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 835, Volume 17, #2 for August 13, 2025

FCC ACTIONS AND PROMISES
The FCC has continued one initiative and started two more. The Delete Delete Delete effort continues, with close to 100 outdated Broadcast Rules dropped last week. Also the Commission started a complete review of the EAS Rules (Ed’s Take) and the DIRS (Disaster Information Reporting System) – stating they want to ensure they are doing the right thing, simplifying things, and avoiding unnecessary burdens on broadcasters. Of course, we have been waiting for a rewrite on Part 11 for a few years ( https://eas.radiolists.net ) … so the hope is that this will go faster.

On the other hand, the first 2025 list of EEO Audits were announced.

UPCOMING FCC DEADLINES
The FCC Form One on the ETRS (EAS Test Reporting System) is now open. Due on October 3rd, this is mostly a time to update contact information for stations as there will be no NPT this year. Do it now, and be done! Additionally, the 2026 Regulatory Fees will be due in late September. Soon the FCC will set and release the amounts, with a slight decrease expected.

REMOTE CONTROL
You may have noticed that among the FCC’s rule deletions last week there was a line about eliminating power meters.

Could this be a mis-step? Bob Tarsio, from Broadcast Devices thinks it may be. So, as part of his presentation this week, he will offer some thoughts on the FCC’s proposal. He will discuss that along with the topic of remote control and RF site management.

Join us on Thursday … the usual time: 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific.  Link requests are at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ and we will be live on youtube as well.

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


TAB AND ACL
Last week was a busy one. Not only did we drive out to the Texas Association of Broadcasters 2025 Show (and remember: Texas has miles of miles of miles of miles!), one of the best of the regional conventions, but thanks to the kind folks at KLRU and ACL, we got to see a taping of Austin City Limits. Our sincere thanks to Chris and to Katherine!

At the Show itself, the TAB had a very nice, comfortable venue, and it was hard to get around to each and every exhibitor. The TAB even kept made sure we had enough to eat and drink as we wandered among the hundreds of booths.

Oh! One more thing. We originated our weekly zoom meeting from the Nautel booth at TAB. That was our first try from a show floor, but we did have a nice bunch of viewers who put up with it!

LPFM’S NEED TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT POWER
The FCC continues looking at LPFMs to ensure they are (1) in the right place, and (2) using the correct power. WVBH-LP in Benton Harbor has received an NoV noting they are 1.2 miles from their authorized location and running 221% of authorized power. (Having a non-operational EAS decoder did not help)

IT ALERT!
Well over 2/3 of enterprise systems show the existence of dormant privileged accounts. These unused accounts are often unnoticed and when attackers find them, they may not be noticed, leading to exploits of critical systems. Just like everything else in the plant, a routine audit of system users is a smart thing to do from time to time. You might find a long-gone employee’s name still on this system.

IT ALERT2!
As AI continues to make more and more inroads into our lives, the matter of DeepFakes is becoming more serious. Specifically, stations now have to be on the alert for hackers that might use AI to make it appear on-air talent has said improper things as an attack on the station. (It might be your teens that find out first!)

GETTING A REAL HEAD START
Preparations have begun its preparations, including spectrum management for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. To ensure as smooth an event as possible, FCC Chair Brendan Carr was appointed to LA28 Olympics Task Force.

GOODBYE TO DIALUP
40 years ago, AOL started up as Quantum Computer Services, an online bulletin board for Commodore 64 users. It was renamed in 1991 as America Online, with the @aol.com email service starting in 1993. AOL is not closing down. Just the dialup network is being shuttered – AOL users will still be able to hear “You’ve got mail!” 
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

              The Summer/Fall Convention Season continues:

              • IN PROGRESS: Nebraska Broadcasters Association Convention – August 12, 13
              • Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Conference – Nashville – August 18th
              • International: IBC in Amsterdam – September 12-15
              • 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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              NAUTEL has started an MDCL Challenge. Now through October, if you are currently running MDCL or are looking to save on AM power costs, simply using Nautel�s MDCL calculator and submitting your results to Nautel will enter you in a drawing for a Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 5G tablet, or one of three Amazon gift cards ranging from $100 to $500. More information here.

              = = =

              For its live-event-based streaming services, CBC/Radio-Canada, the country’s national public broadcaster, now accommodates up to 80 streaming events simultaneously using only two instances of Lawo’s HOME mc� DSP app.

              = = =

              SCMS               has added Kerri Spader as Strategic Client Relations Manager, coming to SCMS from Katherin Broadcast, where she spent the last 10 years as customer support manager.

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              If you need an HTML extender, Monoprise has a nice selection of options at good prices. There is also a $30 off coupon on the first $100. More info here.

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

               


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

                  • 16 years ago (8/15/09) U2 broke the attendance record at Wembly Stadium with over 88,000 fans.
                  • 29 years ago (8/15/96) “The Macarena” hit the top of the music charts. (Please don’t do that!)
                  • 31 years ago (8/12/94) Woodstock 2 was held in NY. 350,000 attended.
                  • 40 years ago (8/14/85) Michael Jackson bought the Beatles’ publishing rights for $47 million, then selling a 1/2 interest to Sony for $95 million. Macca was not happy.
                  • 41 years ago (8/11/84) Ronald Reagan joked during a voice check that he had “outlawed” Russia and would begin “bombing in five minutes.” The audio was promptly leaked. The Soviets were not amused..
                  • 45 years ag0 (8/11/80) Johnny Cash sung a duet of “Jackson“ with … Miss Piggy on the Muppet Show.
                  • 48 years ago (8/16/77) Elvis left the building – and the Earth.
                  • 52 years ago (8/11/73) American Graffiti opened in the US and the Wolfman howled!
                  • 56 years ago (8/15/69) the Woodstock Music Festival happened – three days that had a major effect on music and culture.
                  • 57 years ago (8/17/68) the Rascals hit #1 with “People Got to Be Free.” It stayed on top for 5 weeks.
                  • 59 years ago (8/13/66) The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer in the City“ hit #1.
                  • 60 years ago (8/16/65) The Beatles became the first group to headline in a US stadium. The screaming girls drowned out the band!
                  • 60 years ago (8/14/65) Sonny and Cher hit #1 for three weeks with “I Got You Babe.”
                  • 88 years ago (8/10/37) the Electric String Corp was awarded the first patent for an electric guitar.

                  .. and 113 years ago (8/13/1912) the Radio Act of 1912 signed by President Taft and began regulation of broadcasting – licenses were now required, but easy to get: all you had to do was ask!

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

                  • 22 years ago (8/14/03) a power blackout hit NYC during sizzling weather.
                  • 31 years ago (8/14/94) the terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal was captured.
                  • 34 years ago (8/18/91) Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was placed under house arrest during a coup by high-ranking members of his own government, military and police forces.
                  • 44 years ago (8/12/81) the IBM personal computer is released.
                  • 48 years ago (8/10/77) the “Son of Sam” was arrested.
                  • 72 years ago (8/19/53) a CIA-assisted coup overthrew the government of Iran.
                  • 80 years ago (8/17/45) George Orwells “Animal Farm” was published.
                  • 90 years ago (8/14/35) FDR signed the Social Security Act.
                  • 179 years ago (8/10/1846) After James Smithson donates $500,000. President Polk signed a Bill to authorize the Smithsonian Institution.

                  … and 232 years ago (8/10/1793) The Louvre Museum opened in Paris.


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

                               


                              MIDWEEK BONUS
                              Though fewer than 300 drive-ins remain in operation across the U.S., the institution nonetheless survives thanks to nostalgia, community support, and a shared memory of an earlier time.

                              Here is a look at Star Trek Technology and how much/if any has actually become part of our lives.

                              = = =

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                                    barry

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