Radio World

Antenna companies are reacting to the FCC decision allowing computer modeling of directional FM antennas.

“May 19, 2022 is a monumental day for FM broadcasters,” wrote Dielectric in a statement. The manufacturer pressed for the change, along with Shively, RFS and Jampro, as well as broadcast group Educational Media Foundation.

“The FCC adopting new rules allowing the use of computer modeling will ease product-to-market timelines, helping broadcasters upgrade facilities quickly,” it wrote when contacted for comment by Radio World.

“In addition, the increased accuracy and the ability to run infinite patterns to maximize on FCC protections will allow broadcasters ease of mind knowing they are getting the best possible solution, all while not having to wait the traditional timelines for range testing/optimizing.

“At the end of the day,” the company concluded, “their listeners will benefit from this rule change. Dielectric sees this change as significant in the history of FM, and is fully prepared to help all broadcasters seek the best possible solution.”

Radio World also invited comment from Electronics Research Inc., which had opposed the rule change.

“ERI raised some concerns regarding eliminating the requirement to provide measured pattern data with the license filings for directional FM antennas,” wrote Bill Harland, vice president of marketing.

“These objections were based on our experience from decades of full-scale range measurements of directional and nondirectional FM antennas and our experience using computer models to generate pattern predictions for FM arrays.”

Harland said ERI has always had the capability to use computer modeling for directional FM antenna design.

“We will offer that service as an option for directional and nondirectional FM antenna systems. ERI will continue to offer directional FM antennas that include pattern development on our test range and measured results for customer approval and filing with the FCC license application.”

He said the company will also continue to offer full-scale range pattern studies and pattern optimization as optional services. “They are available for all single-channel and multi-channel FM antenna products.”

“We believe ERI’s 50-acre far-field antenna test range is the best facility of its kind and has been in use longer than the antenna measurement facilities used by our competitors. As we showed in our filings in this FCC proceeding, the accuracy of the range and the consistency of its measured results support that belief.”

The post Dielectric Thrilled With FM Modeling Decision appeared first on Radio World.

James Boyd in a photo from his LinkedIn page

Engineer James Boyd has died.

News of his passing Friday at age 76 was shared by Kent Randles, secretary of Chapter 124 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

Boyd was well known in the radio technical industry but especially in the northwestern U.S. He owned Boyd Broadcast Technical Services in Oregon, and according to his LinkedIn page he had extensive experience in all aspects of AM and FM engineering.

Earlier in his career he was a chief engineer, operations manager and group chief for Capps Broadcast Group from the late 1960s to the early 1990s; he also had worked for WTD Industries.

An amateur radio enthusiast (K7MKN), he also was a lead inspector for the Alternate Broadcast Inspection Program for the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and the Idaho Broadcasters Association.

Boyd had experience with AM directional antenna systems, including Moment Method proofing as well as AM and FM IBOC system installation and adjustment, and maintained a large fleet of test equipment for all  aspects of AM and FM broadcast systems.

He told author Scott Fybush in a 2008 article for Radio Guide magazine that he “began messing around with electronics when I was eight or nine years old.” Boyd was a member of that publication’s Hall of Achievement. According to that article his first job was at KBND(AM), before he served in Vietnam as a broadcast specialist in the U.S. Army. He founded his company in October 1991, and clients included Entercom, CBS Radio, smaller stations, Harris Corp. and consulting firms Hatfield and Dawson and DuTreil, Lundin & Rackley. He also served on the Oregon Association of Broadcasters board.

According to a Radio World article in 2016, Boyd also was involved in the effort to create a “first informer” credential for Oregon broadcast engineers.

Randles said Sunday that Boyd’s volunteer firefighting work evolved into volunteering for the Tigard, Ore., Community Emergency Response Team, to which he is donating all of his ham radio equipment.

Randles said information on services was pending.

 

The post Engineer James Boyd Dies at Age 76 appeared first on Radio World.

Colorado-based radio station KRFC has just installed a new radio tower and RF facility, effectively boosting its signal more than 16 times to reach nearly 1 million Front Range residents.

Effective last Thursday, May 12, the station launched a 50 kW facility to replace its 3 kW signal. This switch more than doubled the station’s broadcast footprint to include new communities as far south as North Denver and further east of Greeley, Colo., according to KRFC. Extensive public and private donations helped finance the project.

KRFC 88.9 FM has been a part of the Fort Collins community in Colorado since 2013. As a non-for-profit radio station, its music programming is entirely “volunteer-powered” by 90 DJs, repping 64 shows and producing 61 of them in-house each week. Until now, KRFC did not own its own tower, having leased antenna space at its old site.

“It is rare for an independent station to own and operate its own broadcast tower of this size, a development that will allow KRFC 88.9 FM to lease bandwidth to other regional broadcasters and commercial organizations needing a tower for their signal,” said KRFC in a press release.

“KRFC is open to discuss leasing opportunities of HD-2, -3 and -4 as well as physical tower space,” station officials told Radio World.

KRFC’s new radio tower outside Fort Collins, Co.

To learn more about the new site, project costs and the installation process, Radio World spoke with Jen Parker, KRFC’s executive director.

Radio World: Why did KRFC want to build a new tower? Why was this project important to the station and surrounding community?

Jen Parker: For the 19 years the station has been on the air, the signal has been very spotty due to the terrain and our 3 kW signal just wasn’t powerful enough. It has been a dream for years to improve the signal and broaden the reach to be the true voice of northern Colorado. The new boosted signal gives a more pleasurable listening experience and exposes many more Coloradans to this wonderfully eclectic station that entertains, educates and informs our community members in a positive, nonpolitical and uplifting way.

KRFC’s reach prior to the tower install and after. (Click to expand)

RW: What was the timetable for the build (was 2022 the expected year for completion)?

Parker: The capital campaign launched in 2018 and we had hoped to complete the project last year, but due to the issues related to COVID, supply chain and increased costs, we completed the tower earlier this year and went live with our new signal on May 12, 2022.

RW: What was the budget and what were fundraising efforts like?

Parker: The initial budget was just under $300,000 and, again through delays related to COVID and supply chain issues, the project ended up being just under $500,000. The capital campaign was epic with initial lead gifts from Paul and Amy Hach, Ginger and Jack Graham from Ginger and Baker, and New Belgium Brewing who produced a limited edition beer called “Power The Tower Pale Ale” with proceeds going towards the campaign.

Other incredible individuals stepped in and made considerable donations, and then we held Power The Tower donation drives throughout the past few years. The entire project was funded by donations and we didn’t have to take out any loans to complete the project.

RW: Describe KRFC’s physical airchain path. 

Parker: The studios are located in the heart of the Music District in beautiful downtown Fort Collins. The station uses 950 MHz analog STL to get audio to both the new and, previously, the old site because they are near each other; we have ceased operation at the old site now.

The new facility has completely  new equipment and is located about 9 miles east of Fort Collins, Co. After path challenges prevented use of a new unlicensed 6 GHz IP link, KRFC ordered a set of GatesAir Intraplex IP codecs and an Intraplex HD Link. We purchased an ERI LP antenna and a GatesAir FAX High Power transmitter.

RW: Who were the major vendors/contractors for the project?

Parker: We utilized Sabre Towers, the tower manufacturer; Broadcast Connection as broadcast supply vendor; GatesAir for transmitter and STL equipment; Cell Site Solutions, a used equipment shelter dealer, and Galvanized Endeavors for broadcast and tower construction.

RW: What were the critical equipment and facility decisions that had to be made ahead of the installation?

Parker: Obtaining land in a populated area in Colorado to build a tower is challenging in itself. Keeping the tower less than 200 feet high had some advantages. Transmitter TPO versus size of the antenna was one of the more critical decisions to make. A full-wave-spaced ERI LP antenna was utilized, which allowed for a low TPO near 7 kW. Although we could have located further south for more population coverage, KRFC wanted to be absolutely sure of a very strong signal throughout the entire city of Fort Collins.

Check out the gallery below for pictures of the installation process. (Click to toggle between photos)

RW: What was your role in this process? Besides yourself, who was on the team? 

Parker: I managed the entire launch of the campaign, the majority of the private donation relationships and handled all the marketing and PR along the way with my incredible team. Our engineer Matt Schilz was the project manager along with several key volunteers with engineering backgrounds. Charles Anderson of Anderson Communications created the pattern and provided the necessary support for application and [FCC] filing.

The internal team helped with the entire process along with Sean Lamborne, our program and volunteer director, and David Vacek, our music director.

The KRFC team at the tower’s groundbreaking event

RW: Who kept the process rolling and how were crises (if any) managed? 

Parker: As a team, we knew that this project was a true necessity for the station to serve a greater population in powerful and impactful ways through supporting nonprofits, the arts, schools and colleges and small and large businesses; and that we needed to improve the signal and expand the reach.

At no time did we lose sight of that goal and, when challenged with delays or other issues, we stuck together and kept the belief and mission alive. It was a total team effort from our remarkable staff, board of directors and volunteers.

A commemorative ribbon cutting announcing the new tower’s operations May 12.

Click here to watch a video of the tower installation.

You can find KRFC on your FM dial in northern Colorado, online or in the App Store at “KRFC 88.9FM Radio.”

The post KRFC Boosts Signal 16 Times Over From New Tower appeared first on Radio World.

Photo courtesy Cris Alexander

The FCC has released the details of its order allowing FM broadcasters to use computer modeling to verify directional antennas.

It also explained why it didn’t adopt several proposals that were in the original notice of proposed rulemaking.

The most common reason to use a directional antenna by a commercial full-power FM is to allow it to “short-space” to another FM station while maintaining contour protection to that station.

The new rules allow applicants for directional FM facilities an option to verify the directional antenna patterns by submitting results from computer models depicting the antenna’s performance. The results must be generated by the antenna’s manufacturer.

The manufacturers are deemed to be in the best position to perform computer modeling of their products because they have the historic data to know how a specific radiator performs in a particular environment.

The FCC disagreed with manufacturer Electronics Research Inc. (ERI), which had opposed the rule change. ERI expressed “serious concerns” that the change would lead to protracted and contentious interference disputes, and that computer models should be verified through measurement at full or fractional scale.

The FCC noted that under current rules, when applicants submit their showings, they almost always rely on tabulations from the antenna manufacturer of the measured relative field pattern, performed on a full-scale test range or with a scale model.

The commission said manufacturers are in the best position to ensure the validity of the computer model and the accuracy of the results, and that manufacturers have an incentive to represent their products’ performance accurately, “both to protect their own reputations and to avoid negative consequences for their customers who face interference complaints and regulatory action if their antenna patterns do not match what is authorized in their license.”

The commission acknowledged NAB’s concern that manufacturer data should not be automatically accepted without a demonstration that the modeler has a background in physics or electromagnetic theory. But given the varying backgrounds of broadcast engineers, it said, “we do not wish to codify what constitutes qualifications to perform computer modeling.”

It said that if a challenge arises to a computer model, for example through interference complaints, “we can and would seek further information regarding that model, including the qualifications of those preparing and performing the modeling.”

The FCC also declined “at this time” to expand the range of entities authorized to perform computer modeling. “Although there is no such limitation on those who can perform computer modeling for AM and DTV directional antennas, we find a more cautious approach is required for FM, given the greater number of FM stations versus DTV stations using directional antennas, and given that AM directional patterns are subject to continual verification through sampling that is not possible with FM directional antennas.”

However it left open the possibility of rethinking that decision as the industry gains experience with FM modeling.

The agency also decided not to prescribe any particular modeling software for antenna manufacturers to use, leaving this to their discretion and allowing them to use commercially available products or their own proprietary software.

When a license application includes a proof of FM directional antenna performance obtained through computer modeling, the FCC will require that it include a statement with the names and qualifications of the engineers who designed the antenna, did the modeling and prepared the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the antenna. The submission must include a statement from the engineers describing the software tools used in the model and procedures used in running them. As suggested by NAB, the FCC will require a certification that the software executed normally, without generating any error messages or warnings indicating something was wrong with the inputs.

The computer modeling must analyze the antenna mounted on a tower or tower section; and the tower or tower section model must include “transmission lines, appurtenances, ladders, conduits, other antennas, and any other installations that could affect the computer modeled directional pattern.”

The commission will require one-time verification of the accuracy of a pattern generated using a particular modeling software for each directional antenna model number or standardized series of elements. In other words, once a particular antenna model or series of elements has been verified by any one applicant using given modeling software, the FCC will permit all subsequent applicants using the same combination to submit the computer model for the subsequent antenna installation.

The FCC decided not to change its policies regarding interference complaints or disputes. Most of the comments it got back indicated that interference would not be a problem, and no one asked for changes to the interference rules and procedures.

It acknowledged that ERI thinks the change will increase FM interference due to modeled directional patterns that do not accurately reflect actual directional signals; ERI thinks this will increase inter-station interference disputes, because full-service FM stations, unlike secondary services such as FM translators, don’t have to cease operations when they receive interference complaints. But the FCC said that, by requiring initial computer models of antennas and components using a particular modeling software to be verified by measurements, it addressed ERI’s concerns.

Finally, the commission reminded the industry that computer modeling is optional; applicants can still submit measured relative field patterns if they want to.

Read the full order.

The post FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Directional Modeling appeared first on Radio World.

The Association of Public Radio Engineers has recognized Rich Parker with its 2022 APRE Meritorious Service Award.

“APRE’s engineering award is granted on an annual basis to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the art and/or science of radio engineering [and] that has made a significant impact on, or improvement, in the state of the public radio industry,” said the nonprofit.

For a decade, Rich was the master control and studio engineer at WHYY in Philadelphia, followed by 17 years as director of engineering at Vermont Public Radio. Since 2014, he has been director of engineering for CoastAlaska, handling broadcast engineering and IT support as well as planning and management for the seven Alaskan stations in Juneau.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

According to APRE President Victoria St. John, Rich was one of the founding members on the association’s board and is deserving of recognition, having been an active part of the public radio engineering community for decades.

“I had the privilege of working with him for many years at Vermont Public Radio and I am proud and pleased for Rich to be recognized for his years of inventive and cheerful service,” she said.

Parker was honored April 22 at the Public Radio Engineers Conference (PREC) dinner in Las Vegas, just prior to the NAB Show.

Rich Parker, left, is shown at the PREC event with colleague Scott Hanley. Photo by Jim Peck.

The post APRE Honors Rich Parker With Engineering Service Award appeared first on Radio World.

The annual TechSurvey from Jacobs Media measures the amount of change in the tech space and its impact on radio broadcasters, and the dashboard in connected cars is the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  

Experts say the technology in the car dashboard is quickly changing and so are driver preferences. Car buyers are putting a higher premium on car tech like Bluetooth, large display screens and Smartphone aux connections, along with a taste for media operating systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive. 

Broadcasters and non-broadcast companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon are working with car manufacturers to maximize their presence in the mediascape of the connected car, according to those familiar with developments. And car makers are looking at all options in order to monetize the dashboard. 

About 12% of TechSurvey respondents say they plan to purchase or lease a new vehicle in 2022 despite much higher new car costs. That percentage has held fairly steady the past four years, said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media, but what new car buyers are looking for is changing.

 

Bluetooth has now surpassed FM radio as the most important feature among new car buyers, Jacobs said on a webinar last week highlighting sections of the latest annual survey. 

Americans are placing a higher premium on technology because it keeps them connected and productive, even in the car, experts say. The car has become a Smartphone on wheels if you will.

“For the first time ever the most important feature for those planning to make a new vehicle purchase, participating in our survey, Bluetooth has surpassed radio. (Bluetooth) is up three points and FM radio was down four points. Connectivity is becoming very important,” Jacobs said.

Having an AM radio is a desired feature for only 33% of respondents planning to purchase a new car, according to TS 2022.

And hitting a new high, eight in 10 respondents with a Smartphone can now connect the device in their car, an especially popular feature for younger consumers participating in the latest survey. 

“These content monsters, as we call the younger generation, are far more likely to connect their Smartphone to the car for content,” Jacobs said. 

The good news for AM/FM radio is that actual in-car consumption of the service is still number one at 56% followed by SiriusXM (19%) and personal music from a Smartphone (9%). “Surprisingly, streaming audio is only at 6%, but remember we are dealing with an older audience (participating in TechSurvey) by and large,” Jacobs said. 

But Jacobs points out on the TechSurvey webcast the trend of AM/FM radio listening in the car continues to erode falling from 62% in the 2018 survey project to 56% in TS 2022. 

“Overall people are listening to less AM/FM radio in the car. More people are using full blown media systems like the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep UConnect, Ford Sync, Audi Connect,” Jacobs said, “and that tends to erode radio listening.”

In fact, when you examine the survey data and weight it for those respondents who have a “Connected System” in the car, AM/FM radio listening shrinks to only 47%.

This is the last in a series of stories exploring the results from TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part five.

The post TechSurvey 2022: The Car is Getting Crowded appeared first on Radio World.

From its latest string of new hires, StreamGuys brings on Megan Killion as its vice president of sales and marketing, a newly-created position.

In this new role, Killion will “develop strategic initiatives that build a stronger sales culture across the organization, with an emphasis on driving new business and increasing close rates,” according to a company press release. She will report to StreamGuys President Kiriki Delany.

Killion brings 15 years of B2B technology sales and marketing experience to StreamGuys, having already formed professional ties with the company through past roles.

Said roles include executive positions at CacheFly, a CDN network where she served as vice president of strategic sales and marketing, as well as at her own MKC Agency, where she worked with StreamGuys on branding and outbound marketing initiatives.

“These experiences, along with previous similar positions [at] Ericsson UDN and long-term consultancies with Mutable, Reblaze, and StackPath, provide Megan with a broad knowledge of the technology infrastructure that StreamGuys excels in across the CDN, cloud, edge computing and streaming universe,” said the company.

“More importantly, she knows how to translate product and technology language into sales success for new and existing clients, and move successful companies like StreamGuys into lucrative new markets.”

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

In the announcement, Killion said one of her goals is to help StreamGuys better market their existing services and find ways to better support customers.

“My experience working in the technology space suggests that few companies really understand why they need both a strong sales culture and engineering vision,” said Killion. “StreamGuys has both excellent sales and engineering teams in place, and they work very hard to service their customers and deliver on the technology promises they make. I am excited to bring these operations even closer together.”

The post StreamGuys Expands Executive Team with First VP of Sales and Marketing appeared first on Radio World.

Richard Dawkins has been promoted to president of audio for Bauer Media Group. He will now lead the company’s audio business and “take advantage of the opportunities ahead,” per a press release making the announcement.

Dawkins joined Bauer Media Group as chief operating officer of audio in 2019. “This role saw him focus on new opportunities for the business and maximise the performance of its operations through new launches, commercial opportunities and introducing new ways of working,” said Bauer.

Prior to that role, he spent more than a decade at the BBC in a variety of senior roles, most recently as chief operating officer of BBC Content.

Yvonne Bauer, owner and CEO of Bauer Media Group, said Dawkins has already added “enormous value” to the company. “I look forward to starting a new era for Bauer Media Audio,” she said.

Dawkins succeeds Paul Keenan, who joins the company’s executive board as the new chief operating officer.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

Bauer has operations across eight countries in Europe, representing various radio and audio brands including The Voice in Denmark, Radio Nova in Finland and numerous companies in the U.K.

“This is a brilliant opportunity to lead a fantastic team and a strong business with our reach already exceeding 57 million weekly listeners,” said Dawkins.

The post Bauer Media Group Promotes Dawkins to President of Audio appeared first on Radio World.

Mobile devices and apps continue their strong growth trajectory, according to TechSurvey 2022. The annual survey of core radio listeners by Jacobs Media shows radio station apps are playing a larger role among those who listen to streaming audio.

More than 90% of respondents to this year’s survey own a Smartphone, and those devices are playing a bigger role in how people stream radio stations, according to TechSurvey. 

“The number of radio listeners streaming audio from their P1 station’s website is going down. Meanwhile, more people are using that radio station’s mobile app to stream their audio,” said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. “Mobile has in fact become more important.”

The most popular app among those respondents with a Smartphone, according to TechSurvey, is their P1 station’s mobile app, with 56% of respondent having downloaded it on their phone or tablet. The most popular apps list also includes YouTube (48%), Pandora (42%), Spotify (40%), iHeartRadio (32%) with TuneIn further down the list (11%).

The survey shows seven in 10 respondents have downloaded a radio or music app to their Smartphone, and those numbers range by age from a low of 40% (Greatest Generation) to a high of 89% (Gen Z).  

Growth of Smart Speakers, while still an important audio outlet, has flattened, according to TS 2022. Ownership of Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices ranked at 35% in TS 2022 with no growth in that percentage from the previous year.

“From our previous focus groups, when we have talked to folks about Smart Speakers and the reason why they haven’t bought one yet, most often the number one reason is privacy. They don’t like the idea of something listening to their private conversations,” Jacobs said. “Smart Speakers are gaining a reputation and image for being invasive from a privacy standpoint. And Google and Apple will have to figure out how to market around that issue.” 

For those survey respondents who already own a Smart Speaker, the use of it can be quite varied, but listening to music has two of the top three spot, according to TS 2022. The number one option for those who frequently use their device is streaming music (Pandora, Amazon Music, etc.) But in the top three is listening to an AM/FM radio station.    

“So when you think about AM/FM radios disappearing from the home and Smart Speakers appearing in the home, this is another great reason why radio stations need to be promoting their presence,” Jacobs said.   

Millenials listen to their P1 station on Smart Speaker about 8% of the time during a typical week. That number drops to 6% for Boomers, according to TS 2022.

Jacobs Media, whose Jācapps mobile app development company designs apps for radio stations, shares the full results with the 470 radio stations in the United States that participated in the survey.

This is the fifth in a series of stories examining the results from TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part four.

The post TechSurvey 2022: Mobile Apps Still Gaining in Popularity appeared first on Radio World.

Quu Inc. has added two members to its management team.

Pete Benedetti was named EVP of revenue, while Lori Olsen becomes Quu’s administrative and contracts manager. The roles are new; both will report to CEO Steve Newberry.

Benedetti has a background in acquiring, owning and integrating radio stations. He is a NAB and CBA board member, and founder and CEO of AlwaysMountainTime, a role he’ll continue as Krista Benedetti is promoted to president and will oversee day-to-day operations for that company.

Olsen will manage Quu’s business relationships with its clients. She has worked in office and contract administration for Westwood One and Global Dial.

Quu is a technology that allows stations to add synced sales and programming messages called Visual Quus on vehicle dashboards.

[Related: “Quu, Xperi Expand Their Relationship”]

The post Quu Announces Two Hires appeared first on Radio World.

FM radio stations in the United States that want to use directional antennas will now be able to use computer modeling verification.

The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved this proposal, which four antenna manufacturers had pushed for while another one opposed it.

“Right now, more than one-fifth of our FM radio stations use directional antennas,” noted Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “These antennas increase the operating power of a station in a specific direction while still respecting the interference ratios that are essential for shared use of these airwaves. This is smart — and spectrally efficient.”

But FM rules hadn’t kept pace. Now, she said, FM broadcasters will have an option that was already available to AM and TV broadcasters.

“A group of broadcasting stakeholders brought this to our attention last fall. We started a rulemaking to address this discrepancy. We took a close look at the record and the need to incorporate evolving technologies into our policies.”

[See Our Business and Law Page]

All four commissioners approved the change. It means FM stations, including LPFMs, that want to use directional antennas will no longer be required to provide signal measurements from physical antenna mockups. They can use computer modeling — typically prepared by the antenna manufacturer — after the model is initially verified for accuracy. This is expected to save broadcasters money and time.

The change was advocated by antenna makers Dielectric, Shively, RFS and Jampro, as well as broadcaster Educational Media Foundation. But antenna maker ERI had expressed opposition, saying the change could have the potential to “create protracted and contentious interference disputes” since the disputes would involve full-service FM stations that are licensed as a primary service.

This image of a physical scale model and a computer equivalent was provided by Dielectric as part of the FCC comments in the proceeding.

 

The proposal also had drawn support from the NAB. 

“NAB supports the FCC’s order allowing computer modeling of FM directional antennas, which would eliminate the need for unnecessary measurements without jeopardizing broadcasters’ service to the public,” spokeswoman Ann Marie Cumming told Radio World. “We appreciate the commission incorporating into the order our recommendations for updates to the present rules that ensure the integrity of the modeling process. We thank Chairwoman Rosenworcel and her fellow commissioners for working to reduce regulatory burdens on broadcast radio and modernizing these outdated rules.”

[Also see “FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Computer Modeling”]

The post FCC OKs Computer Modeling for Directional FM appeared first on Radio World.

The FCC has changed its mind about which applicant should be the tentative winner of a construction permit for a new noncommercial FM in northwest Mississippi.

It’s a case involving mutually exclusive applications filed in the 2021 NCE filing window. 

The commission originally selected Full Potential Ministry as the tentative selectee in MX Group 130, for an FM station in Coahoma, Miss. 

The Media Bureau had found that the Full Potential application as well as another filed by Open Sky Radio Corp. were both eligible for a fair distribution preference, part of the process that it uses to choose among MX applicants. And because Full Potential’s proposed second NCE service exceeded Open Sky’s by more than 5,000 people, the FCC staff at first chose the Full Potential application.

But Open Sky Radio, which hopes for a CP to serve nearby Clarksdale, then filed a petition to deny. 

It argued that the bureau had improperly relied on a revised document that Full Potential provided after the close of the window. It said that the document originally attached to the Full Potential application did not include population numbers. It also noted that, after the close of the window, the Media Bureau staff uploaded to the Full Potential application a revised document containing population figures.

[See Our Business and Law Page]

Open Sky pointed out that in an earlier NCE filing window, the bureau consistently rejected fair distribution claims if their population numbers were missing. It also said that the instructions for the 2021 window stated that supporting documents had to be filed prior to the close of the window. So it said the FCC should reject Full Potential’s fair distribution claim. (Full Potential did not file an opposition to the Open Sky petition.)

In this week’s ruling, the FCC has agreed with Open Sky. It said that after the close of the filing window, its staff had received an email from Full Potential’s engineer stating that he had experienced problems with the FCC’s LMS filing system, and asked to replace the original fair distribution exhibit with a revised one. It said its staff misconstrued this email as suggesting that LMS had not accepted the original fair distribution exhibit.  

“However, LMS had in fact accepted this exhibit, which was missing several population figures, and it is clear that FPM simply uploaded the incorrect attachment.”

The FCC says it has consistently rejected such post-window amendments that claim, for the first time, a fair distribution preference or which attempt to correct population figures.

So, it now has conducted a new analysis and found that Open Sky Radio Corp. is the tentative selectee for NCE MX Group 130.

As in all such cases, petitions to deny this decision must be filed within 30 days, after which the commission intends to grant a CP.

The post Open Sky Radio Wins MX Appeal in Mississippi appeared first on Radio World.

An AM radio station in Arizona and an LPFM in California are both facing fines from the FCC for failure to file for license renewal on time.

Sonora Broadcasting, licensee of KAPR(AM) in Douglas, Ariz., has been issued a $3,000 forfeiture. Its renewal was due by June 1, 2021, but wasn’t received until late September.

The commission says Sonora didn’t provide an explanation. In fact, when the commission issued a notice of apparent liability, the station neither asked for reduction nor wrote back.

In a separate but similar case, Minds of Business Inc., licensee of low-power FM station KMOB in Clearlake, Calif., has been fined $1,500. Its renewal application was due Aug. 1 of last year but not filed until late November. 

In this instance as well, the station didn’t explain and didn’t write back in response to an FCC NAL.

[See Our Business and Law Page]

The post Two Stations Are Fined for Late Renewals appeared first on Radio World.

The Federal Communications Commission does not look favorably on an attempt to thwart investigation of station violations, as it did in the case of Chinese Voice of Golden City (CVGC), the former licensee of a low-power station in Las Vegas. 

In November 2019, the Media Bureau alerted CVGC that its license for station KQLS expired on Dec. 13, 2018, after the bureau learned that the station had been operating for more than a year at a spot different than what was agreed upon. The licensee looks as though it “withheld material information … and made incorrect statements to the commission … when it repeatedly claimed that the station’s actual transmitter site was never changed,” the bureau said at the time. 

The result of that type of unauthorized action includes expiration of the license and deletion of call letters. 

In April 2021, the Enforcement Bureau sent a letter of inquiry to determine whether CVGC was continuing to operate its station. In response, in May 2021 CVGC filed a motion to quash the inquiry as well as a motion for investigative stay of the bureau’s inquiries into whether CVGC violated the Communications Act and FCC Rules by continuing to operate the station. CVGC also filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, arguing that its station license had not expired as the FCC had determined. 

CVGC argued that when it submitted it appeal, neither the commission nor the bureau had the right to investigate the allegations against CVGC any longer. The licensee also argued that the Enforcement Bureau did not have the authority to respond to the licensee’s motions — including the motion to quash and the motion for investigative stay. 

But the commission said that the motion to quash and a subsequent application for review were CVGC’s attempt to challenge the bureau’s authority to issue a letter of inquiry. An appellate court has jurisdiction, the commission said, but only over the specific matters before it. And so the court’s determination of whether the station’s license expired or not on Dec. 13, 2018, was a totally separate matter from the enforcement investigation of CVGC’s conduct that occurred after it was informed that its licensed expired. 

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Even if the appeal to the court had still been pending, CVGC’s assumption is wrong, the commission said, because the point is moot — at the time, the appeal was no longer pending. As a result, the commission dismissed the portions of the licensee’s application that challenged the bureau’s right to investigate the station as it waited for a ruling by the court. As a result, the commission also rejected CVGC’s argument that its pending appeal stripped the commission of its right to investigate the licensee’s post-expiration conduct. 

The commission also confirmed that the bureau properly dismissed CVGC’s motion to quash. 

The bureau denied those motions but CVGC persisted and filed an application for review and a second motion for investigative stay.

The commission also disagreed with CVGC’s interpretation that its license should have been preserved as the commission reviewed the Media Bureau’s decision and review. But those kinds of protections apply when a licensee is waiting for the review of a renewal application. And that does not apply here because CVGC never filed a renewal application. 

CVGC also argued that the Communications Act directs the commission to “give great consideration and review before ordering a station off the air.” The FCC disagreed. That part of the act refers to continuing a license that’s already in effect while a renewal application is pending. In the case of CVGC, no review was pending.

The commission went on to say that granting CVGC’s would in fact harm the public interest. “Were we to grant the application and suspend the letter of inquiry, it would set a precedent that would enable an appellant in a licensing matter to avoid any scrutiny of its conduct,” the FCC said. “We will not do so.”

As a result, the commission moved to dismiss CVGC’s application for review and denied the motion for investigative stay. The FCC also ordered the licensee to submit its response to the bureau’s letter within 14 days.

The post FCC Denies Appeals From Former Licensee of Canceled Las Vegas Station appeared first on Radio World.

Dielectric has appointed Dave Benco as the company’s western sales manager. Effective immediately, he will manage new and existing Dielectric accounts west of the Mississippi, according to a company press release.

Benco joins Dielectric with 27 years of broadcast industry experience, having first joined Axcera as director of sales in 1995.

“He gained additional experience with transmitters while holding account management roles with Rohde & Schwarz and GatesAir before joining ERI as vice president of sales in 2016,” said Dielectric. “In this role, Dave learned the antenna and RF systems side of the business.”

“It’s exciting to work with broadcasters as someone who brings that view of the whole RF chain,” said Benco. “Fresh off what I learned with the spectrum repack, I will bring value to broadcasters that have started to develop strategies for their ATSC 3.0 systems and NextGenTV opportunities.”

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In the company announcement, Benco references Dielectric’s FM and HD Radio technologies, particularly its new line of pylon antennas, as great business opportunities. He will report to Vice President of Sales Jay Martin.

“It’s rare to find a sales professional with such a rich depth of experience on the RF side of the business today,” said Martin.

Benco succeeds Dan Glavin and, before that, Steve Moreen, who retired a year or two ago.

The post Benco Joins Dielectric as Western Sales Manager appeared first on Radio World.

WGN Radio is celebrating its 100 anniversary throughout the month of May with a series of events and a documentary release.

Dating back to 1922, WGN was created by Thorne Donnelley and Elliott Jenkins, both Chicago natives and radio enthusiasts. The duo first started broadcasting from the Wrigley Building with their experimental station named WDAP. Its call letters were soon changed to WGN two years later when Col. Robert McCormick, editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, acquired the station. Now, WGN is owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

In addition to the famous Wrigley Building, over the years, the station has been headquartered at several other notable Chicago landmarks including The Drake Hotel and Tribune Tower.

To celebrate its centennial, WGN will debut the documentary “100 Years of WGN Radio: A Retrospective,” this Thursday, May 19. The 45-minute documentary, produced in-house, expands on the radio station’s history from its inception to present.

Other events this month include the launch of a special edition birthday lager, exclusive station broadcasts for the Indianapolis 500 and a long list of history segments. Plus, a resolution from the the State of Illinois and City of Chicago honoring WGN.

For a more detailed timeline on the station’s 100-year history and event details, visit WGN’s website.

The post Chicago’s WGN Radio Celebrates 100 Years On Air appeared first on Radio World.

Managers of radio stations, houses of worship, universities and corporate and government meeting rooms all face the question, “How can we effectively disinfect our microphones after an event?”

iSEMcon, which is in the “front of house” business, recently introduced the Li.LAC Microphone Disinfector. It uses controlled exposure to ultraviolet light (UV-C) to kill over 99% of bacteria and viruses on microphone surfaces, metal grilles and the windscreens underneath. 

It’s a rugged product, designed by live event touring professionals and mounted in a 19-inch, 3RU rackmount format. Load up to three microphones or several lavalier or headset microphones, headsets or belt packs, close the drawer, and press “Start.” Disinfection takes 12 minutes or less.

The Li.LAC Microphone Disinfector is available online. It lists for $1,599. The company is based in Germany and has an office in Ohio; general info can be found here. 

The company notes that the simple operation of this device speeds a job that’s critical in today’s environment. We’re not completely out of the woods with respect to COVID-19; and even when we get there, microphone hygiene will remain important. 

The Li.LAC Microphone Disinfector uses UV-C light to disinfect the mics.

Many arms, light work

In the Feb. 15 Workbench, we discussed a useful circuit called an Octopus. Its purpose is to analyze components while they are in a circuit. 

Longtime Workbench friend Paul Sagi first encountered the Octopus years ago in Popular Electronics magazine. At one of his first radio station jobs, he had to repair numerous switched-mode power supplies, as are found in everything from transmitters to audio processors and network gear.

The most common failure components were capacitors followed by MOSFETs, ICs and other semiconductors; Paul found that inductors almost never failed.

Removing components from a printed circuit board was a nuisance, so Paul used signal injection and an Octopus to find faulty capacitors and the rare faulty inductor.  

Paul fed a 100 kHz sine wave, 200 mV peak into the components. Those specs avoided having the semiconductor junctions respond to the test signal. By the angle of the trace on the oscilloscope, Paul could measure the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor; an ESR of less than 0.1 Ohms usually indicates a good electrolytic capacitor, as does an ellipse.

Take DAT!

Buried away in your storage closet may be a defective Digital Audio Tape machine or two. Before you toss these finicky machines, Paul passes on a document from Eddie Ciletti that describes machine repair tips for Sony and Panasonic DAT models. Find it here.

Bright ideas from Darkwood

Projects engineer Dan Slentz found a neat site that has a variety of Windows freeware, developed by Paul Marshall of Darkwood Designs using Borland Delphi. 

Offerings includes individual and multiple volume metering indicators, a dB graphical display of audio frequencies, an audio tone generator and a jpeg image cropper. 

On the company’s website, click on “More PC Software.”

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More free posters

Tektronix has put together a couple of interesting posters showing the fundamentals of oscilloscopes. The posters are in color and free to download. Head over to tektronix.com for “Anatomy of an oscilloscope” and “Basic features and functions of an oscilloscope.” 

The posters provide a good review for seasoned engineers as well as an excellent training tool for the entry-level engineer; and they will liven up your office.

Let’s go to the tape

If you work with conduit or rigid transmission line, take a look at the T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure. 

This is the tape measure for all measurements! It has a physical tape plus an OLED measurement display; and its ROCK Measuring App allows the T1 to synchronize any measurements with your iOS or Android phone. 

The display can be zeroed from any position, regardless of the amount of conventional measuring tape extended. A special bracket will hold a pencil or a Sharpie (or similar brand) marker. There is a side-mounted “E-paper” feature that records an unlimited number of measurements — no more writing the measurements down on a piece of paper! Measurements are recorded electronically on the T1.

The Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure

The T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure also includes a high-visibility green laser. 

There’s a good video about it on YouTube.

This tool is not cheap, listing for around $250, but judging from the reviews on the Reekon Tools website, the time savings and accuracy may make it a worthwhile investment. 

John Bisset, CPBE, has spent over 50 years in the broadcasting industry and is in his 33nd year writing Workbench. He handles western U.S. radio sales for the Telos Alliance and is a past recipient of the SBE’s Educator of the Year Award. Workbench submissions are encouraged and qualify for SBE recertification credit. Email johnpbisset@gmail.com.  

The post Freshen Your Mics With Li.LAC appeared first on Radio World.

This story appeared in the Radio World ebook “Spectacular Radio Studios.”

The Athletic Department at the University of Nebraska became the first major U.S. college athletic department to bring its multimedia operation fully in house, starting with the 2021–22 sports season. Part of the challenge was to bring up a statewide radio network on a very short timeline.

Director of Broadcast Operations Mike Elliott said the new facilities serve the Huskers Radio Network, with its 50+ radio stations across the Midwest, plus internet audio broadcasts across the world on Huskers.com and the official Husker App.

“This was not your typical radio station operation with ‘studios,’” Elliott said. 

“The Huskers Radio Network had to be built to support up to four simultaneous live Husker sporting event broadcasts to terrestrial radio affiliates, with up to eight live simultaneous internet radio streams of live Husker sporting events and programming.”

The network has the capability to send a live video stream of the network’s “Sports Nightly” talk show, heard on more than two dozen terrestrial radio affiliates, plus internet radio streams and free live video streams on YouTube, Huskers.com and the app. The show produces audio and video two hours a day, five nights a week, 52 weeks a year.

The Broadcast Operations Center has five live event production pods. Video can be ingested from any Husker Athletics venue, and audio from anywhere across the globe.

“Private video capability with ultra low latency — under half a second — is part of the Broadcast Center to accommodate non-traveling, COVID-safe broadcasting of any home or road game, with talent in isolated studios and/or offsite locations around the country,” Elliott said. “All audio connectivity to remote sites was using Tieline technology and products.”

At work in the Huskers Radio Network Broadcast Center

Bilingual broadcasts of all Husker Football games was a requirement of the facility, utilizing announcers at remote sites, often different remote sites for every game.

Elliott designed and built the Broadcast Operations Center and all REMI systems, with support from various Husker Athletics departments. 

“When Nebraska Athletics made the decision to bring their radio operation in house, they asked me to join the Athletic Department as Director of Broadcast Operations,” he said. “Initially that was system design, RFPs, buildout, testing, and training of all staff to operate and produce Husker broadcasts.”

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Elliott said the department took an unusual approach to producing road game radio broadcasts.

“Instead of sending producers and engineers to remote sites, we designed a radio version of the TV remote integration, or REMI, model. We send on-air talent to road games but do not send production or engineering staff. Using Tieline Gateway and Via codecs and their Cloud Codec Controller technology, a simple road kit travels. Each and every road game announcer microphone is individually returned to our Broadcast Operations Center. Each and every road talent has their own individual IFB mix to the broadcast operations center production team. 

“Every remote game-site talent — play by play, color, stats, even the sideline reporter — appear on individual ‘pots’ on the Husker Broadcast Center pod assigned to that game,” he continued. 

A producer position to monitor and operate the HDVMixer video production system

“With Wheatstone LXE and AoIP technology, we can easily generate custom mixes, and adjust any needed audio processing for each and every road game microphone while mixing at the Huskers Broadcast Center.”

For example, if the color announcer wanted to hear more nat sound, that’s handled at the broadcast center. Included in the return feeds are various nat sound feeds from the remote venue. 

“Furthermore, all of these feeds are also available to mix into the Spanish broadcast, with the Spanish broadcasters at another remote site.”

They use MaxxKonnect Wireless for automatic failover connectivity to the REMI road kit, with stadium Ethernet as the primary. 

“Using the Tieline CCC we had full monitoring and control of the Tieline equipment at the game site, no matter what IP patch the signals were taking.”

Setup at the remote site, he said, is simple. “Plug in Ethernet from the venue. Plug in headsets. Mount the antennas for the sideline reporter wireless. Power the kit up and the Huskers Broadcast Center takes over from there via Tieline CCC and VPN connectivity to the REMI kit.”

Given changes coming to satellite distribution, Elliott continued, the school decided not to set up a satellite uplink to distribute the network, as had been done in the past.

“We elected to not invest in a satellite system, instead to design and implement an independent redundant IP-based radio network audio and control distribution system. I designed a system using Barix hardware with full dual-provider redundancy, which has proven to be an excellent distribution system to all terrestrial network affiliates.”

Tieline and WheatNet equipment is visible in the rack area

The timeline to complete this project was remarkable, especially given current supply chain challenges.

“The decision to bring the radio network operation in house at Husker Athletics was finalized in the early second quarter of 2021,” Elliott said. 

“System design had to occur in record time, with RFPs in place for all interested bidders through the University of Nebraska public bidding process. RFPs were posted, bids accepted and reviewed, and bids awarded in the second quarter of 2021.”

Key technology components include the Tieline Gateway, Via, Cloud Codec Controller and ReportIT systems; Wheatstone WheatNet, LXE surfaces and StreamBlades; HDVMixer video technology; Telos VX Prime VoIP phone system; Barix codecs; and RCS Zetta automation. Dealer Broadcast Supply Worldwide provided much of the equipment.

Most of the products arrived at the stadium loading dock on May 27, which Elliott called “a herculean effort” by the suppliers. 

“Our first live radio network broadcast from the new Huskers Broadcast Center was June 28, 2021 — that’s from a completely open space on May 27, to a complete live radio and video production/live studio facility, including IP radio network distribution to 50+ sites, live video and audio streaming, full automation signaling to affiliates and training production staff. 

“Then over the next month we built and prepared for all live game-site production with our new radio REMI model of no traveling producers or engineers.”

The post Go Big Red: A New Radio Network for the Huskers appeared first on Radio World.

Last week’s release of TechSurvey 2022 shows the rise in popularity of digital audio and its role in the listening habits of the survey’s respondents, especially among younger radio listeners. 

Survey data shows the percent of time core radio listeners spent with their P1 station through a traditional manner with a radio — either in the car, at home, work or school — is 61%, while digital accounts for 35% of listening. 

That data has mirrored itself the past two surveys, according to Jacobs Media, but the gap has narrowed over the past decade. In 2013 it was 85% traditional listening and 14% digital via an Internet stream or mobile app.

“You can see the trajectories very clearly and where we are headed. Every year it seems digital becomes just a little more important while traditional listening is dropping, said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. 

Age difference also impacts how TechSurvey participants are listening to the radio. Last week’s online presentation shows Baby Boomers listen to radio by traditional means at 66% and digital 31%. Meanwhile, Millenials are listening on a regular radio at home, work, school or in the car at 53% and digital plots the graph at 42%.

“So Millenials are way lest likely to have a traditional radio in those traditional areas,” Jacobs said. “It’s when you start looking at generations that you can really see the listening difference. Gen Z is beginning to challenge traditional listening and digital. A 49% to 42% split between traditional and digital.”

Jacobs says broadcasters forging a digital strategy and meeting listeners where they want to listen is crucial.   

Techsurvey 2022 includes a media usage pyramid that reflects compilation data collected in early 2022 from survey respondents. AM/FM radio usage was down a couple of percent from 2021 levels. Audio streaming was down a bit but Smart Speaker and Smartphone usage was flat while use of hearables, things like Airpods and Bluetooth headphones, jumped up to 50% of respondents saying they use them.

Of interest to broadcasters who are following dashboard developments in connected cars is data showing that 30% of survey respondents drive a connected car, as compared to 27% a year ago. “That means three out of ten respondents now drives a connected car with a system like Ford Sync,” Jacobs said. 

This is another in a series of stories examining the results from TechSurvey 2022. The 18th annual web survey tracks audio listening habits and how core radio listeners interact with the mediascape away from the radio. The population spread of this year’s TechSurvey crew is 48% men and 52% female with the largest age group being 55-64, which represents 36% of respondents. 

The annual project, which measures the amount of change in the tech space and its impact on radio broadcasters, engaged radio listeners throughout the United States from more than 470 participating stations with some 31,000 respondents. Interviews took place in January and February of this year, according to Jacobs Media. 

This is the fourth in a series of stories examining the results from TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part three.

The post TechSurvey 2022: Influence of Digital Audio Grows appeared first on Radio World.

Franken FM is on the agenda at the FCC.

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has released a list of topics for the commission’s June meeting and FM6 is on it.

“We’re asking about preserving established local programming for radio audiences,” she wrote.

“For years, some low-power television stations licensed on Channel 6 have provided listeners local radio programming that was picked up on the FM dial, so-called FM6 stations. These stations sought to maintain this service to their existing audiences after the LPTV digital transition by seeking commission approval to provide their analog radio service as ‘ancillary or supplementary services.’”

Rosenworcel said the commission will consider a proposal to allow these broadcasters to continue their existing FM6 radio service, “provided that they meet certain conditions, including interference protection and the provision of a synchronous TV service to consumers.”

The Educational Media Foundation has been among those pressing the FCC for approval and clarification on policies around FM6 stations.

Radio World contributor James O’Neal has an ongoing series of articles on these stations; the first provided an overview, the second focuses on the tech behind the stations in the era of ATSC 3.0.

The post FCC Will Consider Franken FMs in June appeared first on Radio World.