5/5/21

Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert...
This is the BDR Newsletter Volume 12, #40
Here are some things you might want to know about:

FCC MAKES IT EASIER TO GO AM ALL-DIGITAL
The Media Bureau has announced an updated Form 335-AM for stations wishing to convert to all-digital operation.

RF EXPOSURE RULES EVOLVING
The FCC's 2019 Order went into effect this week. It relates to the need for bringing some stations - such as translators under 100W and Amateur stations - under the evaluation procedures. A two-year period is set aside for everyone to get it all done.

LOOKING FOR ELMERS - NOT THE STICKY KIND
Tomorrow's Lunch Gathering features a return visit from Jeff Welton, to discuss issues of importance. This time, we'd like to put a particular focus on how we can learn from others... and how to get there.

The BDR Lunch Gathering is at 2 PM EDT/11 AM PDT, and we welcome you and your colleagues. The link  available by sending a request to e personally or going to www.theBDR.net/TLG/

We hope to see you tomorrow.

CONGRESS ASKS THE FCC TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT LOUD COMMERCIALS
A letter from a Congresswoman to the FCC cites increasing complaints about disparity of  loudness, especially on streaming audio/video. The request led the FCC to seek comments on the issue. The congresswoman notes the lack of enforcement currently, and wants some action.

GOT A PROJECT? LOOK HERE
Since May has sprung, a lot of folks are getting plans ready for Spring and Summer projects.  Need Help? Contact one of these fine folks.

APPLE ISSUES A NEW IPHONE UPDATE TWO DAYS LATER
iOS 14.5.1 has been released to deal with two major hacking problems, with Apple and others strongly suggesting it be installed as soon as possible.

AUDACITY ACQUIRED BY MUSE GROUP
The open software audio editor has been acquired by the maker of Ultimate Guitar, ToneBridge, and MusicScore. The intention is to keep it open source.

CES RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS
After this year's virtual convention, the Consumer Technology Association has set January 5-8, 2022 to return to a live convention in Las Vegas.

APOLLO MANAGEMENT BUYS AOL AND YAHOO
Verizon paid $9 Billion for AOL and Yahoo in 2015 and 2017. Now selling for $5 Billion to close later in the year. Will Yahoo search live again?

NPR IS 50 THIS WEEK
Monday was the 50th anniversary of All Things Considered, one of NPR"s marque programs. You can listen to the May 3, 1971 broadcast.

RUNNING AT THE RIGHT SPEED
With vinyl making a comeback, it is important to ensure you are running at the right speed. Get your strobe out.
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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
 
https://radiomusic.com/
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Some recent articles of interest:

• Join the Lunch Gathering - Thursday 2 PM EDT
• Running at the Right Speed
• Checking Out the Latest System Mechanic - Mike Murrell
• Choosing Elenos Transmitters - Mark Voris
• Acoustics 101 - Understanding the Studio - Jeremy Bongiorno
• NAL WATCH - A Hearing designated for a mostly silent station.
• The Day A Cow Took Our Station Off The Air - Mark Voris
• Understanding Streaming Aggregators - David Bialik
• More newsy items here

__________________________________________________________________
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
 
mailto:stevew@americanamptech.com
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PRODUCT NEWS

INOVONICS is now 49, starting its 50th year. They have put up a celebration video. Take a look:

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ENCO has a new product that raises the bar on speech to text. enCaption4 can not only produce live on-air captions, but can recognize changes in speakers. Now in use on WAMU in Washington DC, enCaption4 lets deaf people "hear" radio broadcasts. More information is at www.enco.com

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More news from manufacturers (and links) are at: www.thebdr.net/manufacturers-news
__________________________________________________________________
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
 
http://cortex360.davicom.com/
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Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

• 26 years ago (5/2/95) Pink Floyd's "The Wall" went Diamond (over 10 Million).
• 35 years ago (5/3/86) Robert Palmer rode a stunning video to #1 with "Addicted to Love."
• 44 years ago (5/7/77) "Hotel California" topped the Hot 100.
• 50 years ago (5/3/71) All Things Considered debuted.
• 56 years ago (5/5/65) a sleepless Keith Richards wrote "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
• 62 years ago (5/4/59) The first Grammy Awards. Song of the year?***
• 63 years ago (5/3/58) Alan Freed hosts a rock concert at the Boston Arena that went bad. The next rock concert in Boston was six years later.
• 84 years ago (5/6/37) the Hindenberg crashed at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey with Herbert Morrison's famous coverage on WLS.
• 87 years ago (5/2/34) W8X0 (WLW) officially became the first - and only - US "super power station" with 500 kW, daytime. President Roosevelt activated the transmitter.

... and a couple of more newsy items:

• 12 years ago (4/27/09) GM decided to phase out Pontiac vehicles.
• 27 years ago (5/6/94) the English Channel Tunnel (The Chunnel) opened.
• 27 years ago (5/4/94) Yitzak Rabin and Yassir Arafat signed an accord for Palestinian home rule.
• 42 years ago (5/4/79) Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister in England.
• 51 years ago (5/4/70) National Guard troops killed four students at Kent State. (longer story below)
• 60 years ago (5/5/61) Alan Shepherd, Jr became the first American in space, in the Freedom 7 space capsule, one month after Russia's Gagarin.  Mission length? ****

And 219 years ago (5/3/1802) Washington, DC became a city. Or something else. At least it was a municipal Charter.
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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
 
www.myat.com
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*** The 1959 Grammy Record of the Year was Domenico Modugno's "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (Volare)." Henry Mancini took Album of the Year with "The Music From Peter Gunn" soundtrack. And Best R&B: The Champs' "Tequila."

**** Shepherd was in space for 15 minutes.   But it was a start!

WEDNESDAY BONUS

The Kent State shooting occurred 50 years ago. The picture we know is one of the seminal pictures of modern American history.  But the girl was not a student!  The full story.

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barry

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