Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 852, Volume 17, #19 for December 10, 2025

DDD IS MADE OFFICIAL
We have heard a lot in recent months about the Delete, Delete, Delete effort at the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC said this week that it has now officially closed the 2,048 inactive proceedings it had noted some weeks ago.

MAKING LISTS AND CHECKING THEM TWICE
As the year ends, a lot of lists are being made, both at work and at home. While the End of Year is not the deadline for everything, the relative pause in activity offers a good time to sit down and start a list of projects and site checks that will ensure the best operations into the new year. Take the list to the transmitter site, too, and make notes. What you see now may make projects go easier through the year.

2026 FOR SURE
Is your calendar running out of pages? Are you looking for a good broadcast Calendar to guide you through the year? Our friend John Schneider has announced the 2026 edition of the Radio Historian’s calendarm featuring fourteen high-resolution colorized photographs of radio broadcasting’s glorious 100+ year history. Additionally, each month’s calendar page commemorates important dates in radio history. Check it out here!

GETTING THE RIGHT WORDS OUT
This week in the communications industry, we would like to focus on communication. Yes, something that is often truly needed – but in at least two different directions. First: are we really getting the information our listeners/viewers need, especially in emergencies? And, second, are we communicating within the industry to ensure our systems are safe and secure? Last week we focused on equipment – and this is a theme we should always pay attention to – let’s add to that our efforts to ensure not only are our program streams secure, but we get the full information out to the public. Charles Helstein is out guest this week, and plans to share some simple but effective solutions.

Join us on Thursday at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. The link request is on www.theBDR.net/TLG/

DID YOU KNOW?
There are now some 200 videos from our weekly zoom meetings, covering a lot of topics, at no charge. An index to those videos is also on www.theBDR.net/TLG/

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

JUST WHAT DID HAPPEN IN NEVADA LAST WEEK?
We still do not know as yet. Residents in northern Nevada near Reno woke up to confusion late last week, although not because of any shaking. It was a 5.9 earthquake, according to the USGS alert. The only problem was: no one felt anything, anywhere. Was it another hacking incident or a technical problem at USGS? Either way, the alert just disappeared. No formal announcement has been made, although an investigation is under way.

PIRATE SEACHES CONTINUE
Finding the source of pirate stations continues to be a priority for the FCC. Letters warning landlords show up regularly, and not only at big apartment buildings were identifying the actual location can be a bit difficult. A recent Notice from the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau detailed an unusual location: The FCC’s Field Agents found a pirate at a Latin restaurant in Williamsburg, VA.

REGARDING THE FCC OWNERSHIP RULES
The Commission is discussing relaxing some of the ownership rules for radio and TV. The NAB has asked the FCC to start with radio, because of the competition and financial pressures from the “new” players in this digital era, including music streamers and podcasts. There are also efforts on the TV side as well to increase the reach of the broadcast companies past the existing limits.

SPEAKING OF CONSOLIDATION
This week Netflix announced a deal to buy Warner Brothers and HBO’s assets for around $80 Billion (with a B). Paramount, among others, were not giving up and announced a possible stock purchase effort. Either way, Warner Brothers and HBO stockholders will come out with a good payoff, and the TV/Movie/Streaming category may have one less company in the crowd.

WHY BROADCAST CONVENTIONS ARE IMPORTANT
While it is possible to see and do a lot on the Internet, especially Zoom meetings, attendance at one or more of the industry conventions offers a major opportunity to meet fellow broadcasters and see manufacturers’ products close up. After the recent Western Association of Broadcasters (WABE) convention in Calgary (their 75th), the immediate past President, Tessa Potter, shares her views of why the convention, and the WABE, are of such value to their members.

WANTED
Someone is looking for a Scott LP-3 AM Loop Antenna. Have one on the shelf? This and other items wanted – or for sale – are on the BDR Buy/Sell Page.

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

 

Some recent articles of interest:

• The Quiet After the WABE: A Reflection – Tessa Potter
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch – FM station spur on ATC channel
• Inside the EmPower: Intelligent Control – Matt Rigdon
• Resisting the Spam Flood – Mike Langner
• i Critter Control – Jeff Welton
• Why is 50 Ohms the Standard? – Barry Mishkind
• Planning Your Studio Before You Build – Gordon Carter
• Dana’s Daily Deals

More newsy items here…

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

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

Digital Alert Systems has introduced its new DAS3-DC-PS. This new option for the DASDEC-III EAS units has been designed to respond to the growing demand for DC-powered infrasturcture – offering -36VDC to -72VDC, which puts the popular -48VDC source right at hand, eliminating the need for AC/DC convertors. DAS touts the negative Voltage as having several benefits.

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A new product from Broadcast Devices directly addresses a need in many broadcast studios. The RAS-200 Series Passive Audio Switchers is now available. The series includes an 8-channel stereo and a 16-channel mono switch. These units employ relay-based passive signal paths to ensure uncompromised audio integrity while supporting analog, AES3 digital, and control signals. With dual power supplies and remote control, they are useful for many functions.

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If you are headed to Barcelona in February for Integrated Systems Europe (February 3-6, 2026), Lawo invites you to see their demonstrations of their HOME Platform and HOME apps. Along with the scalable mixing console, HOME provides audio and video processing and transport to meet the Pro-AV industry’s growing demand for flexibility, scalability, and software-defined workflows.

Meanwhile, Lawo has partnered with SMPTE and other industry partners to introduce the SMPTE ST 2110 Practical Lab, an immersive training program designed to accelerate the industry’s migration from SDI to IP workflows. Immersive training at Lawo HQ empowers professionals to master next-generation IP workflows using the SMPTE ST 2110 standards and cutting-edge technology.

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

 

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

• 1 year ago (12/8/24) Taylor Swift concludes the 149-concert, 5-continent Eras Tour.
• 9 years ago (12/10/16) Bob Dylan finally accepted the Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded in October. *
• 12 years ago (12/13/23) Beyonce released a self-titled album with no notice – driving radio PDs crazy.
• 18 years ago (12/10/07) Led Zeppelin reunites for a one-off concert in London. John Bonham’s son, Jason, played the drums.
• 31 years ago (12/12/94) Beach Boys’ lead singer Mike Love is awarded songwriting credits for 35 Beach Boys’ songs.
• 36 years ago (12/9/89)  Billy Joel’s “We Didnt Start the Fire” hit #1.
• 45 years ago (12/8/80) John Lennon was shot dead in NYC.
• 53 years ago (12/9/72) Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” hit #1.
• 55 years ago (12/12/70) “Tears Of A Clown” gave Smokey Robinson & The Miracles their first #1 pop hit.
• 58 years ago (12/9/67) Jim Morrison became the first rock star arrested in mid-performance.**
• 62 years ago (12/7/63) the Singing Nun reached #1 for four weeks with “Dominique.“
• 64 years ago (12/11/61) Please Mr. Postman was the very first #1 hit from Motown. ***
• 68 years ago (12/13/57) the first mass produced stereophonic disc, was released to the public. Side 1 featured the Dukes of Dixieland, and Side 2 featured railroad and other sound effects designed to engage and envelop the listener.
• 68 years ago (12/11/57) Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year-old niece, damaging his career.
• 102 years ago (12/6/1923) the first presidential address on US radio. Which President? ****
• 119 years ago (12/11/1906) Reginald Fessenden was said to transmit his first radiotelephone message. (There is evidence that the real date was earlier.)

… and 161 years ago (12/11/1864) James Clerk Maxwell’s paper “A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” was first read by the Royal Society in London and subsequently published by the Royal Society in 1865.

And here are some “regular news history” type items:

• 17 years ago (12/11/08) Billionaire con man Bernard Madoff arrested.
• 31 years ago (12/11/94) Russian forces entered Chechnya.
• 38 years ago (12/9/87) Microsoft released Windows 2.0.
• 45 years ago (12/12/80) Apple Computer held its initial public offering, selling 4.6 million shares at $22 per share and turning more than 40 Apple employees and investors into instant millionaires.
• 47 years ago (12/11/78) Millions were stolen from JFK Airport in infamous ‘Lufthansa heist.’
• 56 years ago (12/11/69) Soviets declare nudity a sign of “western decadence.”
• 57 years ago (12/9/68) the first computer mouse was demonstrated.
• 64 years ago (12/11/61) the First U.S. helicopters arrived in South Vietnam.
• 67 years ago (12/10/58) The first domestic jet air service began by National Airlines  (BOAC began on 5/2/1952).
• 84 years ago (12/11/41) Germany and Italy declared war on the US.
• 84 years ago (12/7/41) like 9/11, a date that has lived in infamy: when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
• 89 years ago (12/11/36) Edward VIII abdicates after ruling for less than one year, becoming the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne.
• 123 years ago (12/10/1901) The First Nobel Prizes awarded in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace.

… and 238 years ago (12/7/1787) Delaware became the first State of the US, by ratifying the Constitution.

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

 

* Dylan had to deliver a required speech to get the 8m Kroner (almost $1 Million) prize.

** Morrison was booked for inciting a riot, indecency, and public obscenity.

*** The Marvelettes was the first group at Motown to garner a #1 hit.

MIDWEEK BONUS

THOSE WHO WILL GET RIFFED
Do you know which are the most endangered occupations over the next ten years? According to data form the Bureau of Labor Statistics, typists, roof bolters (mining), and telephone operators are the top three occupations expected to lose about 1/3 of jobs. Interestingly, of the top 30 jobs expected to shrink, radio/TV announcers and engineers are not listed! Of course, in many cases, there is not much more shrinkage that can happen in this field. At least we hope so!

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Strong Cement
Anyone who has visited Italy, or studied the Roman Empire, is impressed with how long many of the buildings have lasted. The secret? The Romans made their concrete in a way that surpasses what is made today. Take a look at the 1st Century tech.

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PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND
We sure hope you are finding the BDR and the Newsletter to be of value to you. If so, there are two things that you can do to ensure the BDR keeps pulsing along:
        1. Invite a colleague or a friend to sign up for the Newsletter. Since it is only one-time-a-week, you will not be accused of flooding their in-boxes!
        2. Anytime you deal with one of our sponsors, letting them know the BDR is important to you will make them happy – and ready to keep on supporting the BDR.

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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Yes … you might have seen it before, but we should do this: some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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