @ 11:35 am
No residency restrictions this year – it’s why I was allowed to compete.
Mega Munch said
January 13, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
I’m still baffled every time I hear about AICE or “rival leagues” being banned from events like this. As if allowing Ian Hickman or Gentleman Joe to eat chicken wings is going to be a detriment to the IFOCE. Last I checked it’s been 124 days since the last IFOCE open contest announcement.