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KBEST Media, LLC enters into consent decree to resolve political file investigation

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Americom Limited Partnership enters into consent decree to resolve political file investigation

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) and the Media
Bureau of the FCC have identified two mutually exclusive short-form applications to participate in Auction 111.

Here’s what happens next, with settlement agreements due by November 30.

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NEW YORK — What could be Gordon Smith‘s final public appearance as President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters was met with a standing ovation and words of praise from the heads of Beasley Media Group and Hearst Television as the former Oregon Senator prepares to enter retirement at years end.

Smith, the NAB’s head since November 2009, received the Radio Ink Lifetime Achievement Award at Forecast 2021, held Tuesday at the Harvard Club.

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The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation has elected leaders at iHeartMedia, Cox Media Group and Allen Media Group to serve on its Board of Directors in accordance with Leadership Foundation bylaws.

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NEW YORK — When it comes to Washington, D.C., activities of significance to broadcast media, there is perhaps no bigger topic of conversation today than the nominations from President Biden of Jessica Rosenworcel to serve as the full Chairman of the FCC and the selection as a Democratic nominee for FCC Commissioner of Gigi Sohn.

Sohn’s chances of winning a seat on the Commission is vitally important, and a Forecast 2022 session tackled the subject.

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Leadership changes are on the horizon for two working groups of the National Radio Systems Committee focused on important technical matters for U.S. radio broadcasting. One focuses on digital radio standards development, the other on radio metadata.

The NRSC is a technical standards-setting body co-sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters, representing the transmission side of the radio broadcast industry, and the Consumer Technology Association, representing the reception side.

Alan Jurison

The NRSC’s IBOC Standards Development Working Group, which is a subgroup of the Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) subcommittee, will be chaired by Alan Jurison, a senior operations engineer with iHeartMedia. Jurison has served as chair of the NRSC’s Metadata Usage Working Group since 2012.

Jurison will be tasked with overseeing headline-making activities within the IBOC standards group. This work includes developing an NRSC guideline for all-digital AM radio stations and updating the NRSC-5 digital radio standard (the technical standard behind Xperi’s HD Radio digital radio system).

Updating that standard is a task undertaken by the group every five years.

“Having Alan as the new [IBOC group] chair is a great development,” said Glynn Walden, consultant to Audacy and co-chair of the DRB subcommittee. “Alan has been a major contributor to NRSC technical documents and done an outstanding job at the helm of the [Metadata Usage Working Group].”

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David Bialik

As for the Metadata Usage Working Group, consultant David Bialik of David K. Bialik & Associates takes the helm as chair. The working group is a subgroup of the Data Services and Metadata Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Shultis, CTO of New York Public Radio.

Right off the bat, Bialik will be responsible for leading the development of NRSC-G304, a guideline for streaming audio metadata.

“David’s expertise in the area of streaming for broadcast audio will be put to good use as the new chair,” Shultis said. “Radio broadcasters rely increasingly upon their audio streams and the NRSC is eager to help develop better standards in this area.”

Jurison succeeds Randy Woods, who until recently was with New Hampshire Public Radio. Bialik succeeds Jurison as chair of MUWG.

The post NRSC Names New Chairs for Working Groups appeared first on Radio World.

Have you harbored a dream of tracking down modern-day pirates? Two new job positions recently opened by the Federal Communications Commission may give you that chance.

The FCC recently posted two openings for field agents as part of the commission’s Enforcement Bureau. The first position is located in Chicago; the second is in New Orleans.

Both positions revolve around enforcing regulations, resolving radio frequency interference, educating users and investigating unlicensed radio operation violations (thar be your pirates).

Posted salary range: roughly $92k–$132k.

The position includes performing fieldwork, serving as a point of contact in matters of fixed and mobile radio direction-finding and interference resolution, and participating in enforcement and engineering projects with regional or national applications. Candidates must be able to operate and understand all field-ready technical equipment, including RF spectrum analyzers, field-strength meters, radio frequency radiation survey meters and radio receivers.

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The position also requires candidates to initiate official notices of violation, participate in regional emergency planning meetings, serve as a local expert in emergency communications restoration, and assist in planning bureau enforcement and compliance workshops.

A certain amount of field ruggedness is required, too. Agents will operate an SUV during routine field activities, which may happen during adverse weather conditions or in darkness.

The position has clear eligibility requirements too — either a degree in professional engineering or a combination of education and specialized experience.

The official announcement has further details on the positions and applicants can apply directly on the USAJOBS website. Job applications are being accepted through Nov. 22, 2021.

The post FCC Looks to Fill Two Enforcement Agent Positions appeared first on Radio World.

SEATTLE — FEMA and Bonneville International Corp.‘s Seattle radio stations are preparing to unveil an “all-hazards upgrade” to what is considered to be the “Primary Entry Point” facility at one of the market’s leading spoken word radio stations.

Bonneville News/Talker KIRO-AM will light up its PEP Transmitter site on Friday (11/19).

The modernization to the emergency studio increases KIRO-AM’s resiliency to continue broadcasting under all conditions, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.

The facility is one of 77 across the country that serve as a National Public Warning System Primary Entry Point (PEP) station, participating with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during and after incidents and disasters.

KIRO-AM is the 14th station in the country to work with FEMA to complete the all-hazards
upgrade, which includes increased sheltering capabilities, expanded broadcast capacity, and
sustainable power generation for all types of hazardous events.

Friday’s event, which begins at 11am Pacific, includes official remarks, a Q&A session, a tour of the facility, and live demonstration at the KIRO-AM PEP station emergency studio.

Bonneville International President Darrell Brown will be joined by local dignitaries and staff at the event.

He’s been VP and Director of Sales and Marketing for The CW Seattle since 2017 and, for three years before that, the station’s Local Sales Manager. He joined the station in 2012.

Now, this nearly decade-long station veteran has been promoted to VP/Station Manager for the CBS News and Stations property serving the biggest market in the Pacific Northwest.

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In 1970, 15-year-old high school sophomore Paul Tinkle joined WCMT(AM/FM) as a “cleanup” boy. 

Today he is the president and part-owner of Thunderbolt Broadcasting, which includes one AM and four FMs as well as seven translators (Tinkle calls them “local FMs”) that serve northwest Tennessee and parts of Kentucky. He is also a former member of the NAB Radio Board.

He recalls that years ago, when an engineer took ill for several months, Tinkle suddenly realized how little he knew about his own facilities. So he started to bone up.

Today he advocates for owners and managers to participate in the creation of maintenance programs and technical documentation, and encourages them to become familiar with their facilities and with basic engineering concepts. 

His engineer visits Thunderbolt’s RF sites monthly, checking everything from the ASRN sign to the tower lights and replacing transmitter filters. Each RF site has a metal bookcase filled with equipment manuals; and Tinkle’s cellphone has the names of dozens of engineers and suppliers he could call if necessary, to help if he had an urgent problem. 

Paul Tinkle wrote the following list of 57 assorted ideas, tips and best practices. He shared it with Radio World for our ebook “Mission-Critical: Maintaining Your Transmitter Site.”

A documentation shelf, two sizes of ladder and a Shop-Vac are at the ready.

1) Purchase a label maker, and see that all equipment is labeled using the name you commonly use when referring to it. Label everything in your service rack. Label the front and back of each piece of equipment as well as where the plugs and wires are inserted.)

2) Label STLs, Marti units and other RF equipment. Include call signs. Note the date each piece of equipment went into service. Do the same for computers, noting their install date. Label the front of each satellite receiver with the name of the program associated with that receiver. Include the serial number on the front.

3) Label your station “calls” on remote gear including headphones, power cords and of course phone and RF equipment that is used on the road. Take a photo of your remote gear with your smartphone or camera.

4) Learn how to read and take transmitter meter readings. Take the actual readings occasionally to stay fresh. Know the transmitter codes and all passwords relating to everything you own. Keep a central log of passwords, and make sure key personnel know how to access it. Change factory default passwords when new equipment arrives.

5) Make sure all EAS equipment includes written instructions on how to perform an EAS test. Keep instructions in the control room.

6) At an AM station, inspect your antenna tuning unit (ATU) at the tower base to check for snakes, birds or other unwelcome intruders or problems.

7) Confirm that your Antenna Structure Registration Number (ASRN) is displayed clearly at the tower site, that your fence is structurally sound and the gate is locked.

8) Inspect your guy wires for damaged insulators. Inspect tower anchors for possible damage due to mowing or lightning. Keep your tower site mowed and neat. FCC inspectors often can tell who’s doing a good job of taking care of their license just by looking at the grass; at least give them a good first impression.

9) Keep a spare set of keys to everything you own. Put it in your vehicle or hidden at the tower site.

10) Keep a journal or notebook — not just a legal pad — at the remote tower site; mandate that anyone who enters the tower building log tower readings and the time they came in and out of your building and the site. Keep a copy of your “vital” records — e.g. the license — in a binder, in plastic sheets. This includes STL (license) path information and transmitter info. Having these at the tower site allows you to access information like transmitter power out (TPO) quickly.

11) Keep a spare tube and parts kit for your transmitter and other vital equipment close by. This includes a fan.

12) At the tower site, keep a set of basic tools and a first aid kit. Also put in a supply of drinking water, paper towels, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and a cot for resting. Engineers may need to take a break, especially if they’ve been working on equipment all night. At some remote sites, for instance where weather might shutter someone in, consider supplies for a longer-term stay such as blankets and non-perishable food. 

13) Change or clean all filters on transmitters and HVAC units.

14) Clean all transmitter and computer filters monthly. Suck out the dust for longer life!

15) Keep a Shop-Vac or similar wet/dry vacuum at the site to help keep the building and equipment clean.

16) Store several flashlights and batteries in your building (including studio control rooms too). Check your smoke detectors annually for performance. Change batteries when you adjust your clocks twice a year.

17) If you have a generator, check it monthly and exercise it weekly. Ensure that you have extra oil and coolant. Check the fuel level. Log it in your journal and write down the hours it was exercised. Put it “online” at least every month.

18)  Personally inspect your towers at night to confirm that all bulbs are burning. Inspect the tower to confirm it will pass FCC paint regulations.

Tower and site inspection sheet.

19) When a bulb goes out, document that you have notified the appropriate officials. Keep the Flight Services NOTAM line phone number (877-487-6867) and your ASRN at hand. Store the ASRN for each site in your smartphone.

20) At AM stations, confirm that your annual NRSC Occupied Bandwidth Measurement and Frequency Test was done within the past 14 months and have it ready for the FCC upon request.

21) Visually inspect your STL, Marti and other auxiliary antennas. Are they secure on your service tower? Check that wind has not damaged or loosened radials.

22) Walk around the back of your radio station and transmitter building to see if anything is out of place. This could be anything such as loose cables, vandalism damage, or strange visitors — cats, rats, snakes, deer, bear, opossum, turkey or groundhogs.

23) Keep spare tools in your vehicle including an air pump for flat tires or slow leaks that happen while you are at the tower site. It will happen.

24) Keep wasp/hornet repellant available. Always have duct tape on hand. It can fix most problems.

25) Show full- and part-time employees where vital controls are located including the electrical breaker box. Label your breakers in the electrical box.

26) Communicate with your engineer regularly, especially if something doesn’t seem right.

27) Instruct part-timers how to turn on and turn off vital equipment such as a backup transmitter.

28) Place combination locks on all gates and tower entrances. Cover them with a piece of rubber tire and a potato chip clip to keep moisture out and prevent freezing.   

29) Keep good records about your equipment, including pictures of all devices. Your smartphone is your friend.

30) If you ship a piece of equipment for repair, tape your business card to it. Use your label maker and put your company’s name on the equipment. (If you put your bumper sticker on it, they will definitely know whose it is.)

31) Be proactive. Ask your engineer what they need to do their job better. Sometimes it’s just an extra roll of tape or a new soldering iron. Sometimes they might tell you something really important that you didn’t know.

32) Document everything. Keep a paper trail for things you do, things the engineer does, things that need to get done, things that got done and things that are undone.

33) Write or print legibly.

34) Teach others in your radio station family the important things. Any DJ/announcer, office manager or newsperson might have to fill in suddenly.

35) If you have a remote vehicle, drive it yourself, inspect it for damage and keep a service record. Check the tires and alignment. It may pull to one side or make a noise; it may need to be cleaned of trash. If connected to remote gear, make sure you have tested it personally.

The station vehicle is well supplied.

36) Inventory any play-by-play equipment. Learn what needs to be replaced or repaired and is being treated professionally. Put headphones in one- or two-gallon plastic freezer bags, available at your local grocer or box store.

37) If there’s a problem at the transmitter site, tell your engineer you want to come watch or hold the flash light — to learn, to help and to keep them company. 

38) Find out where the FCC rules are kept in the radio station, tell the staff and encourage everyone to read them. 

39) Participate in your state’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection program. This is great insurance. It helps your engineer keep equipment running smoothly and in tolerance, and keeps your staff aware of EAS rules.

40) When in doubt about FCC rules and regs, contact your FCC attorney. Spend the money to keep your radio station legal. It’s better to spend money on engineering than wait and send money to the FCC to resolve a Notice of Apparent Liability.

41) Get to know people in the technical community. Network at your state broadcast association’s events. Keep contact names of helpful people at key equipment suppliers. Ask your engineer, “Who are the people you would want me to call if you were in the hospital?

For the engineers

42) Engineers: “Communicate before you medicate.” Let the manager or PD know that you’re planning to take the station off the air. Sometimes really are better than others for routine service.

43) Ask for the equipment you need to keep the station running smoothly. Ask again and again. Research your request with costs and how they will help the station, whether to stay on the air or to clean up noise.

44) Remember to put things away after you have completed a project. Put all the fasteners (nuts and bolts) back in the equipment.

45) Keep good notes. 

46) Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Slow down when working with RF. Turn off the main power to the transmitter. If you disconnect the failsafe, remember to put it back in place and confirm it’s functioning. Work with a partner if at all possible.

47) Provide your password to the manager so they can be helpful to you when you’re unable to come right away.

48) Make a date with the manager to show them what you believe needs to be done to assure that the radio station continues to run smoothly. 

49) Make sure you have all the spare parts you need to keep your radio station on the air.

50) Show your manager the projects you have accomplished.

51) Neatness matters. Labeling is a must.

52) Date everything regardless of when it was received, installed or pulled out of service.

53) When there is an emergency and you get the call, communicate with management when you are likely to appear on the scene.

Final thoughts

54) Managers: Emergencies are never so big that it you need to put the engineer in harm’s way.

55) Managers: Don’t try to fix what you don’t know how to fix. Engineers should not need to fix what you’ve tried to fix.

56) Managers: Be patient with your engineer.

57) Engineers: Be patient with your manager.

Comment on this or any story. Email radioworld@futurenet.com with “Letter to the Editor” in the subject field.

The post 57 Tips from the Manager’s Engineering Notebook appeared first on Radio World.

Audix has introduced the A231, a large-diaphragm studio vocal microphone intended for use in lead and backing vocals, spoken word and voiceover applications, and acoustic instrument miking.

The A231 features the same gold-plated brass band as found on Audix’s SCX25A instrument mic, but inside the new microphone, there’s a 33 mm true condenser featuring a tensioned diaphragm with gold deposition all the way to its far edges. According to Audix, this produces a diaphragm area approximately 25% larger than that of a typical large-diaphragm condenser mic. Meanwhile, a cardioid pickup pattern offers a predictable proximity effect and exceptional off-axis rejection.

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The capsule feeds circuitry designed for quietness, while an active driven shield is employed in an effort to protect the signal path from interference and capacitive coupling. A specially designed internal shockmount is also used to dampen handling noise, enabling the A231 to be used for both studio and live applications.

The A231 capsule is suspended by the internal shock mount behind a double-woven steel alloy mesh grille and seated in the precision-machined aluminum body. Primarily intended for vocals, voiceover and spoken word, the Audix says that the A231 is designed with an aim to provide power, detail and controllable proximity effect due to its cardioid polar pattern with smooth off-axis response over a wide frequency range.

The A231 can also be used on acoustic instruments, able to handle 140 dB maximum SPL even as the mic itself has a low 12 dBA equivalent noise level, making it appropriate for delicate sources like upright bass and strings. The mic itself offers a 128 dB dynamic range.

The A231 is available now for an MSRP of $949.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

Info: https://audixusa.com

 

The post Audix A231 Studio Vocal Microphone Launched appeared first on Radio World.

A proposal to allow computational directional FM broadcast antenna pattern modeling in the United States is a step closer to being approved.

The Federal Communications Commission says it believes that the proposed rule change “would provide regulatory parity and ongoing relief for both antenna manufacturers and FM broadcasters while maintaining the integrity of our licensing requirements.”

We had reported earlier that the idea was advancing at the  commission; now the FCC has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking asking for comments.

The commission’s text makes clear that it thinks this is a good idea, but it expressly also asks for help from “engineers, broadcasters, antenna manufacturers, and other interested parties” to help clarify some issues raised by the proposed rule.

The proposal was made in a joint petition from Dielectric, Jampro, Radio Frequency Systems and Shively Labs, all of which make antennas, as well as broadcaster Educational Media Foundation.

Currently, the rules for verifying FM directional patters require physical modeling and measurements.

The FCC noted that verification of directional patterns through use of computer modeling is permitted in both AM radio and TV/DTV and is a familiar concept to the commission and the industry.

It says more than 2,000 full-service FM broadcast stations, which is more than 20% of them, use directional antennas. The change would allow any of those stations that replace existing antennas to avoid the expense of field measurements. It would apply not only to applicants for new FM facilities, but to FM licensees applying for facility modifications.

[Read the full NPRM text.]

The commission also said that given the demand for FM spectrum, “we anticipate an increase in the use of directional antennas. We believe those future broadcast applicants would benefit from this proposal.”

Among questions being asked by the FCC are whether this change could increase the risk of interference to adjacent stations; whether the commission should adopt a particular computer program or underlying model; if not, which computer modeling software programs it should accept for verification; and how FCC staff should confirm the accuracy of such models.

“Perhaps most importantly, we are interested in comments from broadcasters, engineers and manufacturers who have used both computer modeling of FM directional antennas and physical models of the same, and who can discuss their experience regarding the accuracy of computer-modeled antennas vis-à-vis the performance of such antennas as installed.”

Comments in MD Docket 21-422 will be due 30 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register, which hasn’t happened yet.

The post FCC Opens NPRM to Allow Computer Modeling for FM Antennas appeared first on Radio World.

Audacy has welcomed Jeff Gonsales as Senior Vice President and Market Manager of its Minneapolis market.

In this role, Gonsales will oversee the market’s portfolio of stations, which includes 830 WCCO (WCCO-AM), 104.1 JACK FM (KZJK-FM) and 102.9 The Wolf (KMNB-FM), effective December 6.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Gonsales to oversee our Minneapolis market and the operations of our three stations,” said Rachel Williamson, Regional President at Audacy. “Throughout his tenure in the Twin Cities, Jeff has built a strong reputation as a leader with integrity who cares about his people and his business partners. We trust that invaluable quality coupled with his rich experience in this area will set Audacy Minneapolis up for continued growth and success under his leadership.”

Gonsales commented,  “After starting my radio career at 830 WCCO, I look forward to returning to move this group of local favorites forward in the digital audio world.”

Gonsales joins Audacy after spending the last 18 years with Hubbard Radio in St. Paul, including the last ten years as Director of Sales, managing top line revenue budgets for Hubbard Radio Twin Cities and Hubbard Interactive. He joined Hubbard in 2003 as General Sales Manager/Director of New Business Development. Prior to that, Gonsales was the Regional Director of Business Development for Clear Channel Radio from 1999 to 2004. He launched his radio career in 1996 as a merchandising account executive for WCCO Radio.

In 15 days, Meredith Corporation will cease to exist as a Des Moines-based multimedia company, with its merger with Gray Television now on track for a December 1 closing following what is a largely ceremonial November 30 Meredith shareholder vote.

Already, Gray is making leadership moves at the stations it is acquiring in the transaction. The shifts impact incoming and current assets, and more were revealed on Tuesday (11/16).

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