Senate Committee Votes to ReverseFCC Ownership Decision

Washington - June 19, 2003 - Following the FCC's decision earlier this month to relax ownership limits, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation on June 19 that could restore the media ownership restrictions. If adopted into law, the TV and newspaper restrictions would return to their previous limits. The radio ownership limits, which only saw changes in market definitions, would lose the grandfather status that they currently enjoy and would be forced to sell stations that exceed the limits. Clear Channel, Infinity, Cumulus and Citadel are at risk of being affected by the decision.

The bill faces some opposition in the Senate and strong opposition in the House. The NAB opposes the legislation, except for the TV ownership limit, which it wants restored to 35 percent from the newly allowed 45 percent.

An amendment to the bill also seeks to modify the FCC's decision-making process by requiring the agency to hold five public hearings in diverse regions before it alters its media ownership rules. The FCC has been heavily criticized for failing to consider public opinion on the issue. The amendment also clarifies that the FCC can reregulate as well as deregulate media ownership.

This is yet another chapter in what has been described as a soap opera between the FCC and Congress. If the bill is passed, it will further diminish the FCC's effectiveness by solidifying the action that Congress will pass a law when it doesn't agree with the agency decision. If the FCC is not effective in its role, the agency needs to be reorganized and not micromanaged by Congress.

Arbitron Enhances PPM

New York - June 18, 2003 - Arbitron will enhance its Portable People Meter (PPM) system to include the ability to distinguish between in-home and out-of-home media exposure. The enhanced PPM system will use radio frequency codes transmitted at very low levels by the PPM household collector to determine if consumers are in their homes or outside their homes when watching broadcast and cable TV or listening to radio.

Arbitron will also add two new features to the PPM, which are important for the requirements of audience measurement in international markets. The company will offer a wireless Global System for Mobile (GSM) modem, in lieu of the existing landline modem, to accommodate the increasing penetration of homes with only a wireless phone. In addition, Arbitron will offer a portable recharger, which allows the PPM to store multiple days of media exposure data.

All three new features will be integrated into the PPM system in early 2004.

New GIS Mapping and Error CheckAvailable for FCC ULS

Washington - June 16, 2003 - As part of an ongoing effort to improve the Universal Licensing System, the ULS Geographic Information System has been redesigned for ULS License Search queries. New mapping and database software has improved the speed and reliability of obtaining map information, and the user interface has been reconfigured to enhance the user experience. Customers may also create maps from ULS Application Search using the previous version of GIS; however, this software is outdated and may produce inconsistent results. The new GIS will be made available for ULS Application Search in a future phase of the ULS redesign project.

The new ULS GIS enables users to map all the licenses found in a ULS License search—up to a top limit of 3,000—by clicking the Map Licenses link that appears at the top of the ULS License Search Results screen. To map a single license, click the call sign of the license on the License Search Results screen, then choose the Map License link at the top of the next page, the License Detail screen. For either option, GIS will generate an interactive geographical map that illustrates the location of the license, displayed with their call signs or market designators.

ULS users can also check errors before submitting an application. Check Errors will verify that all required fields have been completed; check that all dates, email addresses and alpha-numeric information has been entered correctly; and identify other information that might cause the application to be returned or dismissed for incomplete or incorrectly entered responses. Errors will be displayed in a new window. Click the return button in the error window to return to the application to make corrections. Use Check Errors as often as necessary. When all errors have been corrected, Check Errors will display a window that indicates no errors were found.

Arbitron Releases PPM One-yearStatus Report

NAB Radio Show has New Policyon Guest Passes

Washington - June 13, 2003 - The NAB has changed its policy in issuing exhibit floor passes for the NAB Radio Show. At previous conventions, an unlimited number of guest passes were issued through exhibitors and trade publications. This year, each exhibitor will receive only 10 passes for Thursday and 10 passes for Friday.

The convention is changing in response to the needs of the exhibitors. One change is that the show floor is now being called the Radio Exchange, and it will also host eight sessions on the exhibit floor in two separate presentation areas. Holders of the day passes, called VIP Passes, will have access to the exhibits and these exhibit-hall sessions.

A separate area will host the additional sessions, and only full-convention registrants will be able to attend these sessions, as at previous conventions.

For attendees, this means a little more advance planning is required. Instead of finding a pass code at the last minute, attendees should make plans earlier to obtain a VIP Pass if they expect to attend for no cost. For larger groups that send many individuals, this will mean that several exhibitors may need to be contacted to secure a sufficient number of passes.

Some exhibitors have expressed concern over the change, saying that this will further reduce the number of attendees. NAB disagrees. According to the NAB, there were 650 guest-pass attendees at the 2002 Radio Show. The new policy provides 10 one-day passes for each day (20 total) to all the exhibitors. An individual is only allowed one pass for the entire convention. If all the VIP Passes are used there could be up to 1,400 attendees.

The actual number will likely be less because out-of-town attendees will probably not fly into Philadelphia for a single day.

Under the old policy, anyone could complete a guest-pass registration. Many registrants would then not attend the convention. The NAB cites that at the 2002 Radio Show, one exhibitor was issued 100 guest passes, of which only two were used by actual attendees. It is likely that other exhibitors have similar stats.

According to the NAB, exhibitors have asked for ways to improve the quality of the audience. The NAB has addressed this by holding some sessions on the exhibit floor and by changing the guest pass policy. NAB expects that this will result in more serious attendees who have equipment and services purchase intentions.

The NAB Radio Show has seen a decline in attendance and exhibitors over the past few years. Last year's attendance was 3,983. The 2001 attendance was 5,227. There were 112 exhibitors last year. There are 70 exhibitors this year. The NAB has not predicted 2003 attendance because Philadelphia is a new city for the NAB Radio tour.

Rumors have circulated through the radio industry that the NAB would like to end the Radio Show and completely roll it into the spring convention. This idea presents a financial plus for the NAB, but manufacturers and many attendees don't like the idea. The spring convention is already so spread in focus that radio is almost an afterthought now. The Radio Show provides a single focus on radio.

This recent action may prove to backfire on the NAB and further reduce attendance.

SBE Certification Program AttainsRecognition

Washington - June 10, 2003 - The National Skills Standards Board (NSSB) was formed in response to the large number of industry certifications in the marketplace. NSSB Certification Recognition was designed to help users of certifications navigate through the maze of certifications by identifying those that meet high professional and technical standards for quality assurance. To receive recognition, a certification must undergo a comprehensive review to ensure that it meets specific quality requirements.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers Program of Certification offers several levels of certification for the broadcast industry. The program began in 1975 as an industry response to the reduction in FCC operator licensing. Since then, the program has grown to include a group of sequential certifications that cover traditional broadcast engineering skills and knowledge, as well as certifications for TV operators, radio operators and broadcast computer networking technologists.

While the broadcast industry has long accepted SBE Certification as a valid mark of an individual's skill, the SBE National Certification Committee has sought approvals from outside the broadcast industry to further the program's existing reputation.

On June 10, 2003, the NSSB granted its recognition of the following SBE certification levels:

Less Than One Week to Go forDRM Launch

Motorola, StratosAudio, HyundaiAutonet Collaborate on Interactive Radio

New Address for Murray Company

St. Louis - June 19, 2003 - The Murray Company, an integrated design and construction services firm, will move into its new St. Louis offices on June 20. The new address will be
1807 Park 270 Drive, Suite 460
St. Louis, MO 63146

The telephone and fax numbers remain the same.
phone 314-576-2818
fax 314-434-5780

The Overland Park, KS, office can still be reached at the same address and phone number.

Intelix Announces TrainingSeminar Schedule

Middleton, WI - June 18, 2003 - Intelix has released its summer and early fall Direct Connect Seminar Series schedule. The Direct Connect Seminar Series provides free design and installation training for Intelix audio/video matrix and mic/line mixing products.

Broadcast Electronics Scores Order fromClear Channel

Quincy, IL - June 10, 2003 - Clear Channel Communications has placed an order for 69 Broadcast Electronics transmitters and exciters for delivery during 2003. The master purchase order includes almost a dozen each Broadcast Electronics AM-1A and AM-6A transmitters; 10 solid-state 1kW, 2kW and 5kW FM transmitters; 10 FXi-60 exciters; five IBOC FMi transmitters; and 16 T-series single-tube FM transmitters ranging in power level from 10kW to 60kW.

As part of this order, KIIS-FM and KOST-FM in Los Angeles, KYLD-FM and KKSF-FM in San Francisco, and WDTW-FM in Detroit will convert to IBOC by year-end using Broadcast Electronics low-powered FMi transmitters and FXi 60/250 exciters.

The stations will use separate antennas under an STA or high-level combine the signals in a common antenna. Both configurations take advantage of lower-powered, lower-cost transmitters for the conversion. Three of the five stations will use a Broadcast Electronics FMi 73 to transmit up to a 300W digital signal, another will use a FMi 31 to transmit up to a 150W signal, and the remaining station will use a FMi 201 to transmit up to a 875W digital signal.

Currently, Broadcast Electronics is the only broadcast manufacturer producing IBOC-compatible, low-powered FM transmitters for outputs below 3.5kW.

Clear Channel also ordered FXi 60 250W direct-to-channel digital exciters for the stations and FSi 10 signal generators to generate the IBOC signal and provide GPS synchronization and delay matching of the analog and digital paths for blending the two into one hybrid operation.

Cox Radio Atlanta Chooses Harris forIBOC

Cincinnati - June 10, 2003 - Cox Radio has chosen Harris analog and digital transmission equipment to take its five Atlanta-area stations digital. Cox will use Harris Z HD and Z CD transmitters, and Harris Dexstar digital exciters to provide IBOC capabilities to its WSB Radio Group and to upgrade its current analog signals.

The new transmitters and Dexstars are being installed at WSB-FM 98.5, WALR-FM 104.1, WBTS-FM 95.5, WFOX-FM 97.1 and WSB-AM 750.

Cox Radio is the third largest radio broadcasting company in the United States, based on net revenues, and the largest pure-play radio station group based on net revenues. Cox Radio operates, acquires and develops radio stations primarily in markets ranked 10-70 based on revenues. Cox owns, operates or provides sales and marketing services to 78 stations (67 FM, 11 AM) in 18 markets and employs more than 2,300 people.

BSI Adds to Tech Team Again

Eugene, OR - June 11, 2003 - Broadcast Software International (BSI) has added Vince Gamboa to its tech support team. Gamboa is fluent in Spanish and English. He has strong technical skills as well, with experience in network operation, system building and customer service. Gamboa is currently working toward completion of a bachelor's degree in Computer Science.

BSI benefits from Gamboa's Spanish skills with the company's increasing work with Spanish-speaking customers.

LightningcastProvides Insertion for AOL's Online Radio

Dulles, VA - June 18, 2003 - America Online (AOL) has incorporated Lightningcast’s Media Thunder ad insertion technology into the AOL Radio@Network. The Lightningcast system inserts audio and video ads into online media.

The AOL Radio@Network encompasses Radio@AOL, Radio@AOL for Broadband, Radio@Netscape and Spinner.com. The network offers more than 175 music, news, sports, entertainment and seasonal stations, as well as celebrity stations and terrestrial streams from several broadcasters.

TDM Data Releases EAScriber Update

V-Soft Updates Terrain Database

Telos Finds New Supplier for MitelSupersets

Cleveland - June 9, 2003 - The Telos Direct Interface on-air telephone system has been a popular choice for many stations. This system routes calls for on-air use and includes a call-screener capability by attaching a Mitel Supreset IV telephone to the system. These phone sets, once a popular system on their own, have become harder to obtain at an affordable cost as demand has decreased.

To address concern over the growing cost of finding replacement sets, Telos has obtained a new supplier and has reduced the price it charges for the Mitel Superset IV phones with the correct software. While factory-new phone sets are no longer available, Telos can provide professionally refurbished units that are programmed and checked for proper operation with the Direct Interface.

The new supplier arrangement offers a replacement program where users can trade old Mitel sets for new ones at a cost that is less than 1/3 of what was previously charged. Contact the support department at Telos for more information.