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The Bureau enters into a Consent Decree with Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education, Inc

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,500 to Minority Educational Broadcasting Association for failure to timely file a license renewal application and unauthorized operation of Station WPJM-LP, Palatka, Florida

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An LPFM is facing a $3,500 potential liability for two alleged infractions: failing to file its license renewal application on time and operating a station without authority.

Rules set by the Federal Communications Commission require that license renewal applications must be filed no later than the first day of the fourth month prior to the expiration. In the case of Minority Educational Broadcasting Association, operator of low-power FM station WPJM in Palatka, Fla., a renewal application should have been filed by Oct. 1, 2019. That’s four months prior to the license expiration date of Feb. 1, 2020. But no such application was filed.

[Read: FCC Admonishes Licensees for Missed Deadlines — but Agrees to Cancel Forfeitures]

The Media Bureau sent a letter to the licensee to warn them that if no renewal application was filed by Feb. 1, the license for WPJM would expire. On Feb. 3, the bureau received a renewal application but did not provide any explanation for the late filing.

Also of note, the Media Bureau said: the licensee did not request a special temporary authority for the right to legally operate the station after the license expired.

The commission’s forfeiture rules establish a base forfeiture of $3,000 for failure to file a required form. It also sets a base forfeiture of $10,000 for operating without authority, although the commission has the right to adjust that amount up or down depending on the gravity of the violation and history of prior offenses, among other matters.

Based on the review of the facts and circumstances, the Media Bureau found that a $7,000 forfeiture was appropriate, including the $3,000 for failing to file a required form and $4,000 for operating without a license. But the bureau, after considering the record as a whole, decided to reduce the forfeiture further by setting a forfeiture of $1,500 for failing to file a timely application and $2,000 for unauthorized operations — for a total of $3,500 — because as an LPFM, the station is providing a secondary service.

As part of the license renewal process, the bureau also considers whether the station has properly served the public interest, if there have been no serious violations of the Communications Act and FCC rules and if there have been no other violations that constitute a pattern of abuse.

In this case, the bureau did not find any serious violations that, when considered together, show a pattern of abuse. As a result, the Media Bureau granted the renewal application to the LPFM.

But for that to happen, Minority Educational Broadcasting Association must submit $3,500 within 30 days for its violation of FCC rules and the Communications Act or submit a written statement seeking reduction of cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.

 

The post LPFM Facing $3,500 Forfeiture appeared first on Radio World.

What happens when your broadcast TV duopoly is too successful?

Just ask Gray Television. The FCC on Wednesday (7/1) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture against the company for its “apparent violation” of its Top Four rule.

This puts the initial success and plan of action for its Alaska operations in question.

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The National Association of Broadcasters remains steadfast in its opposition to an increase in power for the LPFM service in the United States despite a new plan by one low-power advocate to simplify the process to boost the maximum power level for many stations from 100 to 250 watts.

REC Networks’ “Simple 250” LPFM proposal is being considered by the FCC and would amend Parts 73 and 74 of the rules to create an LP-250 class of service with an effective service contour of about 4.5 miles in addition to the current LP100 service.

However, NAB continues to argue the petition does not justify such a dramatic change to LPFM service. In reply comments filed this week the group reiterates worries over possible interference to FM translators and how a power increase would contradict the FCC’s aim to preserve the “simple nature” of LPFM.

[Read: LP-250 FM Petition Draws Lots of Interest]

NAB told the FCC granting a maximum power level of 250 watts would put LPFM stations on equal footing with 250 watt Class A stations.

“Granting REC’s request would effectively provide LPFM stations the same coverage as full-service Part 73 FM stations, but with a fraction of the obligations. Given that any LPFM entity is always free to apply for a Class A FM station, which would operate with the same radiated power as REC’s request, NAB respectfully asks the FCC to prohibit such a sidestep of its rules and dismiss the petition,” NAB commented to the FCC.

The NAB has been joined by Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the largest owner of noncommercial religious stations in the United States, arguing against adoption of the Simple LPFM plan. EMF, which also deploys a large FM translator network, has said in comments the plan under consideration would dangerously allow LPFMs to increase their power without any examination of whether it would cause actual interference with other stations.

“NAB echoes EMF’s concerns that the petition effectively ignores the potentially harmful interference that allowing LPFM power increases will cause to existing radio services,” NAB commented. And while REC asserts that its proposal will cause “only de minimis disruption” to FM radio service, NAB said it believes that characterization is unrealistic.

In particular, NAB points to concern over potential interference to FM translators. “FM translators provide vital radio service to millions of listeners in areas where direct reception of radio broadcast signals is inadequate due to distance or terrain barriers. Translators are also a lifeline for many AM broadcasters, helping them to improve fill-in service or launch first-time nighttime service,” NAB said. “Given these concerns, it is perplexing that the petition fails to even acknowledge the impact of LP-250 service on translator service.”

NAB in its most recent comments also expresses a lack of trust in how LPFM broadcasters would handle interference complaints if necessary. “A cursory glance at the FCC’s website reveals numerous instances of LPFM stations broadcasting at much higher power levels than authorized, including one station that operated at 23 times its authorized power and another that was recently issued a Notice of Violation for spurious out-of-band emissions affect air safety near the Orlando International Airport.”

The broadcast industry group also contends LPFM volunteers are often unqualified to handle technical obligations required by the FCC.

In conclusion, NAB says the Simple LPFM petition contradicts the intent of low-power FM service when it was created. “Granting REC’s proposal would also undermine the intended localized nature of LPFM service envisioned by the FCC and Congress by allowing some LPFM stations to expand their coverage area by a 100% or more and reach hundreds of thousands of additional listeners, including in some of the largest markets nationwide,” NAB commented.

Common Frequency and other LPFM advocates have subsequently filed comments asserting that some of NAB’s arguments are “not substantiated and incorrect.” Here are the FCC filings regarding the Simple LPFM proposal.

 

The post NAB Renews Objections to LP-250 appeared first on Radio World.

For a generation of Boston radio listeners, the call letters are very familiar. Today, WMEX is associated with a Class D AM at 1510 kHz licensed to Quincy, Mass.

Now, this incarnation of WMEX is about to be sold. Who’s the buyer?

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On December 30, 2020, the sale of a former Tribune Media property serving the Big Apple formally closed. As a result, The E.W. Scripps Company was no longer the owner of The CW Network’s New York flagship, WPIX-11.

How Scripps ended up with the station, and how it ended up selling it, is a story of its own. Originally, Sinclair Broadcast Group planned to operate WPIX via a Joint Sales Agreement with Cunningham Broadcasting Corp., and its officer and director, Michael Anderson. That arrangement ended up in flames, triggered by former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s concerns over “sham” transactions created to push Sinclair’s planned merger with Tribune Media through the regulatory test.

Now, the current ownership of WPIX has come under scrutiny. But, it isn’t the Commission that’s complaining. Rather, it is one of the largest MVPD operators in the nation — and the owner of two direct competitors to WPIX in the Big Apple.

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Travel between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, and you’ll cross Putnam County, Indiana.

Here, a 3kw FM offering Adult Contemporary programming is the local home of Indianapolis Colts football, Indiana Pacers basketball and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

And, it is about to be sold to a new owner.

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Technical Services Group, a Baton Rouge, La.-based broadcast engineering and commercial AV consultancy, designer and integrator, moved into new, much larger facilities to accommodate growth in business. At 36,000 square feet, the new digs are said to be six times larger than their previous home.

A fabrication workshop at the new Technical Services Group facility in Baton Rouge, La.

TSG CEO Bo Hoover said, “Both our commercial AV and broadcast integration, RF, and field services teams are busier than ever. The transmission business continues to grow, too, even as we draw closer to the end of the FCC Repack.”

The new site includes a 25,000-square-foot warehouse; climate-controlled sections for fabrication, integration and training; staging areas for projects; and a loading dock.

Hoover added, “This new facility is an important move forward for TSG and our clients. Now, we have more space to stage, store, and prepare equipment in order to respond faster to what our clients demand. We’ve also incorporated advanced technologies to manage inventories and provide better facility-wide communications.”

The post TSG Moves Into Larger Facility appeared first on Radio World.

Since 2016, she has served as the Director of Sales for the Nexstar Media Group-owned FOX and The CW Network affiliates serving the second-largest market in Colorado.

Now, she’s being promoted to VP/GM.

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Behind Atlanta, it’s the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. South.

And, its residents now have access to ATSC 3.0-powered next generation broadcast TV signals.

NEXTGEN TV is now available in Charlotte.

Those with select new TV models manufactured by LG Electronics, Samsung, and Sony are now able to tune to ATSC 3.0-powered signals for Cox Media Group’s unaffiliated WAXN-64 and ABC affiliate WSOC-9, Nexstar Media Group’s FOX affiliated WJZY-17, Gray Television’s CBS affiliated WBTV-3 and TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate WCNC-36.

Its spoken word stations are among the most listened-to commercial radio properties in North America.

Now, the company formerly known as Entercom is moving forward with taking its news brands further into the digital realm. To do so, it’s committing to journalists in 8 newsrooms across the U.S. to help shepherd a “multiplatform transformation” for Audacy.

This, Philadelphia-headquartered Audacy says, allows it to offer more original digital news content as well as in-depth reporting. This will complement breaking news broadcast coverage.

And, it undoubtedly adds to the exclusive content on the Audacy app, which had been Radio.com.

A centralized digital team dedicated to news is taking shape. This will see Audacy add more than 50 journalists in eight of its newsrooms across the country.

“This coordinated, multi-platform focus will allow the company to produce an array of fresh audio and local reporting that will be distributed across the Audacy network,” the company said on Wednesday (7/7).

Is Audacy hiring the journalists, or are they adding duties to their current responsibilities at all-News and News/Talk radio stations the company owns? RBR+TVBR’s request for clarification was not immediately responded to.

What is clear is that Audacy will create original podcasts and “other specialty digital content” that will add to the local reporting at Audacy all-News and News/Talk stations.

Audacy EVP/Programming Jeff Sottolano is overseeing the initiative.

“The past year has underscored the crucial role of journalism and the demand for trusted quality content has never been higher,” Sottolano said. “Audacy’s local news brands have been delivering on-demand news and information for decades and are now poised to build on that foundation. While other news organizations are downsizing, this further investment will allow us to leverage the credibility of our news brands to expand our reach and engagement while continuing to deliver the premier coverage our audience is accustomed to and relies on.”

Plans also call for an original national weekly podcast that highlights “the most pressing story of the week” and draws on reporting and interview content from across the Audacy network of news brands; daily in-depth podcasts and on-demand audio that explore local stories and issues that most affect listeners’ lives; as well as custom newsletters and in-app experiences that offer audiences a chance to explore areas of interest and interact directly with Audacy brands.

Additional details will follow in the coming months.

It markets itself as “a first-of-its-kind” cloud-based television advertising
tool that requests and receives ads from programmatic digital ad exchanges to
enable linear cable television ad insertion by using existing cable and broadcast TV
infrastructure.

Now, it is one step closer to closing the gap between linear TV and digital advertising, as this Viamedia-owned division has just snagged its third patent — a move that the company says solves “last mile” challenges for marketers.

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A series of FCC filings made late Tuesday confirm that West Virginia Radio Corp., the entity owned in a partnership between Dale Miller and David and John Raese, is about to get a complexion change in its attributable interest visage.

One of these partners is cashing out.

Miller, who serves as President/CEO of the Morgantown, W. Va.-based owner of 32 radio stations, is selling his equity interest in the company to the Raeses.

It’s a sign that Miller may be ready to retire, concluding a storied 44-year career at one of the region’s strongest and most influential audio media companies.

Miller joined West Virginia Radio Corp. in 1977. At that time, its holdings were comprised of WAJR-AM & FM in Morgantown. In 1981, the FM shifted to Contemporary Hit Radio, taking the call sign WVAQ. The station remains a nationally recognized success story, known as the home of the late programming executive Lacy Neff.

West Virginia Radio Corp. would grow substantially under Miller’s leadership, growing to 28 radio stations between 1993 and 2014. A former past president of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, Miller was awarded the association’s highest honor when he was named the WVBA Broadcaster of the Year in 1993.

But, it is the Raese family that has been tied to Radio since 1940. That’s when John and David’s grandparents, Agnes and Herbert Greer, signed WAJR-AM on the air. The Raese brothers assumed control of the company following Agnes Greer’s 1972 death.

Three filings seeking Commission approval show that Miller’s decision to hand his shares of West Virginia Radio Corp. to the Raese brothers came in early June.

Terms call the Raese brothers acquiring Miller’s shares in West Virginia Radio Company of Raleigh; of the Alleghenies; and of Salem; for a combined value of $314,000. The allocation is as follows:

West Virginia Radio Corp. today continues to own WAJR-AM and WVAQ-FM, plus WKKW-FM in Morgantown. Its holdings also include stations in Beckley, Charleston, Clarksburg, Berkeley Springs, Martinsburg and Elkins, W. Va.; and Cumberland, Md.

Meet Curtis LeGeyt, the next president/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, in our special expanded newsmaker interview.

Also, Buyer’s Guide looks at consoles, mixers and routers, featuring products from Arrakis, Broadcast Tools, Calrec, Henry Engineering, Lawo, Logitek, Telos Alliance and Wheatstone.

And read about market research from the European Broadcasting Union that finds that nearly 90% of radio consumption is to linear stations transmitted via broadcast networks.

Read the issue.

 

The post Inside the July 7, 2021 Issue of Radio World appeared first on Radio World.

Codec maker Tieline has announced a firmware update for its Gateway and Gateway 4 codecs which the company describes as “significant.”

The short description of v3.02.06 is: support for NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 audio channel mapping features in the ST 2110 specification; phase-locking for multichannel event production; dynamic range and EQ on all inputs; SmartStream Plus redundant streaming support for multi-unicast streams; and support for Euro ISDN connection.

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

Tieline VP Sales APAC/EMEA Charlie Gawley said, “This is a significant release which supports features like NMOS, and up to eight channels of phase-locked multichannel IP audio, which will excite broadcast engineers.”

He also added, “Processing features like input compression and EQ that can be adjusted from anywhere online using the Toolbox web/GUI interface, also take remote control to another level.”

The AoIP stream phase-lock allows for allows broadcasters to stream live events like concerts and major sports in stereo and surround sound simultaneously, or distribute live phase-locked audio between studios or network affiliates. For instance the company illustrates, “a 16-channel Gateway codec supports sending 2 x 6 + 2 channels of phase-locked streams, or 2 x 8 channels of phase-locked streams, or 4 x 4 channels of phase-locked streams.”

Support for NMOS IS-04 and IS-05, Tieline explains, “ensures that components of a networked media system can find each other and delivers connection management and audio channel mapping to device I/O channels. Combined with support for 16 AES67/ST 2110-30 AoIP streams, NMOS brings a new level of interoperability and control with networked equipment throughout the broadcast plant.”

This is a free upgrade for existing customers. Learn more and download at www.tieline.com/support.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

Info: www.tieline.com

 

The post Tieline Releases Firmware Update for Codecs appeared first on Radio World.