Barry Mishkind

The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource

... edited by Barry Mishkind - the Eclectic Engineer

This Week’s Newsletter

Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 832, Volume 16, #52 for July 23, 2025

THE FCC MOVES INTO OVERDRIVE
It did not take long for the FCC to put some broadcast issues on the Agenda. August 7th’s Open Meeting should see the first round of Delete, Delete, Delete, with the Commission using its “direct final rule” process to expeditiously drop nearly 100 broadcast rules identified as obsolete, outdated, or unnecessary. At the same time, an NPRM to review and address a number of concerns with the EAS will be voted on. We have several articles posted on the BDR that discuss ideas about EAS, pro and con. Check them out here.

AN ACCOMMODATION FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STATIONS
Another closely watched matter relates to the recent rescission of money for the CPB. Some non-comm stations that rely on CPB money are worried, including 28 tribal radio stations in some of the most rural areas. Those can breathe a bit easier thanks to Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) efforts.

A HEBA DISCUSSION
HEBA. You know, the High Efficiency Broadband Antenna that has been built and proven in Massachusetts. The FCC has now permitted this antenna for day and night use. At the Spring NAB, David Maxson delivered a presentation on what had been proven and how this helps AM broadcasters.

Join us at the usual time and place: 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific on our Zoom link (or even on Youtube live, although interaction is a bit more difficult). The link request is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ as usual, along with a list of upcoming presentations, including next   week’s look at the Aqua Broadcast Cobalt transmitters.


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


THERE IS A PROPER WAY
There are a number of reasons why the control of a radio or TV station changes, requiring notification to the FCC – before the transfer. When it does not happen, fines can occur.

NEED AN NRSC MEASUREMENT?
We are more than halfway through 2025, and if you have not yet done the NRSC measurement on your AM transmitter, this is the time to get it done, while techs are in the field. Here are some folks who can help.

AIR FILTER ALERT
Fires in Canada last week brought air quality issues to the Upper Midwest. It was so bad Toronto notched one of the worst air quality days in the world. All of this is a reminder to check your air filters during this heavy air conditioning season – both in the AC and the transmitter!

AI, YII YII
The use of AI in broadcasting is growing, and wise companies are watching, using careful guardrails to ensure what is broadcast is correct. However, the dangers are out there already. For example, on TikTok, deep fake videos mimicking real people, but offering mis-information. Watch out: your talent may “seem” to be saying some strange things on these videos.

Also, here is something to consider: one French investigator exposed over 4,000 news websites made with AI, and containing false stories designed to fool Google Discover and other search engines to generate revenue. This shows how stations need to be careful what sources they use – and AI itself – to ensure accuracy on the air.

FOR SALE
Would you like something for a special promotion? This is one of those deals where a listener seeks to grab a prize by guessing the right code. A station has a “Visible Vault” that they would like someone to come and take it home. This and other items are on the ForSale Page. 
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Some recent articles of interest:

            More newsy items here…

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

             
             MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

            Inovonics has announced the promotion of Earl Sondreal to Director � Sales & Marketing Americas. Also, Mukesh Chaudhary has been promoted to Director- Sales & Marketing International.

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            Nautel’s VX Series users will welcome the recent upgrades to the system, including internal audio playout and streaming.

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            The summer regional convention season is now underway around the country.

            • Texas Association of Broadcasters – August 6, 7
            • Alabama Broadcast Association – August 7, 8
            • Nebraska Broadcasters Association Convention – August 12, 13
            • Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Conference – Nashville – August 18th
            • Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic at Madison, WI – September 15-17
            • Georgia Association of Broadcasters� – Atlanta – September 19, 20
            • Midwest Broadcast & Multimedia Technology Conference – Columbus, OH – September 24-26
            • WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference – Calgary Canada – September 29 – October 1
            • Kansas Association of Broadcasters Convention Manhattan KS – October 6th
            • CCBE/OAB Conferences Toronto Canada – October 27, 28

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            Other World Computing has released a new portable storage product, the Guardian. Available in 1, 2, and 4 TB, it features a USB 3.2 transfers and a touch screen for password entry.


            More items are here…

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

             


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

            • 5 years ago (7/25/20) Maren Morris finally dropped from #1 on the Country sales charts after a 19 week run.
            • 14 years ago (7/23/11) Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.
            • 36 years ago (7/23/89) Ringo Star began his first tour after the Beatles with his All-Star Band.
            • 36 years ago (7/21/89) Milli Vanilli ran from the stage when their vocal track suddenly looped. *
            • 36 years ago (7/21/89) Weird Al Yankovciks movie “UHF” premiered.
            • 39 years ago (7/26/86) Peter Gabriel hit #1 with “Sledgehammer.”
            • 43 years ago (7/24/82) “Eye Of The Tiger” from Rocky III tops the U.S. pop charts for the first of six weeks.
            • 50 years ago (7/26/75) Van McCoy’s “The Hustle” was the #1 song in America.
            • 60 years ago (7/25/65) Bob Dylan went “electric” and was booed at the Newport Folk Festival.
            • 62 years ago (7/20/63) Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” hit #1. It was written by **
            • 85 years ago (7/20/40) Billboard’s first industry-wide #1 hit: “I’ll Never Smile Again,” by Tommy Dorsey – with vocalist Frank Sinatra.

            … and 128 years ago (7/20/1897) The Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company UK was founded.

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

            • 25 years ago (7/25/00) the Concorde crashed in Paris, essentially leading to the end of its service in 2003.
            • 34 years ago (7/22/91) cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was caught.
            • 47 years ago (7/25/78) the first “Test Tube Baby” was born.
            • 51 years ago (7/27/74) impeachment articles against Richard Nixon were approved.
            • 56 years ago (7/20/69) Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. ***
            • 66 years ago (7/24/59) Nixon debated Khrushschev at a fair in Moscow.
            • 69 years ago (7/26/56) Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal.
            • 76 years ago  (7/27/1949), the worlds first jet-propelled airliner, the British De Havilland Comet, made its maiden test-flight in England.
            • 91 years ago (7/22/34) Infamous gangster John Dillinger was killed by a federal agent.
            • 92 years ago (7/22/33) Wiley Post flew solo around the world.
            • 104 years ago (7/27/1921) Insulin was isolated in Toronto, Canada.
            • 114 years ago (7/24/1911) Machu Picchu was discovered.
            • 117 years ago (7/26/1908) the FBI was founded.

            … and 250 years ago (7/26/1775) the U.S. postal system was established by the Second Continental Congress – Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster general.


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

                         


                        * Milli Vanilli was not the first, but a famous example of a “group” that did not, in fact, sing on their own records. .

                        **  Surf City was written by Brian Wilson, who had never gone surfing in his life. Worse, his father hated that he gave a #1 hit single to another group than the Beach Boys.

                        *** … and people still debate exactly what Armstrong said – and what he meant to say.

                        MIDWEEK BONUS

                        Tired of Windows “Blue Screen of Death?” So, apparently is Microsoft. A new screen is displayed in major problem situations.

                        AI DOES NOT ALWAYS WIN
                        Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen beats ChatGPT – and without losing a single piece!

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                              barry

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