Our Next Chapter Meeting
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President: Jim Leifer, CPBE, Tewksbury, MA |
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Vice President: RJ Russell, CPBE, Middletown, DE |
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Secretary: Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNE, College Station, TX |
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Treasurer: Jim Bernier, CPBE, CBNE, Alpharetta, GA |
Elected to two-year terms as directors are:
| Stephen J. Brown, CPBE, CBNT Appleton, WI - Chapter 80 |
| Roz Clark, CPBE, CBNT Clearwater, FL Chapter 39 |
| Kirk Harnack, CBRE, CBNE Nashville, TN Chapter 103 |
| Vinny Lopez, CEV, CBNT Syracuse, NY Chapter 22 |
| Tom McGinley, CPBE, AMD, CBNT Missoula, MT Chapter 16 |
| Shane Toven, CBRE, CBNT Laramie, WY Chapter 48 |
2018 Broadcasters Clinic
Amateur Radio News
compiled by Tom Weeden WJ9H
"It is important to note that no changes to NIST services have occurred, and if the proposal were to be implemented, public notice would be provided," NIST said this week.
The American Radio Relay League is suggesting that members of the Amateur Radio community who value the stations for their precise time and frequency signals and other information sign the petition and/or contact their members of Congress promptly, explaining how the stations are important to them, beyond government and military use. WWV is among the oldest radio stations in the US and has broadcast the official time for nearly a century.
According to the NIST Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget request, the specific cut would come from the NIST Fundamental Measurement, Quantum Science, and Measurement Dissemination budget and would amount to $6.3 million.
"NIST has a long-standing history of providing time and frequency services through our radio stations and we appreciate that many people use these services," NIST said in a statement. "WWV is the longest continuously operating radio service in the US. At the same time, the proposed NIST budget for FY 2019 required difficult choices about budget priorities."
NIST said that it plans to eliminate "efforts that have been replaced by newer technologies, measurement science research that lies outside NIST's core mission space, and programs that can no longer be supported due to facility deterioration."
WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado and WWVH in Kauai, Hawaii broadcast 24/7. Announcements include time announcements, standard time intervals, standard frequencies, UT1 time corrections, a BCD time code, geophysical alerts, and marine storm warnings. Transmissions are broadcast from separate transmitters on 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. An experimental 25 MHz signal is also currently on the air. WWVB transmits standard Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signals on 60 kHz to appropriately equipped devices.
Link to petition
The US Coast Guard says it's received reports from crews, ship owners, inspectors, and other mariners regarding poor reception on VHF radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC), and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of LED lighting systems. This could include interior and exterior lighting, navigation lights, searchlights, and floodlights found on vessels of all sizes.
"Radio frequency interference caused by these LED lamps [was] found to create potential safety hazards," the Coast Guard said in an August 15 Marine Safety Alert. "For example, the maritime rescue coordination center in one port was unable to contact a ship involved in a traffic separation scheme incident by VHF radio. That ship also experienced very poor AIS reception. Other ships in different ports have experienced degradation of the VHF receivers, including AIS, caused by their LED navigation lights. LED lighting installed near VHF antennas has also shown to compound the reception."
ARRL has determined a wide range of interference-causing potential from consumer lighting devices. "While some are relatively quiet, other devices -- even those that meet the required FCC emissions limits -- can still cause harmful interference," said ARRL Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG. "My best recommendation is to try LED lights before you buy, especially if there is a possibility that the device will be used while you're operating. Once you have determined that a particular LED device is quiet, then purchase as many as you need from that same store."
Over the past few years, ARRL has provided the FCC with reports of LED and other lighting systems that are not in compliance with FCC regulations. In several instances, these devices greatly exceeded the FCC's emissions limits, in one case by as much as 58 dB, creating as much noise as 650,000 legal devices, Gruber said. "Several recent FCC enforcement actions involving LED manufacturers have been encouraging," he added. "These actions can and will make a difference."
Gruber said ARRL remains committed to working with both the FCC and manufacturers to help facilitate that positive difference in every possible way. "It is possible for LED and other lighting technologies to coexist with both amateurs and other users of the radio spectrum," he said.
FCC NEWS
compiled by Tom Smith
C-BAND UP DATE
On August 29th, the FCC published in the Federal Register the notice (2018-18288.pdf) setting the comment dates for the proposed rules for sharing the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz bands between the existing satellite services and the proposed terrestrial wireless broadband services. The notice is a condensed version of the official rulemaking notice (FCC-18-91A1.pdf) that was released on July 13th. The comment period closes on October 29th and reply comments are due on November 27th.In other C-Band news, satellite transmission provider SES announced a reimbursement program to operators of C-Band downlinks for the cost of registering their antenna sites. Operators must file by October 31st proof of payment to the FCC for their registration of their antenna site to receive reimbursement. Information on filing an earth station registration and reimbursement can be found here. The satellite transmission provider Intelstat also has an information sheet on registering a satellite earth station which can be found here.
FCC AUTHORIZES PAYMENTS TO LPTV AND FM FOR REPACK
On August 2nd, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and an Order (FCC-18-113A1.pdf) that would allow low-power TV stations, TV translators and FM stations to receive payment for costs relating to the repack of full power and Class A TV stations. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, it is proposed that low-power TV stations that have to move to a new channel because they are being displaced by full power or Class A stations that are moving to a channel that the LPTV station is currently occupying will be eligible for reimbursement from the FCC for their costs to move to a new channel. The proposed rules are similar to the rules that apply to full power and Class A stations for reimbursement with the requirement the LPTV stations and translators reuse any equipment that is able to operate on the new channel.For FM stations, the FCC could pay for up to 100% of the costs for an FM station that is affected by the repack of TV stations. This would include the construction of any auxiliary facilities that a FM station may need to build because they would otherwise have to shut down during construction of a repacked TV station facilities on a co-occupied tower. The FCC will also cover the cost if the FM station has to move to a new transmitter site because they are being displaced due to required tower modifications on the co-occupied tower for the construction of the TV stations new facilities. Reimbursement rules for FM stations will be similar to those of TV stations.
The Order that was issued with the Notice Of Proposed rulemaking requires the Media Bureau to select a contractor to manage the payment system and set the procedures. The order took effect with publication in the Federal Register on August 27th. The comment dates on the proposed rules for reimbursement were also published in the Federal Register on August 27th with the comments due on September 26th and replies due on October 26th.
FCC SEEKS TO AID SMALL BROADCASTERS
On August 28th, the Media Bureau published in the Federal Register a Final Action (2018-18289.pdf) that creates an incubator program to help persons or small businesses that wish to became broadcasters or expand as a broadcaster. This action could help increase the number of female and minority broadcasters, but is open to all small broadcasters. The program is for radio only and is open to persons or businesses seeking their first station or currently own three or fewer radio stations. The program is limited to radio because it is less costly to enter into business compared to television and the FCC thought that by limiting it to radio-only the program would be more successful. The small broadcaster must also meet the Small Business Administration's definition of a small business. They must have meet the SBA requirement and not have had more than three stations in the previous three years before applying for the program. The new small broadcaster is limited to one station in the market that they are interested in, which would require that any other co-owned station they may own be located in another market.The main part of the program would be the pairing of the small broadcaster with a larger established broadcaster which can provide management and financial assistance. The incubator station will not count against the larger broadcaster ownership limits even if they hold a financial interest. The station that they are assisting must be mainly operated by the small broadcaster even though they can provide management and technical operating assistance. After three to six years, the station must be completely owned and managed by the new owner. There is also restrictions on any joint sales and shared services agreements and the percentage of financial interest between the new station owner and the larger broadcaster. Local Management Agreements are prohibited and any JSA or SSA may only be in effect for the first two years.
As part of the program, there is a reward for the larger broadcaster which is a waiver that would allow them to add an additional station over the normal market ownership limit. If the larger broadcaster wishes to sell its stations in a market, they would have to separately spin off the additional station. There are a number of other safeguards in the plan to prevent increased domination of a market by the larger broadcaster through this program.
FCC STARTS PODCAST SERIES
On August 27th, the FCC announced the start of a podcast series called "More than Seven Dirty Words" which refers to the ruling concerning the George Carlin monologue which in a FCC ruling declared the seven words in the monologue indecent to broadcast. The goal of the podcast is to provide a connection to the public that the function of the FCC is more than the controversies of a George Carlin recording or a clothing malfunction during the Super Bowl halftime. The podcast can be found at here or at the Apple or Google podcast websites or as a RSS feed.NEW SAGE UPDATE
Sage Alerting Systems announced on August 28th a new required software update. The update is for a new certificate in order for the Sage EAS Encoder/Decoder to access the CAP server. The Software update must be installed by 11:55 PM on September 24th. For information and the software update go to the Sage website available here. Expect the other EAS Encoder/Decoder manufacturers to follow with their own software updates.Certification and Education
compiled by Jim Hermanson
The Open 2018 - 2019 Exam Schedule
| Exam Dates | Location | Application Deadline (to SBE National Office) |
| October 20, 2018 | at AES (in New York City) | September 21, 2018 |
| November 2-12, 2018 | Local Chapters (Madison Area) | September 24, 2018 |
| February 1-11, 2019 | Local Chapters (Madison Area) | December 31, 2018 |
| April 9, 2019 | NAB Show (Las Vegas) | March 1, 2019 |
| Jun 7-17, 2019 | Local Chapters (Madison Area) | April 19, 2019 |
| August 2-12, 2019 | Local Chapters (Madison Area) | June 3, 2019 |
| November 1-11, 2019 | Local Chapters (Madison Area) | September 24, 2019 |
A reminder that each year, account balance permitting, Chapter 24 will reimburse half the application fee to any member of Chapter 24 in good standing who successfully obtains any SBE certification level not previously held by that member.
When you are ready to take an SBE exam, please fill out the appropriate application and send it into the SBE National office (see address below). You will be notified once your application has been approved. Approximately 3 weeks before the exam time, your local certification chairman will receive a list of applicants in his/her area. He/she will then contact those applicants to schedule a date, time and place for the exams. The exams will be mailed back to the National office for grading. The pass/fail grades will then be mailed directly to the applicants.
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Megan E. Clappe Certification Director 9102 N. Meridian St. Suite 150 Indianapolis, IN 46260 317-846-9120 Fax mclappe@sbe.org |
September Webinars
ATSC 3.0 Module 1: Introduction to ATSC 3.0 Webinar, presented by Madeleine Noland, consultant LG Electronics, Zenith Electronics, LLC, Chair of the Technology Group, ATSC 3.0 (TG3).
This webinar will provide an overview of the ATSC 3.0 system capabilities including physical layer, signaling, audio, video, captions, interactivity, and advanced emergency messaging. You will receive an introduction to the suite of Standards and Recommended Practices documents and an overview of the SBE ATSC 3.0 Specialist Certification.
The cost is $59 for SBE members and $89 for non-members. SBE MemberPlus members participate in the webinar for FREE.
Wednesday, September 26, 1 pm - 2:30 pm CT
Advanced RF Series: RF 201: Module 4: Transmitter Site Grounding, presented by David Brender, P.E., Copper Development Association, Inc.
This webinar covers the elements of a building's wiring, bonding and grounding (including lightning protection) that pertain to proper operation and improved up-time at communications facilities at little cost. The presentation provides some basic theory and concentrates on actual experiences at broadcast facilities where grounding and lightning protection were of paramount importance in maintaining system availability.
The cost is $59 for SBE members and $89 for non-members. SBE MemberPlus members participate in the webinar for FREE.
Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), its officers, or its members. SBE Chapter 24, Inc. regrets, but is not liable for, any omissions or errors.