XPost: alt.radio.broadcasting

Radio World

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These 19 Applicants Are Closer to a New FM License

Posted: 25 Mar 2022 09:39 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/these-19-applicants-are-closer-to-a-new-fm-license


The FCC Media Bureau has chosen another 19 applicants to get new noncom educational FM station licenses. They’re listed below.

These selections are tentative. Theyre the next step in the process of
settling mutually exclusive (MX) applications that the commission received
in its recent filing window for new NCE stations. In total, it must work
its way through 231 MX groups. It announced 15 selections in early March.

After a period when applicants can settle among themselves, the bureau then compares applications in each group by doing a “threshold fair distribution of service analysis” to make a tentative selection. Factors include service area population data, Tribal Priority criteria and certifications provided
by the applicants.

Petitions to deny them must be filed within 30 days. 

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In all of the following groups, there were either two or three applicants.
The tentative selections, as announced by Al Shuldiner, chief of the Audio Division, are:

Group 22: Arizona Western College proposes to serve Quartzsite, Ariz.

Group 25: Good News Broadcasting Network, Inc. proposes to serve Pinon,
Ariz.

Group 36: Radio Bilingue, Inc. proposes to serve San Miguel, Calif.

Group 37: Friends of Black Rock High Rock proposes to serve Doyle, Calif.

Group 46: San Tan Educational Media proposes to serve Alma, Colo.

Group 48: Revival Christian Ministries, Inc. proposes to serve Bolton, Conn.

Group 56: Centro Familiar de Restauracion y Vida proposes to serve
Eastpoint, Fla.

Group 62: Living Springs Retreat proposes to serve Bowdon, Ga.

Group 77: Faith Lutheran Church proposes to serve Odebolt, Iowa.

Group 99: Krh Educational Foundation proposes to serve Liberal, Kan.  

Group 127: Crossroads Worship Center proposes to serve Hayti, Mo.

Group 129: Delta State University proposes to serve Shelby, Miss.

Group 171: Centro Familiar de Restauracion y Vida proposes to serve Caddo, Okla.  

Group 177: Western Oklahoma Catholic Faith Foundation proposes to serve Elk City, Okla.

Group 182: Growing Christian Foundation proposes to serve Centerville, Wash.

Group 183: Growing Christian Foundation proposes to serve Wishram, Wash.

Group 213: Solid Foundation Broadcasting Corp. proposes to serve Halifax, Va.  

Group 214: Farmville Seventh Day Adventist Church proposes to serve
Farmville, Va.

Group 216: Christian Ministries, Inc. proposes to serve Derby Center, Vt.

You can read the details of each selection, and a description of the
general process in the FCC order, by downloading this Word document.

The post These 19 Applicants Are Closer to a New FM License appeared first
on Radio World.


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"Tech Thursdays" Draw Student Interest

Posted: 24 Mar 2022 01:25 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/news-makers/tech-thursdays-draw-student-interest


The author is chief engineer of WRHU and also of Salem Media of NY.

Broadcast engineering has always been a unique corner of the radio and television industry. Engineers have to possess a wide variety of skillsets
to keep their facilities running consistently and reliably, minimizing
studio downtime and off-air events while also working with limited budgets
and staff. It is a challenging position that is little understood outside
of the business.

As broadcast technology and methodology has evolved over the past 100
years, supporting it has become very complex. An engineer for a radio group must be competent in RF transmission systems, content delivery, advanced IT
and networking, machine repair and other related areas of technical
expertise that are required to support a 24/7 broadcast operation.
Andy Gladding, chief engineer of WRHU and Salem Media of NY.

For smaller organizations, this role is often expanded to include
facilities management, logistics and building and vehicular maintenance as well.

With the rise of social media and OTT content, the position now requires an understanding of video technology, asset management and even camera
systems, as almost all radio groups are looking to create and distribute
video to supplement their traditional terrestrial offerings. As a result, broadcast engineers often function as a one-man band, simultaneously
managing, developing and troubleshooting a variety of systems. As any
working engineer knows, this can turn into a very complex, time-consuming process.

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It is well known that the widespread consolidation of radio and television groups over the past 30 years eliminated a significant number of jobs in
the industry. Technological advancement in broadcast automation means
smaller radio groups in suburban markets no longer need to maintain a
staffed 24/7 operation or have a chief engineer on staff. This eliminates
the opportunity for high school and college students to “hang” at the local station, learning valuable skills and receiving mentorship from the senior station engineers.

In essence, major-market radio and TV has lost its “farm team,” which very often prepared personnel for opportunities in larger markets.

At the same time, digital giants like Amazon, Netflix and Hulu have lured a large chunk of engineering talent away from traditional radio and
television organizations. Higher starting salaries, opportunities for
growth, stock options and flexible work schedules have caught the interest
of the usual “techie” grads who might previously have been enticed by terrestrial broadcasting.

As a result, the broadcast industry is finding itself with a shortage of engineering personnel, especially as older, experienced engineers are
retiring or shifting into other, more profitable areas of media.

COVID-19 and the current employee shortage have only accelerated this
shift. Major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, once considered destinations for personnel, are all struggling to find support. Smaller markets often have only one or two local engineering resources to
pick from in the region, leading to lengthy repair cycles, delayed studio builds, extended periods of dead air and unmanaged or unnoticed critical engineering issues. These problems often spiral into major financial and logistical headaches for owners and operators.

Real-world issues

As the chief engineer of Salem Media of New York, I see firsthand how these changes are affecting our local cluster.

In addition to acting as an origination point for Salem Radio Networks’ nationally syndicated “The Mike Gallagher Show,” AM 970’s “The Joe Piscopo
Show” and the “Kevin McCullough Radio” program, our cluster generates many
hours of weekly local programming, both audio and video. Audio and video content now comes from inside and outside the studio and has to be meshed together to form a high-level product, distributed both locally and
nationally.

What used to be mostly centralized audio originating locally from a studio complex has become an audio and video octopus of sorts, with content coming
in and out of the station 24/7, in various stages of process and production.

Luckily, the seasoned Salem team makes this entire process transparent to
the listener and handles it with great efficiency. But at its core, it is extremely complex and requires training, talent and infrastructure to
execute properly.

[Visit Radio World’s News and Business Page]

While there are many open engineering positions nationwide, it remains a
major challenge to generate interest in broadcast engineering among young, smart technical folks, especially college grads majoring in television and radio.

Most college students don’t consider broadcast engineering as a career. The consuming nature of the job and the lack of a comprehensive vocational
training program, along with exposure to large amounts of company IP and proprietary procedure, relegate it to a small, shrouded and often mystical
area of the industry. Indeed, I’ve worked with many organizations that
often refer to broadcast engineering as a “dark art,” due to the complexity of the work and the difficulty of finding qualified personnel. All of these factors make recruitment, performance and sustainability very difficult in almost all media markets.

But take heart. There is a solution.

Magical space

In addition to my responsibilities at Salem Media of NY, I am the chief engineer for Hofstra University’s radio station WRHU. Serving Nassau County and the New York city metro DMA since the 1950s, WRHU is no stranger to the broadcast industry, receiving three NAB Marconi Awards in the past six
years, as well as multiple accolades for its service and commitment to educational broadcasting.

The station is part of the much larger Lawrence Herbert School of
Communication (LHSC), which is a full-service institution, providing
students training in Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations,
Audio-Radio, Television and Film.

As a student at the university back in the early 2000s, I was lucky enough
to have the chance to hang out with the college station’s former Chief Engineers Joe Derosa and Marc Weiner. The WRHU engineering shift was always
on Thursday nights, and the windowless, heavy wooden door to the technical office led to a magical space filled with rack-mounted hardware, blinking lights, bouncing meters and other fascinating technology unlike anything a young tech geek such as myself had ever seen.
Lawrence Herbert School of Communication Chief Video Engineer Cameron
Keough shows WRHU “Tech Thursday” students how to solder connectors onto new Yellotec mic arms.

Joe and Marc were experts in the field and never minded taking the time to speak with us students about broadcast engineering, science, math,
astronomy or anything else that we were interested in or wanted to explore.
The topics would range from string theory to the string cheese, and there
was always a solution or answer to the questions presented. The sessions
were informative, inspiring and informal, outside of the normal framework
of the university academic structure, which made it all the more intriguing
and engaging.

I’m sure this kind of experience is familiar to many other engineering
folks who may be reading this. Many radio chief engineers traditionally get their initial exposure to the craft from older, more seasoned technical
folks, either at college radio stations, small market clusters, ham clubs
or engineering society meetups.

Mentorship and presentation, specifically at the university level, has
always been powerful way to get students excited about career opportunities
of which they may have otherwise been unaware. This kind of
pre-professional development and exposure is one of the many benefits of a
well put together school of communication and active local professional community.

At WRHU and the Herbert School, we have realized that Broadcast Operations
and Engineering is an area of the business that is experiencing a major
demand for employees contains tremendous opportunity for growth.

Over the last few years, my colleagues at the radio station and university
have grown the size and scope of our regular Thursday night engineering sessions to respond to this need. “Tech Thursdays” has now become a destination for LHSC students interested in learning about all areas of
BO&E.
Students install new EAS equipment in WRHU studio south.

Our sessions have ranged from training workshops that teach basic skills
such as soldering and cable termination to broadcast hardware
troubleshooting, systems design and transmission systems construction. Tech Thursdays also often features guest speakers and panels lead by industry experts.

Recent presentations included a deep dive into AM and FM transmission lead
by MediaCo CTO Alex Roman and West Coast radio engineering and operational procedures presented by Salem Media of San Diego’s Chief Engineer Darnell Forde.

WRHU and LHSC student managers are also instrumental in the process, often leading discussions and training. Student technical engineers Ed Mabeza and Shayna Sengstock often come up with topics for discovery and have made themselves available for mentorship and guidance to younger students
looking to get involved and grow.

Sengstock became interested primarily because of the Thursday night
sessions, which she found out about via word of mouth. “I started fixing broken stuff at WRHU and found out I really enjoyed it. This led me to
apply for the station student technical director position.”

They also plan to pursue careers in engineering. Mabeza recently concluded
an internship program with WABC(TV)’s Engineering Department and is now working in an engineering capacity at Northwell Health. Sengstock works part-time for Connoisseur Media’s Long Island radio cluster and is looking
to take on junior engineering duties at the company. She eventually wants
to be a chief engineer for a major-market music station, like NYC Top 40 powerhouse Z-100.

In addition to our station technical workshops, students at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication are actively trying to charter a Society of Broadcast Engineers student chapter on campus.
An image from the WRHU home page.

The station and the school are enthusiastic about it, and feel that the students could benefit tremendously working with the engineers and
professional members of SBE-15, the New York chapter of the organization. Student membership in the SBE would provide station members greater opportunities for technical training via the SBE’s vast educational
programs as well as professional certifications that are often looked for
by hiring managers.

Ultimately, a major priority of the Herbert School and Radio Hofstra
University is to help prepare a new generation of storytellers in the media industry, including the next generation of broadcast engineers to fill some
of the personnel gaps that now exist in the media business. This is a
mission that is important to Hofstra staff, administrators, faculty and students as they recognize a tremendous opportunity within the business for personal growth and professional success. The school and station are
excited to use their facilities, staff and resources to help build a better future for the students.

As the classic saying in broadcasting goes, “Stay tuned, there’s much more to come.”

The post “Tech Thursdays” Draw Student Interest appeared first on Radio World.


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WATCH: T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure

Posted: 24 Mar 2022 12:30 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/watch-t1-tomahawk-digital-tape-measure


This story was originally published by our sister station SVC.



This looks like a shockingly useful must-have. The T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure is the world’s most productive tape measure delivering fast, accurate, and forget-free measurements with robust digital measuring technology. The world’s first, professional grade, digital tape measure enables tradespeople, across industries, to collect measurements faster and more accurately than ever before.  A live view, OLED display, shows measurements of the tape measure, digitally, in both English and metric units. With a click of a button, measurements are saved to a side mounted e-paper display.

Precision front and rear reference surfaces paired with a green laser line projection work together to accurately capture measurements.  Taking incremental measurements, center measurements, and, the traditionally difficult, internal measurements are as simple as clicking a
button.  Bluetooth connectivity allows measurements to be synced with the REEKON ROCK app for making distinct job sites, layouts, and cut lists.

In addition to the T1, REEKON Tools is proud to introduce the REEKON ROCK mobile app which allows for users to make digital jobsites, store
measurements recorded on the T1 device, and compile into cut lists. ROCK is
an industry first app designed for the professional tradesperson.  Cut
lists can be organized by location and shared with other users on the same
site along with manipulated into material optimizations, layouts, and
external program exports. 

The tech press is swooning (me too).
I Never Thought I’d Have Gadget Lust for a Tape Measure, but Here We Are (Andrew Lizsewski, Gizmodo)

It’s not often that a construction tool can elicit the same level of gadget lust as something like a new flagship smartphone does, but the T1
Tomahawk is a tape measure full of clever digital upgrades that makes me want to line up outside a Home Depot the day it goes on sale. MORE@GIZMODO

I Hate to Say It, But This Digital Tape Measure Looks Incredible (Rain Noe, Core 77)

The last time we looked at Reekon Tools was in “When MIT Engineers Design a Power Tool Accessory.” Now the ME mad men are back with another digital
take on a long-analog object, in this case the tape measure. And while I’m instantly skeptical of things like this, I have to say their new T1
Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure looks freaking incredible. MORE@CORE77
T1 Tomahawk brings digital capabilities to the humble tape measure (Ben Coxworth, New Atlas)

Two years ago Reekon Tools introduced its M1 Caliber tool, which added digital measurement functionality to existing power saws. The company is
now offering that same tech in a stand-alone tape measure, called the T1 Tomahawk. MORE@NEWATLAS

The post WATCH: T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure appeared first on Radio
World.


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New Advisory Council To Guide NAB Show On Web3

Posted: 24 Mar 2022 11:53 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/show-news/nab-show/new-advisory-council-to-guide-nab-show-on-web3


This story was originally shared by our sister station TV Technology.

Organizers of the NAB Show have announced the formation of the 12-member National Advisory Council for Web3 to provide guidance and expertise in developing educational content about new technologies, content models and consumer behaviors driven by the next generation of the internet.

The council, made up of M&E professionals, tech executives and platform providers, will provide insight on Web3 to the executive team responsible
for the NAB Show. Web3 is the next iteration of the World Wide Web and
reflects evolving infrastructure advanced capabilities powered by
blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, NAB said.

It will advise the executive team on business topics relevant to media companies and their partners as they navigate new content platforms, the evolution of TV, IP-based assets, live events, audio, publishing and
physical and digital gaming experiences, it said.

NAB has a long history of helping our constituents embrace and support meaningful innovation,” said Chris Brown, NAB executive vice president and managing director, Global Connections and Events.

The group will meet bi-monthly, providing a third-party perspective on how
the NAB Show can best serve the community in understanding related
business, market and industry trends, it said.

Two-time Emmy winner, media advisor and managing partner of D[a]2: Digital Asset Advisors Seth Shapiro will chair the council. Other members include
NAB Show’s Meghan Nodell, director, strategic partnerships and programming
at the National Association of Broadcasters, and Lori Schwartz, CEO of StoryTech, an industry strategist and NAB Show program curator who will
serve as the council’s engagement officer, it said.

The Internet has transformed the media industry more than anything since
the mass rollout of television 75 years ago,” said Shapiro. “As streaming and mobile have defined this era, Web3 technologies will drive the next
models of media development, production and economics. I’m honored to work with this outstanding group of leaders to assist NAB in leveraging this exciting new era.

The NAB Show is unmatched in providing a forum for the “new ideas, new business models and new infrastructure” that will drive this next evolution in media, added Schwartz

“We are delighted with the outstanding group Seth and Lori have brought together, and we look forward to working with them closely in the years
ahead, said Brown.

More information is available on the NAB website.

The post New Advisory Council To Guide NAB Show On Web3 appeared first on
Radio World.


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Exhibitor Preview: 305 Broadcast at the NAB Show

Posted: 24 Mar 2022 11:21 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/show-news/nab-show/exhibitor-preview-305-broadcast-at-the-nab-show


Planning for the 2022 NAB Show is ramping up, and Radio World is asking exhibitors about their plans and expectations.  Alfonso Lopez is the
founder and C.E.O of 305 Broadcast.

Radio World: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trend that radio professionals should be watching for at the 2022 NAB Show?

Alfonso Lopez: As technology develops and the world is in constant change,
I believe that the next technological breakthrough is everything related to
the blockchain. We need to take a closer look at this technology and find
ways to adapt it to the broadcast industry. How? This is a big question.
This technology is too new and unclear to many. My first thoughts are
creating exclusive content through NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and having
them on a NFT marketplace to monetize programs.
Alfonso Lopez, founder and C.E.O of 305 Broadcast

RW: You are accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Is there demand,
and what challenges or questions does this bring up?

Lopez: As we believe in technology, accepting this type of payment gives
our customer more flexibility by the time they make their purchases. Some emerging markets have many restrictions to send international wire
transfers and doing it by crypto payments is faster and less expensive.

RW: What will be your most important product news or exhibit theme?

Lopez: Ever since 305 Broadcast separated its partnership with Elenos SRL
in 2019, this NAB is the first time we have had the opportunity to show our
two new lines of FM transmitters, both made in digital with local support
in the U.S.

These include the NEXT Transmitter Series, manufactured by ABE Electronics (Booth W4722) and the SWAP Transmitter Series, manufactured by Teko
Broadcast (Booth N3833).

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

RW: If you are introducing a new product or feature, how is it different
from what’s available on the market?

Lopez: NEXT Series transmitters, which are manufactured by ABE Electronics
and for sale in the Americas by 305 Broadcast, is a fully DDS compact FM transmitter with unique features such as: multiple MPX inputs, MPX IP
output, hot-swapable power supplies and the possibility of redundancy of hot-plug sources. Also, built-in telemetry, built-in RDS, Soft Clipper, FM receiver to repeat the signal and a environment sensor to prolong the life
of the equipment to have up to five years of warranty.

SWAP Series transmitters are also made in Italy. This is a truly scalable transmitter series at a very low, competitive price.

RW: You wrote elsewhere that the pandemic has prompted your company to
develop different channels of communicating with clients. Can you expand on that?

Lopez: This pandemic has forced us to find a way of communicating and connecting digitally. More likely, in 305 Broadcast we have improved in answering in a different moment and today we are prepared to offer a
variety of products and media streaming equipment that is pushing us up to
step forward in communications among persons, companies, entities and media from any part of the world.

Moreover, 305 Broadcast, besides offering to our Latin American clients the opportunity of buying from our headquarters in Miami, offers a diversity in way-of-payment including crypto coins.

Please be sure to contact us to be of service in Latin America! We do have
a satellite commercial company in Mexico and Colombia, countries in which
it is possible to bill the buyer in local currency and also give special
advice in all the customers paperwork as well as any fiscal taxation that
is required.

For contact information, visit the companys Facebook page.

305 Broadcasts new FM transmitters can be viewed at Booth W4722 and N3833.

The post Exhibitor Preview: 305 Broadcast at the NAB Show appeared first on Radio World.


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An Inside Look Into TABs Technical Academy

Posted: 24 Mar 2022 08:12 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/news-makers/an-inside-look-into-tabs-technical-academy


This month, the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) announced the
launch of its “Technical Academy,” which aims to help Texas radio and television broadcasters manage the day-to-day technology infrastructure for their stations.

The Academy’s first offering — training and certification for radio station Chief Operators — is set for the week of May 2 in Austin, Texas.

The intensive, week-long course is designed to “boost expertise” among broadcasters by providing participants with a basic understanding of
broadcast station operations and the responsibilities essential to
maintaining a station’s daily operations as a Certified Radio Operator.

Ahead of the upcoming trainings, Radio World spoke with Oscar Rodriguez,
TAB president, to get a more detailed look into the Academy and what participants can expect.

Radio World: TABs Technical Academy was put on hold for a couple years due
to the pandemic, how do you feel about finally getting to launch the
Academy now?

Oscar Rodriguez: We’re delighted to finally bring this program to life! TAB is intent on ensuring Texas stations have the resources they need to ensure they’re in full compliance with FCC regulations and operating their
technical plant as efficiently as possible. We’ll learn a lot from this initial course offering and incorporate those lessons into planning further courses.

RW: Where did the idea for the Academy come from? 

Rodriguez: Our idea for this Academy came from our member stations. Our industry has a growing shortage of engineers and other “technologists” needed to run a modern broadcast plant. Courses like this are a bridge to addressing that problem and we are exploring additional training and recruitment efforts to fill the need.

RW: What are some of your hopes for the program — especially for the first offering this May?

Rodriguez: Our hope for this first offering is that participants will come
away with a mastery of Chief Radio Operator responsibilities and other
matters related to maintaining the station’s public file. We very much want the new generation of station leaders that may not have “grown up” in the industry to have a ready resource to master responsibilities unique to FCC licensees.

[Related: TAB Re-Launches “Technical Academy,” Offers Trainings and Certifications]

RW: Can you tell us more about who these trainings are geared to? 

Rodriguez: You don’t need a technical background to take this course and complete it successfully — they may be station owners, general managers, resident tech troubleshooters or operations managers. It’s geared toward stations that don’t have a full-time engineer on staff and need to ensure they’re operating safely and efficiently. There’s a new generation of station leaders who are proficient at nearly every other aspect of the
business and understand they can’t risk falling out of FCC compliance for safety and other reasons.

RW: Are you able to go into more detail about what the day-to-day structure might look like at this week-long training?

Rodriguez: This is a fairly intensive training experience. Participants
will have a full 7-8 hour agenda each day with lessons and hands-on instruction. Breaks and lunch are all on-site and substantial homework assignments will require evening study. We’re allowing for group dinners on the first two nights only, but not the rest. They’ll need that time for additional homework and to study for the tests.

RW: What has the public interest been like so far? Do you have a goal in
terms of turnout?

Rodriguez: We’ve had a lot of interest from our members and from stations outside of Texas, but we’re limiting the class to our Texas members at this time. We’re keeping this class small at the direction of the instructor to ensure each student receives the attention they need to successfully
complete the course. Our maximum class size is 20 and we have just a few
seats left.



Additional information and registration details for the Technical Academy can be found on TAB’s website.

The post An Inside Look Into TABs Technical Academy appeared first on Radio World.

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