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Caroline Mwelu Munee presents on Koch FM.

As the world continues to fight COVID-19, community radio stations have played a critical role in tackling the spread of the disease in Africa. Community radio stations in the continent are spreading life-saving COVID-19 information to vulnerable communities in urban and rural areas — their mission at this moment is focused on disseminating information to prevent the pandemic.

Getting information on ways to stop the spread of coronavirus in vulnerable communities can be challenging and difficult. But the radio stations have built up trust within communities and listeners appreciate and act on the information that has been broadcast.

Koch FM, Kenya’s first licensed community radio station — established in 2006 by the youth of Korogocho slum, the fourth-largest informal settlement in the country’s capital Nairobi — is leading the way in the fight against COVID-19. The community radio station has developed efforts to create awareness on COVID-19, and to reach women, the elderly, adolescent, youth, children, persons with disability and other marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Over the years, community radio has played a critical role in informing people about matters that affect their lives and has been useful during disasters and emergencies. In this time of crisis, Koch FM is broadcasting COVID-19-related programs daily. They are broadcasting public health advice and songs that advise people on preventive measures to reduce infections within the community.

[Read: How Community Radio Is Helping India]

The idea of community media is to empower marginalized people with no access to mainstream media. Community radios like Koch FM are run by and serve the interest of the community — they amplify voices of marginalized communities, serve as a mouthpiece to the marginalized and provide essential information.

In the Mukuru slum in Nairobi, Kenya, Ruben FM (99.9 MHz), a community radio station, is sensitizing the community on the need to stay at home, and stay safe, and that COVID-19 can affect them too. They are encouraging community members to ensure proper sanitation. The radio station has been broadcasting news and programs on the COVID-19 pandemic.

In keeping with the mission of community radio, Ruben FM is providing information, education and knowledge that cater to the needs of the vulnerable community. It is evident that the station has been able to function as part of the community, and more effectively because it is physically situated there. This makes it easy for community members to access and contact the facility — it is accessible in terms of ownership, decision-making and program output.

In Mozambique, community stations have been taking on the coronavirus and continue to broadcast and provide essential information to keep COVID-19 at bay. Broadcasters at Radio Gorongosa and Radio Dondo, for instance, are sending out prevention messages about COVID-19 to communities in the form of advertising spots, radio debates, interviews, reports and programs.

In Ethiopia, Argoba Community Radio 98.6 FM, located on the border of Amhara and Afar regional states and broadcasting 56 hours per week in Amharic, Argoba and Afar languages, is contributing to the fight against an “infodemic” that is prevalent in social media channels. At a time when there is a mass spread of wrong information, the station has done a fantastic job to break the chain of the virus and fake news.

Community radio provides marginalized communities with access to a voice — to express their concerns, interests and needs, promote and protect their cultures, traditions and heritages and determine their own development.

At this point, and during the COVID-19 crisis, the role of community radio stations is important in providing vulnerable sections of the population with credible information on how they can protect themselves against coronavirus. It is important to embrace community radios to check and halt the deadly virus and fight COVID-19.

The author is a public policy analyst and writer who has served as a consultant with the United Nations and the World Bank. An alumnus of Duke University, he has authored and co-authored numerous books, including “Conversations About the Youth in Kenya.” Obonyo is a TEDx fellow and has won various awards.

 

The post In Africa Stations Spread Lifesaving Information appeared first on Radio World.

Booths at a past Radio Show. Photo: Jim Peck.

There will be no Radio Show convention in Nashville in September, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau said they’ll produce a digital event instead.

Looking ahead, the organizations also announced locations and dates for their fall show for the next two years: Sept. 21–24, 2021, in New Orleans and Oct. 5–7, 2022, back in Nashville.

RAB President/CEO Erica Farber and NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith made the announcement in a letter to the industry.

“Just as you put your listeners’ interests first, your well-being is our top priority. With that in mind and considering the circumstances of the ongoing pandemic, we have decided not to move forward with the 2020 Radio Show in Nashville as previously scheduled for September 13–16. Instead, we will produce a digital event incorporating the best of what the Radio Show has to offer,” they wrote.

“Together with the Radio Show Steering Committee, we are committed to providing an alternative solution that will provide meaningful engagement, thought leadership, networking opportunities and insights to drive our industry forward.” Details are to be announced later.

 

The post Fall Radio Show in Nashville Is Cancelled; Online Event Set Instead appeared first on Radio World.

John Poray

The SBE Executive Director Search Committee has announced that it has placed open position notices in several job boards that cater to those who work in the association and nonprofit career field. The committee was formed to find a replacement for current Executive Director John Poray who, earlier this year, announced his plans for retirement at the end of the year.

According to a press release, “the committee will accept candidates’ resumes through the month of June and that initial interviews will begin in July.”

[Read: SBE’s Poray to Retire in 2020]

Some of the duties of the executive director include managing the organization’s administration, services, financial resources, staff and property along with serving as the primary contact with industry partners, promoting the society and carrying out board instructions.

The executive director also serves as the treasurer of the society’s 501(c)3 foundation, the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust.

Those feeling lucky can check out the job description here. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending a cover letter and resume to: Search Committee Chair at Executivedirectorsearch@sbe.org by June 30.

 

The post SBE Begins Search for New Executive Director appeared first on Radio World.

Click on the image above to access the guide.

While we might have missed walking the aisles of the exhibit floor at the NAB Show, innovations in media technology still made industry news this spring. Hot off the digital presses, this Future Best of Show Special Program Guide is a great way to learn about new products introduced for the TV, film, video, streaming, radio and pro AV business sectors.

[Read: Radio World Announces Winners of “Best of Show Special Edition”]

This digital guide features all of the nominees that participated in this year’s special version of the Best of Show Awards program, held online in the absence of the 2020 NAB Show. It allows companies to tell you in their own words why they believe a certain product is noteworthy. An award logo at the top of a page indicates a winning product. View the guide here.

The post Best of Show 2020 Program Guide eBook Is Now Available appeared first on Radio World.

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The author is membership program director of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. NFCB commentaries are featured regularly at www.radioworld.com.

As you read this column, the nation stands in outrage over the horrific killing of George Floyd by now-fired Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Three other officers — Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane — were also fired for an incident that has been shared countless times on social media, but they have not been charged.

Floyd’s murder has ignited demonstrations and street conflicts with police officers that have gone global. It came on the heels of much publicized racially charged cases, including “Central Park Karen” Amy Cooper calling New York City police on an African-American man who asked her to leash her dog; the slaying of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery by vigilantes in Georgia; and Breanna Taylor, killed by Kentucky police in another shocking case. The outpouring of grief and fury has rattled every corner of the United States, right down to the White House, where law enforcement used tear gas and other methods to disperse protesters.

[Read: Community Broadcaster: Four Zoom Tips for Community Radio]

Community radio is, at its essence, about people and communities. We long to tell the stories of those affected by the George Floyd tragedy and the latest cases. We also do our best to contextualize the news now with history and analysis. In pandemic times, many community radio stations are still operating at limited capacity. The urgency of now compels us to step in and support our communities.

How can a community radio station address its local needs related to the nationwide demonstrations? Here are a few key ways:

Provide relevant content in the form that works for your station. The operative phrase is what works for your station. Decide what you reasonably can do given COVID-19 and other restrictions on premises. Your station has a lot of options. You could spend a day doing thematic music. You could host on-air roundtables remotely via Skype, Zoom or your platform of choice. You could broadcast local rallies or host call-in programming to let listeners speak up about how they feel. You could host a stream on your station social media channels of conversation and coverage. Creativity can be your guide here.

If you choose or are able to do guests on the air, I believe your audience would be best served to hear voices beyond the streets, such as those working on nationwide police accountability and reform. Passions are high now, but the change that so many desire is rooted in better regulations, policy and penalties for misconduct.

Set up a promotional strategy for whatever approach you take. If your station is going to invest the time and resources to engage listeners in this critical story, take a step back and develop a plan for ensuring the largest number of people can experience your efforts. On-air promos, frequent social media posts with associated hashtags and email blasts are commonly used. You might also want to consider targeting areas you are not as strong, so to reach those your station may not typically engage with.

Express long-term commitments your station can make for diversity and inclusion. Although a statement expressing your organization’s horror about the killing of George Floyd is thoughtful, this is a moment for your station to state its values and vision to your supporters. It is also a chance to build trust and be accountable for not just words you may state about inclusion and fairness, but actions you are taking and will take.

While it is tempting to promise diverse programming, you should give strong consideration to the institutional commitments you can make in hiring, leadership development opportunities and community alliances. Whatever you decide, you should tie it all back to your mission statement and your history. Let listeners in on what you do, why you do it, and how this flashpoint is galvanizing you to action.

George Floyd will be laid to rest June 9 in Houston. A man many did not know has crystallized so much for many Americans. Community radio can play a crucial role in healing.

The post Community Broadcaster: Rest in Peace appeared first on Radio World.

Xperi Corp. and TiVo Corp. have completed their merger, calling the result “a unique digital entertainment technology platform and one of the industry’s largest and most diverse intellectual property licensing platforms.”

Xperi is familiar to Radio World readers as the parent, among other things, of HD Radio and of the hybrid radio platform DTS Connected Radio. Its brands also include DTS, IMAX Enhanced, Invensas and Perceive.

[Read: Kirchner’s 2015 commentary in Radio World, “Going Digital: Our Interest in Radio”]

Xperi Holding Corp. is the name of the ongoing entity; shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol XPER. TiVo common stock previously traded under the symbol TIVO but is no longer listed for trading.

“In a time when consumers want personalized and seamless access to entertainment anywhere, anytime and on any device, the combined company will offer consumers a digital entertainment platform featuring an end-to-end entertainment experience, from choice to consumption,” the company stated in its announcement.

Licensing of intellectual property is a big part of what it does. “With a shared track record of creating value through intellectual property licensing, the combined IP portfolio spans more than 11,000 patents and applications, with recurring subscriber-based IP revenue providing important stability and diversification for the business,” it stated.

Jon Kirchner is CEO of Xperi. “With this combination, we are better positioned to transform the entertainment experience across the home, auto and mobile markets with smarter technologies that enable extraordinary experiences,” he said in the statement.

 

The post Xperi and TiVo Complete Merger appeared first on Radio World.

Cumulus Media has received a green light to exceed the commission’s foreign ownership rules, a move the company said would strengthen its financial condition after its bankruptcy shakeup.

As part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, Cumulus filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission requesting that it be allowed to exceed the 25% foreign ownership rule.

[Read: Cumulus Considers Selling Tower Holdings]

Specifically, the petition requested approval to permit up to 100% direct/indirect foreign investment in Cumulus. According to the company, the reorganization plan will enable Cumulus to emerge from bankruptcy in a stronger financial condition.

The commission approved Cumulus’ request, said Albert Shuldiner, chief, of the Audio Division at the Media Bureau. In the petition he wrote that granting the petition is likely to put Cumulus in a stronger financial condition post-bankruptcy and provide the company greater flexibility to access foreign investment capital, thereby allowing Cumulus to better compete with other media companies, enhance its programming, and better serve the public interest.

Cumulus owns and operates 441 full-power radio stations in 90 U.S. markets as well as Westwood One network. Cumulus’ bankruptcy restructuring, which was started in November 2017 cut the company’s total debt balance from $2.34 billion to $1.30 billion.

 

The post Cumulus Gets Thumbs up on Foreign Ownership Petition appeared first on Radio World.

While developing Radio World’s new ebook “Broadcasting From Home, Around the Globe,” we asked Jenna Mangino, the station manager of KTSC(FM) Rev 89 at Colorado State University-Pueblo, how she thinks radio operations in the industry will be permanently changed as a result of this health crisis.

I think, going forward, people are realizing how much they can accomplish remotely. For some, the task may take two or three times longer, but as we continue to work remotely, I think it will eventually get easier.

I definitely see remote operations continuing for the future. Radio does not need a lot of space to function. The key to radio’s success as a medium has always been based on our ability to adapt. This pandemic has only emphasized that feature. We can be nimble, figure out solutions on the fly, work on shoestring budgets, develop our own work-around solutions, and the audience has no idea (for the most part) of what it actually took to make the broadcast happen.

Radio is also able to socially distance successfully. For some local stations, the on-air talents have been reduced from a full roster of talent to one or two people working on air for a few hours each day, and then people outside the city track the remainder of the schedule. This is not a new idea; this has been happening in broadcasting for decades.

The confined studio is now exactly what is needed in order to keep air talent safe, so long as the mic, equipment and surfaces are disinfected properly and pop filters are changed frequently. Given the transitions of audio over IP, networking is becoming a vital part of day-to-day radio operations. The combination of a traditional broadcast engineer and computer information systems engineer has shown that radio can operate anywhere, as long as there is bandwidth available and the transmitter is running.

More Collaboration
Doing shows remotely has never been easier. Hosting guests for public affairs shows is easier to schedule as well considering they’re working from home too, and they can adjust their schedule and call in from the comfort of their home.

Future studio designs could include the typical producer-studio separated by glass, but guests could be set up in the producer’s studio so that they maintain social distancing and are protected by the glass window.

For sales, reporters and talent, they’re showing that they can work remotely in the field or from home. As long as they have adequate equipment and bandwidth, they can meet with clients and close the sale from their home. Sources can be recorded on Zoom, many stations have audio/video sharing agreements so all stations get the same information. There’s more collaboration between stations because everyone is facing furloughs and layoffs, and everyone in media knows what it’s like, so information-sharing and collaboration is at an all-time high.

The most sobering wake-up call is that station owners are seeing their staff continue to produce excellent work, and ratings are increasing, as everyone is at home and remembering that radio is still free, doesn’t require bandwidth (smart speakers and streaming aside), and is local and reliable. As good as that sounds, it shows owners that if they can hire the right people who can do multiple jobs, the pressure will be on those fortunate enough to land a position in media to do more.

Open work areas are not needed in the future. The overhead of rent and utilities combined with the FCC eliminating the main studio rule will result in more and more employees being encouraged to work remotely. The small investment of some rack-mounted equipment, a RodeCaster coupled with a firewall and a VPN is considerably more affordable than a large empty building with 10 or fewer employees maintaining operations.

In the foreseeable future, I believe there will be more and more freelance opportunities for reporters and talent to fill in across the country for other stations and outlets.

As far as students working in this field, at least for my students, it has shown me how quickly they are able to adapt, be flexible, and persevere to learn new processes, procedures and technology. I think they’ll be more valuable to employers because they were forced to transition immediately and flourished.

The station is using the browser-based Cleanfeed multitrack audio and recording system, allowing students to record multiple voices for sports shows, podcasts, public affairs shows and morning shows. It also uses a custom remote voice tracking system developed by WideOrbit that allows students to submit audio files via Dropbox; students can use their own equipment at home to create voice tracks, drop them into the system and have them inserted into the WO system instantly.

KTSC, a noncommercial student-operated 8,000-watt radio station, has been broadcasting since 1970, and will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. It is part of the media communication department at CSU Pueblo and “trains students to work in a pressurized, real-world environment to prepare them for a career in the industry.”

The post Collaboration Is at an All-Time High appeared first on Radio World.

DPA 4097 Core Interview Kit collapsed

Designed for audio and visual journalists who have to conduct socially distanced interviews, DPA is pulling out its new shotgun microphone. The DPA 4097 Core micro shotgun microphone is intended for picking up speech at a distance, and has also been made a part of the company’s new 4097 Core interview kit.

The kit adds DPA’s new 4099 cold shoe mount, which incorporates a 1/4-inch thread; DPA MicroDot cable; transmitter plate; a lightweight telescopic boom pole, to further ensure social distance protocols; and windjammer. Terminating in a MicroDot connection, the 4097 Core micro shotgun can attach directly to a transmitter or be used with the company’s 4099 series mounts, clamps and clip; the mic can also be used as a plant mic solution for film and TV production environments.

DPA 4097  Core micro shotgun mic

When used in conjunction with DPA’s lightweight MMA-A digital audio interface, the 4097 Core micro shotgun becomes a complete remote recording package. The interface is a two-channel microphone preamp and A/D converter offering mono, dual and stereo capabilities, and is compatible with iOS devices, Mac or PC computer.

[Read: How Should I Disinfect My Microphone?]

The supercardioid 4097 Core micro shotgun offers a directional pickup pattern, 16 mV sensitivity and is capable of handling high SPLs. It is also IP58 certified for protection against water and dust,due to a water-repellent nanocoating of the cover and housing, hermetically sealing the amplifier at the core of the mic and dual gold-plating of the diaphragm.

Configured with a MicroDot connector, one of DPA’s adapters can be used for either wired or wireless applications. The mic also includes an integrated shock mount similar to the one found in the DPA 4099 mics.

The post DPA Launches 4097 Micro Shotgun Mic, Interview Kit appeared first on Radio World.

GeoBroadcast Solutions says it has performed three ZoneCasting tests under FCC experimental operation. For WIIL(FM) in Milwaukee the main zone is shown in red on the left and the increased zone is shown in green. GBS said this design is being used full-time in France. Click on the image above for a larger version.

One of the topics for debate among technology leaders this spring — when they weren’t talking about face masks or hurriedly setting up remote operations — has been whether the Federal Communications Commission should allow zoned programming for FM stations in the United States.

The National Association of Broadcasters gave qualified support to the general concept but voiced concerns over potential interference. Separately, four prominent radio groups told the FCC that much more real-world data is necessary before the commission should even proceed to a notice of proposed rulemaking.

One veteran industry observer said the concept if approved could spark a “booster boom,” resulting in an increase in the number of booster facilities and modifications to existing boosters.

Cites Advertising Demand
The signal of an FM booster is used to strengthen reception within a station’s coverage contour on the same frequency as the primary station. Under current rules the booster must retransmit the same programming of the primary station.

Chicago-based GeoBroadcast Solutions, the company advocating the use of boosters to deploy geo-targeted content within specific parts of stations’ over-the-air coverage areas, petitioned the commission in March to consider the technical feasibility of its system, renewing an effort that goes back at least eight years. The commission then asked for industry comments about whether to take next steps.

GBS says its technology, marketed under the name ZoneCasting, would allow FM broadcasters to do “hyperlocal programming, advertising and emergency alerting,” or what it calls geo-fencing audio delivery. The company asserts that radio is the only mass medium that cannot geo-target its content. It favors a “voluntary, market-driven” transition; and says its zoned coverage would not cause harmful interference to neighboring FM stations or to the primary station.

“We are encouraged by the amount of support we received from the broadcast industry, as well as the advertising and public safety sectors.” — Bill Hieatt, CTO of GeoBroadcast Solutions

“The ongoing evolution of ZoneCasting and its ability to geo-target an analog or HD Radio signal is made by arranging transmitters in a cluster to allow programming in the zoned area to break away from the main signal and transmit geo-targeted content,” the company states in its promotional material.

“ZoneCasting works as a single-frequency network deployed to boost the signal from the main transmitter to the booster nodes.”

Launching the technology would only require one change to a subsection of the rules on boosters, it wrote in its petition for rulemaking in March.

The proposed revision adds the following language: “The programming aired on the FM broadcast booster station must be ‘substantially similar’ to that aired by its primary station. For purposes of this section, ‘substantially similar’ means that the programming must be the same except for advertisements, promotions for upcoming programs and enhanced capabilities including hyper-localized content (e.g., geo-targeted weather, targeted emergency alerts and hyperlocal news).” Such “fenced zones” could also be used for traffic information and second language programming, GBS has said.

GeoBroadcast supports its argument for using the geo-fencing audio technology by citing “interest and demand” by broadcasters and advertisers. It says research by BIA Advisory Services found that more than 90% of local retailers would spend more on broadcast radio advertising if zoned advertising were available. The study purports to show that “two-thirds of national advertisers indicated their interest in zoned broadcast coverage,” according to GeoBroadcast.

For precedent for its proposal, GeoBroadcast pointed to the FCC’s 2017 authorization to allow television broadcasters to use the Next Generation TV standard, also known as ATSC 3.0, which it said allowed for a higher level of service and benefits for consumers.

“Zoned broadcast coverage can be deployed without causing any interference concerns and without consumers having to buy any new equipment,” according to the filing, “since the signals can be received on existing radio receivers.” And when not operating in geo-targeting mode, the primary station’s signal is amplified, thus improving the signal in the area covered by the boosters at all times, it said.

The company says it has studied zoned broadcast coverage for a decade. Indeed, the commission did issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the company’s technology in 2012 and collected comments, but took no further action at that time.

Now it says its development work through simulations and modeling, as well as test work including a five-site network at Entercom’s KWFN in San Diego, demonstrate that the concept works. GeoBroadcast has used “extensive network design work at NPR Labs to identify the power and height for the ZoneCasting boosters under a variety of primary station types and terrain conditions,” according to its filing.

“Field tests have shown that deployment of ZoneCasting does not result in harmful interference within the SFN either between the primary station and boosters or among the booster cluster itself,” it said.
Bert Goldman, president of Goldman Engineering Management, wrote in the GBS filing that “the ZoneCasting technology that broadcasters could deploy does not raise any technical concerns” that should hold up commission action (see below).

He told Radio World in an email the system uses the Synchrocast feature of GatesAir Intraplex codecs. “There is no other source that I know of which could supply that tight of a timing synchronization unless an RF STL link is used, but they typically use IP-based delivery,” Goldman wrote.

ZoneCasting currently works only with analog FM, but GeoBroadcast is working toward compatibility with digital radio systems, Goldman said.

The company’s ongoing testing “demonstrates the HD signal will work successfully with HD receivers in a ZoneCasting system,” according to a spokesman. “We are currently consulting with Xperi and infrastructure providers to ensure HD listeners will have a seamless listening experience.”

Supportive Words

GBS said the industry comments this spring demonstrated “general agreement” for innovative technologies and new paths for revenue. “Many of the detailed comments expressed anticipation for a level playing field in the broadcast industry and excitement for the ability to add localized weather and traffic, news, advertising, and emergency alerting during short parts of a broadcast hour, and the benefit it will offer listeners, small businesses and advertisers.”

Among those commenting in support, Sky Media LLC, licensee of KPKK(FM) in Amargosa Valley, Nev., wrote that it would “utilize zoned broadcast coverage to provide targeted emergency alerts, local news and public interest programming and localized advertisements responsive to the needs of small business.”

Another small broadcaster says the technology would bring numerous benefits to consumers. “Zoned coverage would make radio much more attractive to small businesses, who would be able to reach their targeted audiences more effectively and efficiently as well as local political candidates and local groups wishing to discuss localized issues affecting contiguous neighborhoods,” wrote Ashley Communications Inc., licensee of KLCY(FM) in Vernal, Utah.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council commented that “the ability to geo-target content on radio will be especially beneficial to minority broadcasters and their advertisers.”

Emmis Communications, which owns six FM and two AM radio stations, is in support, according to a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

“From our company’s experience, this kind of geo-targeting could bring real benefits to the radio industry since it has the potential to address one drawback of the radio industry as it competes with other media: no ability to geo-target content and advertisements,” wrote Rick Cummings, director of programming for Emmis Communications.

Zoned advertising is a big part of the appeal here, and GBS noted support from advertising and marketing companies such as Ansira, Dentsu and MAGNA Global.

It also emphasizes the value in alerting. Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the FCC he believes geo-targeting is essential to allow regionalized alerts and warnings during times of emergency.

“In this era of hyper-local and targeted communications, radio has become the lone medium unable to reach its listeners on a granular basis. And, in fact, the value of geo-targeting through radio in times of local, regional, state, and federal emergencies is a paramount personal concern of mine,” wrote Fugate.

He continued, “Without a doubt, localized radio broadcast updates of today’s COVID-19 crisis would serve the public good by communicating public safety information pertinent to specific portions of the airwave’s audience. Consider the benefit of reaching a 25-mile portion of a radio signal about local test sites or shelters versus informing that same station’s 100-mile audience that do not need those specifics but require their own, zoned, details.”

Words of Caution
The National Association of Broadcasters supports giving FM broadcasters zoned broadcasting capabilities, but said the proposal is not entirely free of concerns.

The association noted its own previous opposition to the creation of a new Class C4 FM radio service due to an increased risk of interference to incumbent FM service — though in this case, it acknowledged, “any potential interference caused by using boosters to target content should only affect an FM station’s own service, and the decision whether to risk such self-interference would be purely voluntary,” NAB wrote.

It continued, “We also observe potential concerns that GBS’ system currently works only with analog FM service, which could undermine the continued expansion of digital audio broadcasting (DAB, also called HD Radio). There may be potential disruption to DAB in the targeted zones. This issue is not addressed in the petition.”

On balance, however, NAB favors the FCC granting the petition to move ahead to an NPRM.
GBS has, however, not yet made its case successfully to several of the country’s leading broadcasters.
iHeartMedia, Entercom Communications, Cumulus Media and Beasley Media Group jointly told the FCC that “more real-world vetting” is needed before the commission moves ahead even to an NPRM. The language in its filing was much more cautionary.

“Automatically authorizing such an unproven technology … is particularly premature given the proponent’s acknowledgment that listeners will experience some degree of ‘self-interference,’ as the booster signal is handed off from the primary programming to the zone programming.” — Joint filing by iHeartMedia, Cumulus, 
Entercom and Beasley

“Technologies that are not yet widely proven which could cause interference to the primary signal, as well as confusion among radio listeners as the primary signal is handed off to a localized signal, should not prematurely be adopted as a default standard without more real-world experience gathered with experimental authorizations,” they wrote.

“Automatically authorizing such an unproven technology … is particularly premature given the proponent’s acknowledgment that listeners will experience some degree of ‘self-interference,’ as the booster signal is handed off from the primary programming to the zone programming,” they wrote.
They acknowledged that GBS referenced studies of its technology but believes there has only been one “real-world” experimental test of its current iteration.

They said that by moving to an NPRM, the FCC would essentially endorse ZoneCasting “without the need for implementors to report back to the commission on the benefits, problems and/or weaknesses of the system.” They asked the FCC to allow more experimental authorizations and reporting, as it has done for technologies like Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier Modulation, all-digital on AM, Modulation Dependent Carrier Level controls and HD Radio.

Others raising concern include REC Networks, a low-power FM advocate. It said the booster rule change could lead to an increased risk of interference within the FM band and possibly bring on a “booster-boom” in the United States.

“(REC) must disagree in part with petitioner’s claims that ZoneCasting does not raise technical or interference issues and has ‘no impact on other broadcasters.’ There could be situations where the installation of an FM booster would create harmful interference to an LPFM station, mainly in cases where the full-service FM station was created or modified after the establishment date of the LPFM station,” wrote Michi Bradley, founder of REC Networks.

Commenting to Radio World about the general technical issues involved, Jim Stanley, president of Stanley Broadcast Engineering, said proper installation and maintenance of a station’s RF infrastructure will be critical to limiting self-interference when deploying such a system.

“Anytime multiple transmitters (boosters) are operated on the same frequency, synchronization is needed. This includes using GPS to phase lock the carriers and usually some type of audio delay in the input(s) of one or more transmitters.”

Stanley said, “When more than one transmitter is operated on the same frequency, with no geological terrain disruption between the two transmitter sites, there will be a certain amount of interference between the two signals where the contours meet. The degree of interference between multiple sites would vary depending on conditions. It is important that the booster sites be engineered and installed so that the booster coverage does not extend beyond the authorized 60 dBu contour of the primary facility.”

In a press release after the comment deadline, Bill Hieatt, CTO of GeoBroadcast Solutions, said, “The comments raised important issues for the industry as a whole and specific, instructive points on how our technology needs to address ideas and share knowledge to help it improve, as it has a chance to evolve in the marketplace.”

Making It Work
Bert Goldman, president of Goldman Engineering Management, has been working with GeoBroadcast since 2015 to develop multitransmitter booster systems known as MaxxCasting. He said ZoneCasting is based on that technology.

He told the FCC that MaxxCasting systems use boosters synchronized both with the main transmitter and with each other to produce seamless transitions between node areas. This, he said, improves coverage well beyond what would be possible with only the main transmitter by filling in low-signal areas within an FM station’s protected service contour.

He said the system is used successfully in numerous markets including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle “and is expanding rapidly.” Users, he said, report “vastly improved” quality of service and Nielsen PPM decoding.

Goldman said MaxxCasting achieves interference-free signal improvement due to four techniques that essentially “trick” a receiver into acting as if it is hearing one station instead of two or more, which would result in distortion and interference.

These techniques are carrier synchronization, which Goldman said is now possible by using GPS-trained oscillators; pilot phase synchronization, also possible using GPS; the use of small cells or “nodes” with highly directional antennas to keep the real-time FM waveforms at the receiver to within two microseconds; and maintaining audio modulation of the main and booster carriers to identical waveforms with less than a 0.1 dB difference between the main transmitter and all nodes.

On those last two points, Goldman added that recent technical advances play an important part.
“The technology to so precisely control the timing of the audio waveform for both analog stations and stations operating with HD Radio has only been perfected recently. Accurate RF modeling and prediction, critical in optimizing performance, is accomplished with powerful software tools developed by the wireless industry for cellular communications. This allows GeoBroadcast to precisely tailor parameters to maximize coverage and eliminate interference.”

“Modulation matching is also a recent development, made possible by digital composite and AES digital transmission, synchronization and high-speed data circuits.”

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

The post GBS Gathers Support for Geo-Targeting appeared first on Radio World.

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