Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 818, Volume 16, #38 for April 23, 2025

NOT A DECIMAL POINT ERROR
Stations over 10 Watts must keep their transmitter power output (TPO) between 90% and 105% of the power authorized by the FCC. For FM’s this is in Section 73.268 of the Rules. A Florida station, licensed to 126 Watts TPO was found, during an inspection, to be running 811% of authorized power – just slightly out of the acceptable range.

A FINE THAT IS NOT FINE
Last year AT&T was fined $57 million by the FCC for not properly protecting the location information of customers. This week, a Fifth Circuit decision said the FCC violated the 7th Amendment by issuing fines without a trial. At least one Commissioner is now against all fines until the enforcement issues are solved – whether by changes in the FCC Rules or an Act of Congress, or both. This could get interesting.

DELETE DELETE DELETE
Truthfully, is there anyone who has not looked at the FCC’s Rules and Regulations and said “that really is not a useful rule?”

Some of the rules do not make sense given changes in technology and society. And, as just one example, the whole EAS section (Part 11) has needed a number of revisions/deletions since 2012, when the FCC promised a re-write. And do not forget the FCC has a lot of responsibilities aside from Part 73, 74, 11, and 17 – there are over 100 Parts.

Over 900 submissions have already been made – the NAB alone had 80 pages – and the Reply Comments are due soon. What should you know? What might you want to comment on? Michelle Bradley of RecNet will join us this week to review some of what has been submitted and what she – and you – might suggest should be confirmed or included. Michi has already prepared a summary of some of the comments, to give you a head start: https://recnet.net/fcc/Delete_Delete_Delete-broadcasting_comments.pdf

The link request is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/

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

WHEN TWO IS ONLY ONE
A few months back we were entertained by the story of a “tower that disappeared overnight” in Jasper AL. A NOV issued by the FCC EB more recently concerns a two-tower directional station in Puerto Rico that is operating in a non-directional mode without FCC approval.

CPB MAKES CHANGES
Kathy Merritt and Debra Sanchez succeed Michael Levy and Teresa Safon, who will retain consultant roles.

STOCK MARKET WOES CONTINUE
Both iHeart and Cumulus are trading stock under $1.00 and under threat of delisting. Audacy was delisted last November, and now trades at $0.06 a share.

ALPHABET GETS KNOCKED A BIT
According to a judge, Alphabet’s Google illegally dominates online advertising in two areas. What comes out of it is still being determining.

FOR SALE
Could you use an emergency spare for a station on 940? There is a completely rebuilt Armstrong kilowatt available at a reasonable price. A Moseley codec system, a Harris HT35, a pair of RCA BTF 20Es, and a Burk ARCPlusSL are all new to the list. Check them out here.

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

 

Some recent articles of interest:

• Radio In The Good Old Days – Ron Schacht
• A Look at the NAB’s 2025 Spring Show
• The Orban 8000 at 50 years – Barry Mishkind
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch – Not paying and not responding leads the FCC to issue a “D” to Texas station.
• Troubleshooting 101 – What to Do While Waiting for the Engineer – Barry Mishkind
• Measuring RF Power – Getting It Right – Bob Tarsio
• Registered Plug? No, It’s A Jack – Rolf Taylor
• Ham Radio: Emergency News Service – Mike Langner
• Dana’s Daily Deals

More newsy items here

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

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

The NAB Spring Show is in the rear-view mirror. As we unpack the literature and the Press Releases, it is clear this year is more of a minor upgrade year, in the main. There were some new things and some nice improvements to existing product lines. Here are a couple if notes as we go.

GatesAir released there new AirWatch 365, and remote monitoring service as part of their “GatesAir Care” customer service offerings.

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American Amplifier Technology is now offering HD technology in their transmitter line.

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Would you like a really “special” turntable? One that uses a special platter that uses magnetic levitation to “float” above the glowing multi-color base which eliminate any rumble or other vibrations and the lights react to the music? Audio-Technica has just the model for you – the Hotaru.  Oh … yes … it is priced at “only” $9,999.

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

 


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

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

• 9 years ago (4/21/16) the singer Prince died of an apparent overdose.
• 37 years ago (4/23/88) Whitney Houston hit #1 with “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?“
• 47 years ago (4/22/78) the Blues Brothers first appeared on Saturday Night Live.
• 47 years ago (4/22/78) Bob Marley headlines One Love Peace Concert.
• 47 years ago (4/22/78) Steve Martin performs “King Tut” on Saturday Night Live. He eventually sold 500,000 copies.
• 62 years ago (4/21/63) Little Peggy March hit #1 with “I Will Follow Him.“
• 64 years ago (4/20/61) FCC set up the FM Stereo rules.
• 65 years ago (4/21/60) Dick Clark testified at the Congress Payola hearing, admiting 27% of his playlist was paid.
• 77 years ago (4/20/48) Columbia records introduced the 33 1/3 rpm record.
• 103 years ago these stations were first licensed by the Department of Commerce: 04/25/1922   WSOY-1340  Decatur, IL   – 04/26/1922   WBAP-820   Fort Worth, TX 

… and 115 years ago (4/24/1910) Public Law 262 required the Commerce Department to issue licenses for radio communication operators on ships.

How about some “regular news” type items?

• 20 years ago (4/23/05) the first video was uploaded on YouTube.
• 39 years ago (4/26/86) the Russian nuclear disaster at Chernobyl happened. (a group of engineers began an electrical-engineering experiment on the Number 4 reactor).
• 40 years ago (4/23/85) CocaCola introduced “New Coke.” (Extra credit: how long did it take to restore “Classic Coke” to the marketplace?*)
• 55 years ago (4/22/70) the first Earth Day, to increase awareness of the world’s environmental problems, was celebrated in the US.
• 56 years ago (4/23/69) Sirhan Sirhan receives death penalty for assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
• 71 years ago (4/23/54) Hank Aaron knocked out the first home run of his Major League Baseball career.
• 71 years ago (4/26/54) the Salk polio vaccine field trials, involving 1.8 million children, began.
• 110 years ago (4/25/1915) the ill-fated allied invasion of Gallipoli began.
• 111years ago (4/23/1914) Wrigley Field opened in Chicago.
• 129 years ago (4/21/1895) the first movie projector was demonstrated in United States.
• 166 years ago (4/25/1859) Ground was broken for the Suez Canal.

…and 225 years ago (4/24/1800) the Library of Congress established.

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

 


* It took only three months after “New Coke” was released: Classic Coke was promptly back on the shelves and people were muttering about an “Edsel.”

MIDWEEK BONUS

Do you know what “Wi-Fi” stands for? This is a trick question. Check the answer below.

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And, then there is this: Can you believe your eyes?

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….and did you guess what Wi-Fi stands for? According to Phil Belanger, a founding member of WECA, and someone who helped  select title: “Wi-Fi doesn’t stand for anything. It is not an acronym. There is no meaning.” It just sounded good and helped sell the new 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:
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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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