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The author of this commentary is general counsel of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

I am moved to write about a matter now before the Media Bureau at the FCC. The subject is the ethical obligations of broadcast engineers.

Having served as SBE general counsel for 40 years now, I can count on one hand the number of times that the SBE board of directors has found it necessary to revoke an engineer’s SBE membership, and still have some fingers left over.

This, I think, speaks highly of the overall integrity and dedication to ethical principles of the SBE’s membership, and of broadcast engineers overall.

In that same amount of time, I can honestly say that I have never had occasion to question the ethical integrity of any of the engineers that work at the commission.

Sure, we have disagreed, often actively, on policy matters, but on technical matters, I can always count on the accuracy and truth of technical findings by FCC staff. This speaks very well of the high level of integrity of the commission’s engineers.

The only times during my tenure that an SBE member has had that membership revoked were those few cases when an engineer was found as a matter of fact to have violated the SBE Canons of Ethics.

The SBE puts a lot of stock in the Canons of Ethics, and rightly so. The SBE’s Bylaws, at Section 3(a), say that “(a)ny Member may be suspended for a period or expelled for cause, such as violation of any of the By-Laws or Canons of Ethics of the Society or for conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Society.”

The Canons of Ethics have not been revised or amended in a very long time, largely because they don’t need to be; they state principles of conduct for engineers that simply don’t change.

The preamble to the SBE Canons of Ethics reads as follows: “Honesty, justice and courtesy form a moral philosophy when associated with mutual interest between human beings. This constitutes the foundation of ethics. Broadcast engineers should recognize such a standard of behavior not in passive observance, but as dynamic principles guiding their conduct and way of life. It is the duty of all broadcast engineers to practice their profession according to this Canon of Ethics.

“The keystone of professional conduct is integrity. Broadcast engineers will discharge their duties with fidelity to the public and to their employers, and with impartiality to all. Broadcast engineers must uphold the dignity of their profession and avoid association with any enterprise of questionable character. Broadcast engineers will strive to be fair, tolerant, and open minded.”

To me, the key element of this is the obligation of impartiality. It is what gives broadcast engineers the reputation for the highest levels of integrity.

Indeed, Section 5 of the SBE Canons of Ethics states: “The Broadcast Engineer will express an opinion when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction while he or she is serving as a witness before a court, commission or other tribunal.”

Ethical Company

The SBE is not alone in its strong dedication to the highest level of integrity of its engineer members.

Article V, Section 3 of the Bylaws of the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE) establishes as a standing committee the “Professional Ethics and Grievances Committee” whose job it is to “consider and report on all efforts to improve the professional conduct and ethics of engineering practitioners in the communication field, make such investigations of professional conduct and of abuses in connection with engineering practice by members and furnish information and make recommendations on the foregoing subjects to the Board of Directors and the Association.”

Ethics is obviously a principal focus of AFCCE, which is laudable.

So when the integrity and impartiality of a consulting engineer is drawn into question by the FCC, we tend to sit up and take notice.

In a proceeding now ongoing in the Media Bureau, a low-power FM station has been accused by a second adjacent full-power FM station of causing interference to listeners of the full-power FM at various points near the transmitter site of the LPFM. In such cases, the accused LPFM is entitled to show that the alleged interference either does not exist or that the LPFM station is not the cause of the interference.

The licensee of the LPFM therefore retained a well-respected consulting engineer (and SBE-certified CPBE) who is located in a different state from the LPFM, to investigate the interference. The engineer did so using accepted methodologies, at all sites where the interference was claimed to have been experienced, and the engineer submitted a written report to the Audio Division, Media Bureau, concluding that no interference was found at the locations where the listeners of the full power FM station reported interference, or even at the transmitter site of the LPFM, where second-adjacent interference potential would be the worst. There was no rebuttal of the engineer’s showing by the full-power FM station.

There are a lot of other facts involved in the case, but the Audio Division’s response to the interference study submitted by the LPFM as a part of its response was this: “We also decline to consider [the consulting engineer’s] interference test results because [the consulting engineer] was retained by [the LPFM] and thus is not an independent party.”

It is difficult to understand why the Audio Division concluded, as it did, that all consulting engineers are biased in favor of their client to the point that their work is summarily deemed unreliable.

If a licensee is precluded from engaging an independent consulting engineer to conduct a technical analysis and to fairly present the engineer’s technical conclusions, simply because the licensee is paying for the engineering work, how, precisely, is the licensee supposed to address the technical issue presented?

This case is now on administrative appeal. It is hoped that the commission doesn’t really have this low an impression of the ethics, impartiality and integrity of broadcast engineers.

This article originally appeared in SBE’s newsletter “The Signal.” Learn about SBE membership at sbe.org.

The post The Integrity and Ethics of Broadcast Engineers appeared first on Radio World.

Saranac Lake, N.Y., is a small city in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains of far Upstate New York. In recent years, it has gained attention for the acquisition of a failed radio station, silenced by its licensee, by two foreign citizens. It has also received attention for a UHF channel that’s been the subject of a coverage battle with Comcast.

That channel is today owned by Gray Television. And, it serves the Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y. market. A petition Gray has just submitted to the FCC now brings the company the potential to fully complete, on par, with in-market competitor Hearst Television.

An Engineering Exhibit prepared for Gray by Chesapeake RF Consultants LLC, obtained by RBR+TVBR, confirms that it is submitting for regulatory approval an application that would give it a Construction Permit to operate WYCI-DT as a Distributed Transmission System (DTS) by adding another transmitter site to its current operation.

It’s a major move for Gray, and essentially makes the company a full player in the Burlington-Plattsburgh market. Furthermore, WYCI would enjoy an over-the-air signal as far north as Montréal, which historically has received Burlington-Plattsburgh “Big Four” TV stations on local cable TV systems.

Importantly, it puts Hearst on notice that it has a fight on its hands locally.

And, it’s a battle that is five years in the making.

WYCI, which has a PSIP of 40 and uses digital channel 34, in October 2016 was a property of Cross Hill Communications. The station’s then-owner wanted WYCI placed on Comcast’s Xfinity channel lineup across the Burlington-Plattsburgh DMA. Comcast protested, and fought a “must carry” request by filing a cable special relief petition (CSR) with the FCC. This would have allowed Xfinity to become exempt from a pending market modification of the station to Burlington-Plattsburgh.

At the time, WYCI was a RetroTV affiliate, purchased by Cross Hill in December 2013 from Donald McHone’s Channel 61 Associates LLC. It paid $225,000 for what was WNMN-TV.

Interestingly, Comcast in December 2016 abandoned its fight against Cross Hill and WYCI. Was it privy to a potential sale of the station?

On October 14, 2019, Cross Hill agreed to sell WYCI to Gray for $1.1 million. But, the deal came after Gray in May 2017 paid $29 million for the Burlington-Plattsburgh market’s CBS affiliate WCAX-3.

The 2019 sale of WYCI created a duopoly that passed muster with the FCC’s local ownership rules, and the Commission approved the deal in February 2020.

By that time, WYCI had shifted its programming by placing the Heroes & Icons multicast network on its DT1 signal. It is also a secondary MyNetwork TV station for Burlington-Plattsburgh.

THE COMING DTS BOOST

Now, WYCI is poised to employ a new antenna system to be side-mounted on an existing tower structure associated with FCC Antenna Structure Registration number 1003384.

No change to the overall structure height will result.

WYCI will continue to operate as licensed from “DTS site No. 2.”

The proposed antenna for DTS site No. 1 is an elliptically polarized directional Dielectric model TFU-16DSB-B/VP-R, with 30% vertical polarization.

The proposed antenna height above ground is 738.19 feet; the antenna HAAT is 1,735.6 feet.

With a tower site that’s a 90-minute drive to Rue Crescent in the heart of Montréal, effective radiated power of 200,000 watts would easily reach the city — let alone the entire Burlington-Plattsburgh DMA.

Mutual interference would be mitigated by “considerable terrain blockage,” Chesapeake RF Consultants notes.

For those familiar with the region, DTS site No. 1 will be built on Terry Mountain. It is where Hearst’s NBC affiliate, WPTZ-5, had its tower for some 40 years. It’s just 17 miles southwest of Plattsburgh,

When up and running, the signal will stretch as far into Vermont as Montpelier.

And, thanks to that mountainous terrain, it will enjoy coverage of the most populous areas of Montréal.

With WCAX and WYCI, Gray will compete against Hearst’s WPTZ and The CW Network affiliate in Burlington-Plattsburgh, WNNE-31. 

The two stations currently use a tower atop Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont.

Hearst has owned WPTZ and WNNE since July 1998; the stations were previously owned by Heritage Media, and in the span of 12 months starting in 1997 were sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group, and then to Sunrise Television. Sunrise then engaged in an asset swap that brought WPTZ and WNNE into the Hearst family.

At the end of August 2020, Anthony Bucher and his Hitmaker Music Group LLC struck a deal giving it ownership of a pair of AM radio stations and an FM translator in the heart of Florida’s “Gator Country.”

Now, Bucher is officially the licensee of the stations in the Gainesville-Ocala market.

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Cheryl Thompson

NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting want to help stations do local investigative work. To that end NPR has created a “Station Investigations Team” with CPB backing.

Its purpose is to work with public radio regional newsrooms and topic teams. It is led by Cheryl W. Thompson, an investigative reporter who came to NPR in 2019 and worked at the Washington Post for many years. She is also president of Investigative Reporters and Editors, an organization that seeks to improve investigative journalism.

[Read: NPR to Modify “Consider This” to Include Local Content]

“The team, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will include a producer and a data editor who will advise reporters who’d like technical help with skills such as data collection and analysis and freedom of information requests,” NPR announced.

“The team will also help facilitate stations’ opportunities to localize NPR investigations through webinars and open-source data.”

The announcement was made by Tamar Charney, acting senior director of collaborative journalism, and Kathy Merritt, CPB senior vice president, Radio, Journalism and CSG Services.

Charney said the investigative unit will support station-based reporters with resources to help them cover local issues “from the safety of the water where we live to the ability of our local health systems to respond to the pandemic.”

The initiative is a component of the Collaborative Journalism Network.

 

The post NPR Creates Station Investigation Team appeared first on Radio World.

A war of words has erupted between DirecTV owner AT&T and Apollo Global Management-controlled Cox Media Group in the wake of an impasse over a new retransmission consent agreement — a move that forced AT&T, by law, to block its subscribers from receiving any CMG-owned station.

On Tuesday (2/2), CMG pointed fingers at AT&T. Now, AT&T has fired back at the owner of such stations as KIRO-7 in Seattle, the market’s CBS affiliate and home to Super Bowl LV. 

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On October 2, 2019, Sinclair Telecable officially acquired all of Emmis Communications’ 50.1% controlling stake in six Austin, Tex. radio stations and two FM translators in the Lone Star State’s capital.

The transaction gave Bob and David Sinclair full control of properties now operating as Waterloo Media, leaving its Sinclair Communications arm the licensee of stations in its home market of Norfolk, and in the heart of Northern California’s Wine Country.

Now, the Sinclair family is saying goodbye to the Golden State.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

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Ten months into the COVID-19 pandemic, “radio hosts on FM still matter.”

Imagine that.

It simply took NuVoodoo Media Services to confirm it in a recent “Ratings Prospects Study.”

 

RBR+TVBR RELATED READ:

Thirty Years Later, Has Pop Radio Learned Anything? Adam Jacobson

Seeking airchecks from WHTZ “Z100” in New York, our Editor-in-Chief stumbled across an article in The New York Times from July 28, 1991 discussing pop radio’s “midlife crisis.” The story addressed issues that are still pressing for CHR/Pop stations some 30 years later. Why?

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New microphones come on the market thanks to the podcasting boom … Rosemary Harold says the FCC is without funds to enforce the new anti-pirate radio law. …

Bernhard Borghei discusses Vertical Bridge’s tower acquisition strategy … Tom Lawler talks about trends in audio processing …

The founder of AdTonos explains why he’s excited about audio interactivity … Kevin Curran offers an appreciation of the EV 635A.

These stories and more are explored in the Feb. 3 issue.

Read it here.

 

The post Inside the Feb. 3 2021 Issue of Radio World appeared first on Radio World.

In the early part of the 2010s, it was part of Davidson Media Group‘s assets targeting Spanish-language consumers.

Today, this Virginia AM retains its branding from those days. But, it is now under new ownership — an entity formed by two of the station’s veteran air personalities.

SAVE YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE TODAY! SEPT. 22-23, 2020 — DORAL, FLA. REGISTER NOW!

 

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January 2021 is in the history books, and the road to what many hope will be a major recovery for Radio is underway.

As far as veteran programming consultant Clark Smidt sees it, “It WILL all come together. We deserve it and are working for it.”

But, it may require some fresh thinking.

In this column, Smidt writes about “Smooth transitions, new styles, new challenges, adjustments, attitude, cooperation and teamwork.” It could prove to be a catalyst for positive growth at your radio or TV stations.

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Ronald Reagan presidential inauguration, Jan. 20, 1981. Photo: Ronald Reagan Foundation

A new 60-second feature of Ronald Reagan quotes is available, tied to the 40th anniversary of his inauguration as president.

The “Ronald Reagan Quote of the Day” was announced by the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which is leading a year-long celebration called “40 at 40.” Reagan was the 40th president and he was inaugurated 40 years ago, on Jan. 20, 1981.

The president — a former actor, movie star, union leader and governor — had numerous connections to radio during his career.

Early on he was a sportscaster for several stations, and he famously recreated Cubs games based on telegraph and wire reports. In the 1970s he used a daily radio commentary to help cement his political profile and his reputation as “The Great Communicator.” Once president, harking back to Pres. Franklin Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats,” he started the tradition of Saturday radio addresses from the White House in 1982 that continued until they sputtered out under Donald Trump.

Photo: Ronald Reagan Foundation

The clips are free, with the restriction that they may only be broadcast as part of the “Ronald Reagan Quote of the Day” feature; they aren’t to be used for other commercial or political purposes. And although not required, the foundation asks that each station air the “Quote of the Day” at least twice each weekday during daytime hours.

“We are granting geographic exclusivity, based on a first-come first-serve availability,” said Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller. “Stations must let us know they want to use these clips so we can ensure no other station in their market is already using them.”

Each month’s batch of audio clips will be available at least a week prior to the beginning of each new month at a Dropbox.

For information email mgiller@reaganfoundation.org.

 

The post Daily Clip Features Ronald Reagan Quotes appeared first on Radio World.

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Technology experts David Layer and John Clark from the National Association of Broadcasters will keynote the radio track sessions of the Pro Audio & Radio Tech Summit on April 1.

The summit, announced this week, is a free one-day virtual trade show where radio and pro audio professionals can learn about new products and technology and network with colleagues and manufacturers. It is produced jointly by Mix magazine, Pro Sound News and Radio World.

David Layer

The radio keynote session “Hybrid Radio & Android Automotive” will provide a look at two technology topics that affect how your radio station is heard in the car, said Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane.

Hybrid radio combines one-way OTA radio reception with two-way online connectivity and streaming, to create a new kind of platform in connected cars.

Meanwhile, the Android Automotive OS is expected to create more powerful, modern infotainment systems. Over the next couple of years, Android Automotive will be in vehicles from Ford, GM, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

John Clark

David Layer is vice president, advanced engineering for the NAB. John Clark is executive director of NAB’s PILOT technology development initiative.

“We’re honored to have David and John headlining our radio track,” McLane said. “The changes that are happening in the car environment will have crucial implications for radio and other audio media. And we’ll be announcing panelists for the rest of our radio track sessions soon; those will explore trends in AoIP, virtualization, transmitter design and streaming for radio.”

The Pro Audio & Radio Tech Summit will also feature a virtual exhibition floor, live chat and a separate track of presentations showcasing technologies and trends in pro audio.

Registration for the event is open.

The post Summit to Explore Hybrid Radio, Android Automotive appeared first on Radio World.

In mid-March 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic’s full arrival in North America, Townsquare Media delivered its Q4 and full-year 2020 financial results. On Wall Street, TSQ stock hemorrhaged, dipping to $3.95 after starting the month of February at $10.25.

With Tuesday’s closing bell on the NYSE, TSQ has now fully erased all of its COVID-19 stock woes.

On volume of 102,224 shares (average volume is 37,790 shares), Townsquare Media shares finished at $10.17; in early after-hours trading, TSQ was up to $10.18.

This marks a 157% improvement for TSQ, climbing from the depths of 2020, when the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic punctured media stocks severely.

Analysts have pegged a $13.33 1-year target estimate on Townsquare stock, and the latest growth is likely tied to an announcement 8 days ago that it would repurchase at least 10 million shares.

The growth further puts into question why Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, which describes itself as “a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide,’ is investigating “a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Townsquare Media.”

The law firm made the announcement January 18.

Wall Street shrugged.

He’s been the Market Manager for NRG Media stations in Wausau-Stevens Point, Wisc. Most recently, he served as Market President for iHeartMedia in Wichita.

Now, this veteran radio station cluster leader has joined Cumulus Media to oversee its group of broadcast properties in Montgomery, Ala.

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I’ve heard from plenty of folks who think the boat has left the dock not only for digital on AM but for the entire AM band. Business and technical challenges facing America’s AM broadcasters have been well documented here and elsewhere.

You certainly won’t hear CEOs of big broadcast companies proclaiming their excitement around AM radio strategies unless it’s to count the cash they got from selling tower sites.

Yet when you talk with the handful of people who have real experience with the MA3 mode of HD Radio, their enthusiasm is notable. They say the signal sounds great, that coverage is strong and that they love how station metadata displays on modern dashboard displays.

Our latest Radio World ebook explores the question of what’s next.

One of the people I interviewed is Neal Ardman, who activated the MA3 mode on WMGG in Florida in January, the first station to take the step since the commission approved the option. 

“The MA3 is the great equalizer in terms of audio quality,” Ardman told me. “When we flipped the switch, the sound is incredible. The station sounds like an FM.”

He pointed out that about 30% of cars in his area have HD Radio receivers, then echoed a comment we’ve heard from Dave Kolesar of Hubbard’s WWFD: “Our thinking is, would we rather be in a third of the cars sounding phenomenal, or in all of the cars sounding sketchy and marginal? We chose to be in the cars sounding great,” Ardman said.

It’s worth noting that some AM owners are watching these developments to see if multicasting on the digital AM signal is viable and, if so, whether that might eventually give them another path to obtaining more analog FM translators — similar to how current FM hybrid digital stations can use an HD2 to feed an analog FM. 

I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about that possibility. Note, though, that while existing digital AM receivers can receive MA3, they are not set up to receive multicasting, so this isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

(Urban One tried unsuccessfully last year to obtain experimental authority to feed an FM translator from a digital AM multicast. For now the FCC has said, “Because the record does not establish that an audio stream on an HD-2 subchannel is currently technically feasible, we will evaluate requests to rebroadcast multicast channels on an FM translator on a case-by-case basis until a more fully developed record is available on this subject.”)

I hope you’ll read the free ebook and let me know what you think. 

 

The post Ebook Explores Digital Outlook for AM appeared first on Radio World.