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BE Radio Currents Online - Jan 21 - Feb 03, 2002
Radio technology news updated as it happens.
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| Business | People | Internet Watch
| News |
FCC Extends Multiple-OwnershipComments Date
Washington, D.C. - Jan 23, 2002 – Following a petition from
the NAB, Clear Channel Communications, Cumulus Media, Hispanic
Broadcasting Corporation, Infinity Broadcasting Corporation and
RadioWorks to extend the FCC deadline for comments and reply comments
to the multiple-ownership review. In requesting the extension, the
petitioners cited the need for additional time to conduct and
incorporate into their comments empirical studies about specific local
radio markets, including economic and market data about consolidation,
competition and diversity in the radio marketplace.
The FCC has granted the extension. The deadline for filing comments in
this proceeding IS extended to March 13, 2002. The deadline for filing
reply comments in this proceeding IS extended to April 10, 2002.
FCC Approves ReorganizationPortion of Reform Effort
Washington, DC - Jan 17, 2002 - As part of its reform plan to make
the FCC more effective, efficient and responsive, the Commission
formally approved the reorganization of several of the agency’s
bureaus.
The National Treasury Employees Union Local 209 has approved the
reorganization. Changes are subject to Congressional notification
before they become effective.
The Commission’s goals for the reorganization were to develop a
standardized organizational structure across the bureaus; move toward a
functional alignment; reflect changes in regulation and workload;
recognize that dynamic industry change will continue; and use the
reorganization to improve the technical and economic analysis in
decision making.
Changes include:
Media Bureau will be responsible for the policy and licensing
programs for media services, including cable television, broadcast
television and radio. It will handle matters pertaining to multichannel
video programming distribution, broadcast radio and television, direct
broadcast satellite service policy, and associated matters. It will
conduct rulemakings, resolve waiver petitions and adjudications, and
process applications for authorization, assignment, transfer and
renewal of media services, including AM, FM, TV, the cable TV relay
service, and related matters.
Wireline Competition Bureau will be responsible for the policy
programs of communications common carriers and ancillary operations
(other than wireless telecommunications services). It will conduct
rulemakings, resolve waiver petitions and adjudications, determine the
lawfulness of carrier tariffs, act on applications for authorizations,
administer accounting requirements for incumbent local exchange
carriers, review carrier performance, and administer reporting
requirements.
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will be responsible for
the consumer and governmental affairs policies to enhance the
public’s understanding of the Commission’s work and to
facilitate the FCC’s relationships with other governmental
agencies. It will conduct rulemakings, interact with the public,
federal, state, local, tribal and other governmental agencies, oversee
the Consumer/Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee and the
Local and State Government Advisory Committee, handle informal
complaint resolution, handle consumer outreach and education, and
maintain FCC filings.
International Bureau will be realigned along functional lines,
with consolidation of the international policy and spectrum rulemaking
functions, and intergovernmental and regional leadership and planning
functions, which are currently distributed throughout the Bureau.
Other Organizational Changes: The Enforcement Bureau will handle
pole attachment complaints and some multichannel video and cable
television services complaints currently handled in the Cable Services
Bureau. It will also handle common carrier audit functions. The
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will handle instructional television
fixed services and multipoint distribution services matters currently
handled in the Mass Media Bureau. The Office of Legislative and
Intergovernmental Affairs will be renamed the Office of Legislative
Affairs.
NPR SeeksDistribution/Interconnection Cmte Candidates
Washington - Jan 18, 2002 - The Committee on Directors of National
Public Radio Inc. seeks expressions of interest by people who wish to
serve as a non-board member of the Distribution/Interconnection
Committee of the NPR Board of Directors. This service is for a
three-year term beginning with the Committee's November 2002 meeting.
Non-Board members of the D/I Committee are elected by the NPR Board and
confirmed by the interconnected stations.
The NPR Board of Directors governs the Public Radio Satellite System
(PRSS). The D/I Committee is charged with proposing rates and policy to
the Board and overseeing the operation of the interconnection system.
The composition of the Committee is unique, as it includes non-Board
representatives in addition to members of the NPR Board.
The non-board members on the Committee ideally diversify the group of
users, including public radio stations, program distributors and other
entities not affiliated with NPR. The non-bBoard component of the
Committee is intended to help NPR as manager of the PRSS assets to
understand and meet the needs of that diverse group of users.
Non-Board members of the D/I Committee are elected by the NPR Board and
confirmed by the interconnected stations. Non-Board members serve for a
three-year term and are eligible to serve two successive terms.
Complete criteria for candidate evaluation are available by calling
Linda Dominic at 202-513-2675 at NPR. Those interested should submit a
resume and a brief statement of interest in the position to:
Neal A. Jackson
Secretary of the Corporation
National Public Radio, Inc.
635 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-3735
E-mail: njackson@npr.org
All expressions of interest should be received by close of business on February 26, 2002.
| Business |
ATI Group Adds Audient toDistribution
![]() Larry Droppa (left), president of The ATI Group and Martin Capp, managing director of Expotus PLC finalize agreement for ATI's New Distribution Division to handle North American distribution of the Audient product line. |
Jessup, MD – Jan 31, 2002 - The ATI Group has formed its
newest division, ATI Group Distribution. The new arm of the company
begins operations February 1 and will handle the North American
distribution and marketing responsibilities for U.K.-based Audient
PLC.
Audient is a designer and manufacturer of studio mixing consoles,
signal processing equipment and surround-sound processing components.
Founding partners of DDA David Dearden and Gareth Davies formed Audient
in 1997, and the company's console designs have earned a worldwide
reputation for their stellar price/performance standards. Shortly
thereafter, UK-based Expotus PLC began the world marketing and
distribution of this innovative range of products. ATI Group
Distribution will be working closely with Martin Capp, managing
director of Expotus, to launch their North American distribution of the
full line of Audient products
BSI Leadership to Change Hands
Eugene, OR - Feb 1, 2002 - Broadcast Software International (BSI)
President Ron Burley has stepped down from the top position of the
company he founded seven years ago. Succeeding Burley will be BSI vice
president of pperations, Chris Kehoe, who will hold the title of COO
and general manager. Kehoe has been with the company for two-and-a-half
years.
Burley launched BSI in Honolulu in 1994. The company has grown from a
garage provider of shareware software into one of the leading
developers of digital audio systems for the broadcast and entertainment
industry worldwide. Burley stated that he plans to write books now that
he has stepped down.
BSI is based in Eugene, OR, and is a subsidiary of Cumulus Media. The
company offers digital audio software, broadcast systems and
accessories.
TGI Shareholders Accept TC GroupPurchase Terms
Risskov, Denmark - Jan 24, 2002 - A purchase offer made recently by
TC Group, the Danish parent company of TC Electronic, TC Works, and
TC-Helicon, to the shareholders of TGI plc to purchase their holdings
in the company, has been accepted
TGI plc is a holding-company comprising four companies representing
individual platforms on the speaker market: speaker manufacturer
Tannoy, high-end PA speaker maker Martin Audio, power supply and high
end amp producer Lab Gruppen, and GLL, which produces speakers for the
auto industry.
TC Group represents three brands within the audio processing industry:
TC Electronic, manufacturer of a wide range of digital processors,
TC-Helicon, producing digital vocal processors, and TC Works developing
top-end award-winning software solutions. Furthermore, TC Group is also
responsible for worldwide marketing and distribution of Dynaudio
Acoustics high-end and ultra high-end monitor solution.
Orban Purchases Dialog4
Tempe, AZ - Jan 23, 2002 - Orban/Circuit Research Labs Inc. has
purchased Dialog4 System Engineering GmbH, a manufacturer of ISO/MPEG,
audio, ISDN, satellite transmission, networking and storage products.
The company has been designing and manufacturing equipment for the
codec market for over 10 years. Its products, available in Europe since
1993, include the MusicTaxi TCP/IP codecs.
CRL Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Orban/CRL, purchased the
Dialog4 assets for $2 million (U.S.), consisting of 1.25 million shares
of Orban/CRL common stock valued at $1.00 per share and $750 thousand
in cash to be paid at a later date. All current operations and staff of
Dialog4 are being retained in Germany.
Orban/CRL has been involved in a joint project to bring the Dialog4
products to North America with the development of the Orban Opticodec
and Sountainer for the past year.
Orban/CRL will now have a European operations center based in the
Dialog4 offices in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The Dialog4 infrastructure
will be used to expand Orban/CRL's engineering, sales, marketing and
sales support for the European markets.
Klotz Sells 300th Vadis D.C.II
Munich and Kuala Lumpur - Jan 17, 2002 – Klotz Digital
announced the sale of it 300th Vadis D.C.II console. The 300th console
was purchased by Malaysia's national broadcaster Radio Television
Malaysia (RTM). RTM’s order includes 19 Vadis D.C.II consoles --
13 of which are 16 fader consoles and six are 12 fader consoles -- 15
Paradigm consoles and a Vadis Main Control Room (MCR). RTM Kuala Lumpur
will complete its digitalization in two stages: the installation of
Vadis and Vadis D.C.II technology at RTM's training center, followed by
a similar upgrade at its broadcast center. The two facilities will be
interconnected via fiber-optic link with the International Broadcast
Center (IBC) built for the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in
1998.
Shortly after the launch of the Vadis D.C.II console a year and a half
ago, XM Satellite Radio in the U.S., Austereo in Australia and YLE in
Finland were the first customers to be supplied with this product.
Klotz Digital’s Vadis and D.C.II products are currently used
extensively by major broadcasters the world over, such as Radio
Guangdong in China, the BBC, and SABC in South Africa.
Moseley Purchases AdaptiveBroadband
Santa Barbara, CA - Nov 2, 2001 - Moseley, a privately held company,
and Adaptive Broadband Corporation announced that they have closed on
an asset purchase agreement in which Adaptive Broadband has agreed to
sell, under the Bankruptcy Statute Provisions, to Moseley substantially
all of its assets, including all intellectual property, technology,
capital equipment, accounts receivable, and physical inventory.
With the acquisition of Adaptive Broadband’s product lines, a new
company has been formed: Axxcelera Broadband Wireless. Axxcelera, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Moseley, will provide point-to-multipoint
products with both ATM and IP interfaces.
Regarding the acquisition, Jamal Hamdani, president and CEO of Moseley,
stated, "Moseley will benefit from the enormous know-how and experience
garnered by Adaptive Broadband via its extensive deployments and
pioneering leadership position in the broadband wireless
marketplace."
Moseley will offer, either through Axxcelera Broadband Wireless or
directly, its VOFDM-based products as its preferred choice for the
Broadband Fixed Wireless Access market. While these VOFDM products,
particularly in the FDD MMDS and 3.5GHz bands, are targeted to the mass
broadband marketplace, the AB-Access product is of significant value
for shorter range, higher capacity, line-of-sight applications in the
UNII unlicensed band. The AB-Access product provides corporate and
business end users a choice of either ATM or IP connectivity.
Glensound ElectronicsLicenses APT's Apt-X
Belfast, Ireland, and Whitchurch, England – Jan 18, 2002 -
ISDN broadcast equipment manufacturer Glensound Electronics has signed
an agreement with APT to license its apt-X DSP code, thus allowing
Glensound to implement apt-X directly into a new range of mono reporter
codecs due to be unveiled later this year.
Glensound Electronics has been using APT's original apt-X DSP16A Lucent
part within its product line for many years. The company's decision to
license apt-X DSP code assures the algorithm a key place within
Glensound's new range and consolidates its position within the
broadcast industry.
Key to the new licensing deal, which was signed in December 2001, is
the utilisation of APT's IMUX algorithm, MUCAS, which allows cross
compatibility between Glensound's new range and existing products using
the traditional APT portfolio. It will also allow compatibility with
the recently released APT WorldNet Milano, as well as being backwardly
compatible with APT ISDN units such as BCF, DRT128, DSM Prolink and the
Nicral apt-X units.
Glensound Electronics has been making professional audio broadcast
equipment since 1966. The company manufactures and designs everything
in house and, along with an extensive production range, it also offers
a custom-built service. The Glensound range includes committee room
equipment and commentator equipment for news, sports and current
affairs. It also offers a range of ISDN broadcast equipment
incorporating a choice of codecs.
Microwave Service Corp Moves
Microwave Service Corporation, a company that rents, repairs and sells microwave radio equipment, has relocated to a new facilty. The new contact information is:
15 Thornton Avenue
Haverhill, MA 01832
781-662-5400 phone
978-556-0400 fax
| People |
Wireready Adds Frazer
Northborough, MA - Jan 31, 2002 - WireReady NSI, the manufacturer of
WireReady32 studio automation, sales and newsroom software for radio
broadcast facilities, has added former WSJM news and program director
Mike Frazer to the company's radio/television/educational software
team. He will act as WireReady's Midwest sales, marketing and Web
development specialist.
A 15-year journalism veteran, Frazer's experience in radio, TV and
print media resulted in the creation of a Web publishing method
allowing radio journalists to gather, write and produce news script,
photos, video and sound elements at lightening speed. Frazer's vision
earned WSJM's radio news operation the first National Edward R. Murrow
plaque ever awarded for small market radio website design
(www.wsjm.com) and maintenance. Frazer's military and civilian
journalism training provides WireReady with a new level of vision and
understanding from an end-users point of view. Frazier's model for
convergent journalism makes use of inexpensive but highly effective
consumer-grade digital video cameras connected to WireReady software.
WireReady's "instant update" abilities have helped increase Web traffic
at WSJM.com by more than 800 percent in one year.
Blue Falcon Networks AddsFeegel
Los Angeles - Jan 31, 2002 - Blue Falcon Networks, a developer of
distributed networking software and provider of cost-effective digital
media delivery systems, has appointed Tom Feegel as the company's new
vice president of strategy. Feegel joins Blue Falcon from the global
management team of iXL Enterprises Inc., now Scient Inc., where he held
a number of key senior level management positions from 1998 to 2001. As
senior vice president and European director of iXL's Business Strategy
Consulting Practice, based in London, Feegel worked with multiple
divisions of Virgin, GE, and British Airways, while also building a
world-class professional services business unit. He will work directly
with Blue Falcon's business development, technology and marketing teams
under the direction of Jay Haynes, chief executive officer for Blue
Falcon.
Prior to iXL, Feegel was co-founder and President of NetResponse, LLC,
an Internet business strategy and professional services company based
in Arlington, VA.
SSL Names Christenson andRosenberg
Los Angeles – Jan 3, 2002 - Solid State Logic appointed Dave
Christenson as manager post production, North America, and Eric
Rosenberg as western regional manager, broadcast sales. Christenson
will oversee the post production product line from the Los Angeles
office and report directly to SSL President Rick Plushner. Rosenberg
will be responsible for sales and technical system specification for
all broadcast customers within the region reporting to Phil Wagner,
senior VP, Western Operations
Christenson brings a wealth of post production experience to his
position having a long history with Euphonix Inc. Rosenberg held the
position of manager of sales and marketing at Panasonic Corporate
Systems. He has an extensive background in system sales, project
management and customer relations.

Partnership for Public WarningAppoints Board Members
McLean, VA - Jan 31, 2002 - The Partnership for Public Warning (PPW)
has appointed its board of trustees. The PPW
(www.PartnershipForPublicWarning.org) is a new public-private
partnership that is bringing the nation's top emergency warning experts
together to resolve national warning message standards, protocols and
priorities. The goal is to assure the right information is delivered in
a timely manner to people at risk from disasters, technological
accidents and acts of terrorism. As the new organization is taking
shape, PPW is engaged in discussion with key federal agencies in the
emergency warning community to ensure the inclusion of all
stakeholders.
The organization's first conference, held in November 2001, was hosted
by MITRE, a not-for-profit national technology resource that provides
systems engineering, research and development, and information
technology support to the government. The partnership was created
following a unanimous supporting vote by more than 120 conference
attendees who are leaders in the emergency warning community. Less than
two months later, the PPW was incorporated as the Partnership for
Public Warning Institute.
Those named to the Partnership for Public Warning Board are:
- Art Botterell
- consultant, formerly with the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA.
- Joel Carter
- vice president, RadioShack
- Darrell Ernst
- lead defense space systems engineer, The MITRE Corporation
- Sol Glasner
- vice president and general counsel, The MITRE Corporation
- Mike Hoban
- vice president, 3e Technologies International
- Ken Keane
- partner, Arter and Hadden
- Dave Liebersbach
- director, Alaska Division of Emergency Services
- Frank Lucia
- formerly FCC Emergency Alert System
- Dennis Mileti
- director, Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, University of Colorado
- Mike Murphy
- wireless networks strategist, Nextel Communications, Inc.
- George Nichols
- vice president, Dialogic Communications Corporation
- Dr. Barbara Reagor
- fellow and executive partner, Homeland Security and Government Solutions, Telcordia Technologies, Inc.
- Ben Rotholtz
- general manager, products and systems, RealNetworks
- Richard Rudman
- director of engineering, KFWB Radio; chairman, FCC's Emergency Alert System National Advisory Committee
- Ed VonTurkovich
- director, Vermont Emergency Management
- Peter Ward (chairman)
- former, U.S. Geological Survey; former chairman of the Working Group on Natural Disaster Information Systems under the National Science and Technology Council
Gepco Appoints Shorsher
Des Plaines, IL – Jan 31, 2002 - Gepco International Inc. has
expanded its sales team with the addition of Jeff Shorsher as director
of western regional sales. Shorsher will be working with Gepco's
marketing and product development teams to increase the visibility and
sales of Gepco's audio and video cables in the professional broadcast
and video markets.
Prior to joining Gepco, Shorsher was director of western regional sales
at Triveni Digital, where he was primarily focused on television
broadcast and DTV conversion products. He also held a senior sales
position at CommScope's Network Division, where he was responsible for
building strategic relationships and helping to develop the company's
product lines.
Shorsher's background also includes positions with Paramount Pictures,
King Broadcast, Lorimar Telepictures, Capital Broadcast, Video One and
General Instruments' Video Cipher Division.
Audio-Technica Announces CompanyAppointments
NAMM, Anaheim, CA - Jan 17, 2002 - Audio-Technica U.S. made several
new appointments to position the company for future growth and
expansion.
Gary Boss has been named to the position of marketing director. In his
new position, Boss will be responsible for directing the
company’s overall marketing efforts in the music industry,
studio, live sound, fixed installation and consumer audio
markets.
Two product managers have been named to oversee current and future
product development: Michael Edwards has been appointed product
manager, wired microphones and headphones, and Bob Green has been
appointed product manager, wireless and circuitry products.
Steve Savanyu has been named marketing manager, training and seminars.
Savanyu will develop and implement extensive product training and
seminar programs geared to Audio-Technica reps, dealers and end
users.
Jeff Simcox has been appointed to the position of marketing
communications director. In his new position, Simcox will be
responsible for guiding the company’s advertising, collateral,
internet and public relations efforts.
Encoda Systems Appoints Sr VPSales
Denver - Jan 28, 2002 - Encoda Systems has appointed Paul Stewart as
senior vice president of sales. Under his leadership, Encoda's Business
Management and Automation Solutions groups will be integrated into one
worldwide sales unit in order to better serve broadcast and agency
clients.
With 21 years of experience in sales and marketing to Fortune 100
accounts, governmental agencies, and a variety of clients in the
broadcast, telecommunications, and computer industries, Stewart brings
to his new role an extensive understanding of global growth strategy
and marketing management. Stewart most recently served as Cisco
Systems' Global Service sales manager for service provider channel
sales, a position in which he was responsible for 10 service sales
representatives supplying support services to eight Regional Bell
Operating Companies (RBOCs) and long-distance carriers throughout the
United States. During the last year of his tenure as sales manager, the
business' sales increased by 290%, the largest year-over-year growth of
support service sales throughout Cisco worldwide.
Prior to Cisco, Stewart held the position of manager of product
marketing for North American customer services at Silicon Graphics,
where he marketed SGI's portfolio of support services globally,
delivering core services programs for Europe, North America, Japan, and
Australia for local implementation. Before joining SGI, Stewart worked
with Apple Computer as business development manager for Apple USA and
at 3M Company as a senior account representative in the Data Recording
Products Division.
Encoda Systems Appoints NewCFO
Denver - Jan 23, 2002 - Encoda Systems has named David R. Johnson as its chief financial officer. Joining the company at a critical phase in its growth, Johnson is tasked with integrating the company’s various operations and global efforts. He comes to Encoda from Evolving Systems, where he had been CFO since 1998, and brings with him a wealth of industry and academic experience.
XM Promotes Three
Washington - Jan 22, 2002 - XM Satellite Radio has promoted three
key executives who have made major contributions to its launch success
and being named "Product of the Year" by Fortune Magazine.

Stephen R. Cook, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, is being
promoted to executive vice president.
Steven P. Gavenas, senior vice president, Programming & New
Business Development, is being promoted to executive vice
president.
Dr. Stellios J. Patsiokas, senior vice president of Technology and
Engineering, is being promoted to executive vice president.
WW1 Promotes Senior Engineers
New York - Jan 16, 2002 - Westwood One Radio Networks has promoted
three of its top-level engineers. Chris Tobin has been promoted to vice
president of engineering, Dino Tortu has been promoted to vice
president of production/engineering and Conrad Trautmann, CPBE, has
been promoted to senior vice president of engineering.
Trautmann is a frequent contributor to BE Radio magazine. Tobin
occassionaly contributes to BE Radio.

Cumulus Appoints Kline to CorporateDOE
Atlanta - Jan 15, 2002 - Cumulus Media announced that Gary Kline has
officially been named to the position of corporate director of
engineering for Cumulus Media. Kline has been acting in this capacity
for Cumulus while running his own consulting engineering company. As
Cumulus continues to grow and the demands on Kline's time become more
demanding, both parties agreed on Kline joining Cumulus
full-time.
Kline will begin market visits to Cumulus Media stations to evaluate,
upgrade and standardize facilities within the group.
Digigram Hires Seidel as CommMgr
Montbonnot, France- Jan 17, 2002 — Digigram has hired Frank
Seidel as communications manager. Seidel will handle corporate and
product communications for Digigram.
Seidel comes to Digigram from French software vendor Akazi Technologies
where he was a marketing executive. Previously he has worked on the
agency side as well as the client side of multimedia communications,
including a stint with the German-based Web agency Pixelpark. A former
copywriter and journalist, he is fluent in French, German and
English.
Seidel graduated with communications degrees that specialized in
marketing and multimedia from the University of Arts Berlin and the
Université Stendhal in Grenoble, France.
| Internet Watch |
BSI Offers Online DiscussionForum
Eugene, OR - Jan 16, 2002 - Broadcast Software International (BSI)
has launched a discussion forum on its website for users to share
information and get help from fellow users. The BSI team will also
participate in the forum to answer questions.
The discussion forum is at www.bsiusa.com/support and is part of the customer
support that BSI provides free of charge, along with e-mail support and
a database of hundreds of articles with ideas and suggestions. The
forum is moderated by BSI tech chief Leo Carlson.
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