Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 880, Volume 17, #47 for June 24, 2026

NCE FM TRANSLATOR WINDOW IS ANNOUNCED
The FCC has announced the dates for the NCE FM Translator Window. It will be open for two weeks, August 11th to 25th, 2026, with a limited freeze on some applications starting earlier.

FIRST AM, AND NOW FM?
You may want to grab your portable radio and carry it in the car. Most everyone is aware of the fight now going on in Congress over the AM in Every Vehicle Act, to mandate AM radios in all vehicles sold in the US. However, there is another part of the puzzle that may go missing: FM radios are being eliminated in the new Rivian SUV. The sport-utility vehicle is planned to have only cellular-based programming, using the iHeartRadio app with a monthly subscription.

CYBERSECURITY
In this week’s Open Meeting, the FCC probably will vote to require new actions on broadcasters’ part to ensure the security of their program audio. Is this a good idea? How can it be done if there is no IT department handy?  We’ll talk about that, and other issues this week. Join the conversation and, perhaps, share your thoughts on how the FCC is handling broadcasters.

Our 325th Virtual Lunch Gathering will be on Thursday at 2PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. Join us and learn things! The link request is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ … the same place where you will find most of the 323 previous presentations.  (By the way, our buddy Jeff Welton does his 100th TTT next week. Register at Nautel .com for access.)

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

CYBERSECURITY CANNOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT
As mentioned, this week the FCC will likely vote to start strong rules for cybersecurty for broadcasters. Given the rash of hacks that led to program audio and RDS displays being commandeered, many think this is appropriate. The problem will be how it is executed in terms of smaller stations. Kirk Harnack has some real good ideas on cybersecurity, regardless of the FCC’s actions.

Even government agencies are not immune. In recognition of how much AI has sped up bug discover and other hacking exploits(67% in one study), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is now requiring federal civilian agencies to patch their systems more rapidly, with a maximum of three days allowed for critical issues.

ISSUES & PROGRAMS
Each quarter it is the same rush to get the Issues & Programs filings in on time. As we noted before, the FCC is looking more carefully at the filing dates for each station, with more and more fines being issued. Also worth consideration: if you have more than one station, you should not just photocopy the Issues & Programs for each one – especially if different cities of license are involved, perhaps some urban and others rural: the issues may well be different.

BIG BILL FOR SMALL STATIONS
The FCC has issued an Order to Pay or Show Cause to a Texan company that owes more than $166,646 in regulatory fees.

REGULATORY FEES
According to the recent filing by the state broadcast associations, the FCC’s regulatory fee system is “outdated and unfair to broadcasters.” While the FCC continues to raise some fees and the de minimis exemption threshold, the filing says the fee system does not reflect the wider range of FCC activities from cable to cellular to satellite and more. The NAB suggests making widening the base of those who would be paying fees.

ONE GOOD THING FROM THE GOV’T SHUTDOWN?
The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance to federal agencies to cancel any inflation adjustments because during the recent government shutdown, there was no Consumer Price Index for October, hence the Bureau of Labor Statistics could not calculate the annual adjustment for things like FCC fines. They stay the same as last year.

CAN YOU LEGALLY PLAY AI MUSIC ON THE AIR?
With all the AI innovation has come music generated by the large language models (LLM). Can stations play it on the air?

FCC Attorney Cary Tepper responds: “The legalities of AI music are complex. Since AI music is not created by humans it cannot qualify for a copyright. That being said, you need to make sure that AI did not include any bits and pieces of copyrighted music in the AI track, and if the AI music sounds alike to a copyrighted song, you may have legal issues.” At this time, “There is no easy answer,” Tepper says.

COPPER THEFT IS NOT LEGAL, EVEN FOR AI ROBOTS
As in many places, Eastern Kentucky has been wrestling with copper theft. In response, AT&T has begun offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of copper thieves. AT&T hopes this will raise awareness and foster better reporting of thefts and suspects. Over in Louisville, similar efforts, combined with a coordinated task force has resulted in a sharp decline in thefts, which average three incidents a day in 2023/2024.

A BIG TEXAS DEAL
The TAB, already one of the best regional conventions, has issued an invitation for all broadcasters, but especially for those in nearby states (NM, CO, KS, OK, MS, AR, and LA), who will be able to register at the TAB “member rate.” With over 100 exhibitors and 25 programs for broadcasters, you really can call this a “mini-NAB” … without having to deal with Las Vegas!

Programs include Real-world AI for broadcasters, RF sweeping of systems, SNMP “how to,” Tower Maintenance, and a look at the coming C-Band transition and other FCC issues.

NOT QUITE THE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD WANT
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which give greater capacity, also can catch fire. A recent fire aboard a British Airways flight highlights the dangers. The FAA is investigating how the cellphone using the Lithium-ion batteries caught fire in flight – one of 50-some incidfents in the past year.

FOR SALE
No copper is listed here but there is are a pair of BE AM-1A transmitters and all sorts of other items you may need. Check out the For Sale page here.
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

• IT Security for Broadcast Gear – Kirk Harnack
• Building A Maintenance Checklist – Barry Mishkind
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch – $50k for translator violations
• The Rise and Fall of C-Band – Chip Morgan
• Predicting Maintenance Needs – Rolin Lintag
• Beware of Killer Thumb Drives – Barry Mishkind
• Danger: Consumer Electronic Parts – Ron Schacht
• Coping with Overgrown Wild Vegetation – Barry Mishkind

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

Inovonics’ new AARON 656 FM/HD Radio Dual Tuner Rebroadcast Receiver is now available. the Aaron 656 is a robust solution designed for reliable signal rebroadcasting in FM and HD Radio environments.

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Are you doing video with your live programs or podcasts? To solve the need of keeping everytning together, the Lawo Edge One system simplifies things by merging audio and video I/O into a compact, SMPTE-ST2110-native IP-connected stagebox with SDI, HDMI in/out, MADI with SRC, analog/digital audio, GPI, sync/ref/WCL, and DSP.

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The TAB is not the only option, if you want a more relaxed site for evaluating equipment and services. Nebraska is scheduling their Fall Show and

Engineering Sessions on Wednesday August 13th in Omaha.

Also, the IBC, each year in Amsterdam, is working on their program, slated for Sept. 11-14 at the RAI.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

• 10 years ago (6/23/16) Led Zepplin won a court case claiming they stole the opening to “Stairway to Heaven.“
• 11 years ago (6/21/15) Taylor Swift wrote a public letter to Apple demanding royalty payments.
• 14 years ago (6/27/12) Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe was arrested for manslaughter when a concert-goer died.
• 38 years ago (6/22/88) Robert Palmer released the iconic “Simply Irresistible” which went to #2.
• 44 years ago (6/24/82) Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder finished seven weeks at #1 with “Ebony and Ivory.“
• 45 years ago (6/27/81) Kim Carnes returned to nine weeks at #1 with Bette David Eyes,” interrupted for one week by Stars on 45.
• 46 years ago (6/23/80) Lipps Inc. had their fourth week at #1 with “Funky Town.“
• 50 years ago (6/23/76) the CN Tower in Toronto opened.
• 57 years ago (6/25/69) The Hollies recorded “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” with Elton John on piano.
• 116 years ago (6/24/1910) Public Law 262 initiated licensing of wireless radio operators on 7/1/1911.

… and 135 years ago (6/23/1891) Nikola Tesla was granted Patent 454,622 for his “couple-tuned circuit radio frequency oscillator.”

How about a few “general history” items as well:

• 5 years ago (6/24/21) 98 people died when the Surfside condo in Florida collapsed.
• 13 years ago (6/23/13) Nick Wallenda crossed the Grand Canyon on a high wire.
• 32 years ago (6/16/94) O.J. Simpson led L.A. police on the famous “low-speed chase.”
• 70 years ago (6/25/56) The last Packard (classic American luxury car) was produced.
• 76 years ago (6/27/50) President Truman ordered U.S. forces to Korea.
• 78 years ago (6/26/48) The U.S. began the Berlin Airlift.
• 197 years ago (6/27/1829) English scientist James Smithson established the Smithsonian Institution. *

… and 393 years ago (6/22/1633) Galileo was convicted of heresy for teaching the earth revolved around the sun.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

* Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Smithsons curious bequest to a country that he had never visited aroused significant attention on both sides of the Atlantic. The gift was $500,000 in 1829 funds. Now there are 19 museums in the complex.

MIDWEEK BONUS

IS THE BIG ONE REALlY COMING?
We have seen jokes about the coming great California earthquake for years. Some decades ago, we were even talking about the Tucson City Beach, after California fell off into the ocean. More seriously, scientists say the pressure on California faultlines has reached the highest stress in 1,000 years. Is the Big One coming?

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PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN US
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PLEASE TELL US WHAT’S WHAT
There are so many areas into which we would like to expand, but it is feedback from you that helps us decided where to go first. Are you interested in a certain piece of gear or technology? Let us know. Even better, would you be willing to do a user report and share your experience?

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We sure do appreciate you spending time with our Newsletter. And even more so when you recommend us to your colleagues and friends.

barry

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Now … some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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