About This NewsletterMeeting AnnouncementUpcoming Meeting ScheduleMeeting MinutesChapter 24 Student Night A SuccessTelcom Industry NewsCongress May Nix LPFMCookie Bake Off Winner AnnouncedAmateur Radio NewsCongress Moves Up AuctionSBE's Short CircuitsFCC RulemakingsNew Spectrum Management PolicyChapter Sustaining MembersReturn to Chapter 24 Newsletter Page The Chapter 24 Newsletter is published monthly by Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers; Madison, Wisconsin. Original hard copy edited by Mike Norton on Pagemaker 5.0. Submissions of interest to the broadcast technical community are welcome. You can make your submissions by e-mail to:
Information and/or articles are also accepted by US Mail. Please address them to:
SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter Editor
2029 Greenway Cross #11
Madison, WI 53713-3000
Please submit text file on DOS or Windows 3.5" floppy diskette if possible.
Steve Paugh is the editor for the Electronic Version of this Newsletter uploaded monthly onto SBE Chapter 24's web page.
Thanks to Leonard Charles for his work on the Chapter 24 WWW page and electronic newsletter.
Contributors this month:
Lloyd Berg
Vicki Kipp
Neal McLain
John Poray
Kevin Ruppert
Tom Smith
Tom Weeden
© 1999 by SBE Chapter 24. Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Society, its officers, or its members. SBE Chapter 24 regrets, but is not liable for, any omissions or errors. The Chapter 24 Newsletter is published twelve times per year. Other SBE Chapters are permitted to use excerpts if attributed to the original author, sources, and SBE Chapter 24.
Thank you to WKOW-TV for providing copying and folding facilities for the Chapter 24 newsletter!
Thank you to WISC-TV for maintaining the web server for the Chapter 24 Web page!
The originally scheduled presentation on DTV PSIP implementation has been postponed. Dave Devereaux-Weber of the Doit Center will discuss streaming video over local area networks and the WEB. There will be a live demonstration of streaming video over the campus network. The meeting this month will be held in Room 1610 of Engineering Hall on the UW Engineering campus. A tour of the Engineering Hall A/V facilities will also be given.
Visitors and guests are welcome at all of our SBE meetings!
| Tentative 2000 Program Subjects | |||
| DAY | DATE | TOPIC | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weds | Jan 19 | Mark Croom | |
| Thur | Feb 24 | Steve Zimmerman | |
| Tues | Mar 21 | Denise Maney | |
| Weds | Apr 26 | Denise Maney | |
| Thur | May 25 | Steve Paugh | |
| Tues | Jun 20 | Kerry Maki | |
Submitted by Lloyd Berg, Secretary
Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers met on Thursday, November 18, 1999 at the studios of WISC-TV in Madison, Wisconsin. There were sixteen members and seven guests present, twelve held SBE certification.
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kevin Ruppert at 6:22 PM.
Kevin opened this special Youth Membership Meeting by talking about careers in broadcasting, and the resources and benefits that SBE membership offers. Everyone in attendance was introduced. WISC-TV General Manager, David Sanks, spoke on the purpose and need for broadcast engineers.
WISC-TV Chief Engineer, Leonard Charles, spoke on what it takes to be a broadcast engineer on his staff. Kevin Ruppert spoke on Y2K issues and the broadcast engineer. Jim Hermanson spoke on careers in Broadcast Radio Engineering.
The regular SBE business meeting continued; the treasurer’s report stated that Chapter 24's account is in the black.
Certification Chair, Jim Hermanson, announced the deadline to apply for taking SBE certification exams in February is fast approaching.
Frequency Coordinator, Tom Smith, announced that ABC did not coordinate frequencies for the Ron Dayne broadcast last week. He also warned of potential problems with the unlicensed Coach-Com radio communications system coming to Camp Randal Stadium.
Fred Sperry announced that WMSN-TV, Norlight, CTI and Panasonic renewed their sustaining memberships in Chapter 24. Denise Maney announced that the next two meetings have been set up.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:22 PM. A tour and detailed explanation of the WISC-TV studios followed
The program and topic for Chapter 24’s November meeting was Student Night. Several young people from area high schools joined Chapter 24 for some pizza, a discussion about broadcast engineering and a tour of the WISC-TV studios.
The evening began with the group getting together for conversation and food. Some chapter members brought various trade publications for the students to look at and take home with them. During this discussion, it became apparent that the students had an interest in video and audio production and wanted to learn more about the technical side of making television and radio.
You could see real mentoring taking place as members explained how to transfer film to video, and how to deal with everyday technical problems, such as finding the right audio adapter for a field mic.
A description of what SBE is and what it does for members was presented by chapter chair Kevin Ruppert. WISC vice president and general manager David Sanks then spoke about the role of engineers in today’s broadcast industry and how he as a manager depends on his engineering staff for technical direction.
Certification chairman Jim Hermanson talked about how he got involved in broadcasting while showing off his first engineering project, an audio console that he built from scratch in high school.
National Liaison Leonard Charles gave a truly inspirational speech about what he believes it takes to become a broadcast engineer.
Then, the group took a look around the Channel 3 studios to see what goes on behind the cameras and to see what engineers do at a TV station.
This was our second student night and was once again a success. We believe that it is important to expose young people to the field of broadcast engineering to foster their understanding of what the job is like. If the student has an interest in media, he or she might not realize that their true interest is in the technical side of the business. By showing them what we do and how we do it, our guests on student night might find that engineering is the career that really interests them.
We hope to continue to have Student Night at least once per year. If you know of a student that might be interested in attending this or any of our chapter meetings, bring them along.
Our thanks to Dennise Maney for making the contacts with the students and arranging the food. Thanks also to those who spoke and took time to spend time talking with the students one on one.
Congressman Michael Oakley has sponsored a bill called the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999 that would prevent the FCC from creating a low-power FM service. There were four other members of Congress who co-sponsored the bill. NAB President Eddie Fritts has stated he is in support of the bill.
(From BROADCASTING and CABLE)
After much speculation, it is time to announce the winner of the 1999 SBE Chapter 24 Cookie Bake Off. Thank you to all of the Chapter 24 Engineers who found time to make cookies! Although we only had four entries this year, there was plenty of competition between the desserts.
All of the cookies entered were very tasty, and the vote was close. However, one cookie rose above to claim first place. I would like to congratulate the bake off winner, Allan Johnson. Allan baked up a delicious batch of big peanut butter cookies. As the bake off winner, Allan will be awarded a $30 gift certificate for Radio Shack. Thanks again to all of the participants and all of the voters!
The amateur license restructuring issue has reportedly moved to the front burner at the FCC, and a Report and Order could be released before the end of 1999. On August 10, 1998, the FCC proposed to phase out the Novice and Technician Plus licenses, leaving just four amateur license classes in place—Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra. The Commission also asked the amateur community to express its opinions on Morse code requirements for licensing and testing, but offered no specific recommendations. The American Radio Relay League proposed Morse code requirements of 5 words per minute for General and 12 WPM for Advanced and Extra class. The restructuring debate generated more than 2200 comments to the FCC, many of them from individual amateurs. Reports from several FCC sources suggest that the R&O draft is in its final stages and could be complete within a month or so.
The Voice of America says a problem at one of its shortwave broadcast transmitters apparently was responsible for causing a spurious signal to appear in the top end of the 20-meter amateur phone band. Several hams had reported hearing a broadcast signal on 14.340 MHz in recent weeks, a second harmonic of the 7.170 fundamental. A VOA engineer said the problem apparently was related to a faulty harmonic filter at a VOA transmitter in the Philippines. The station has switched to an alternate transmitter until repairs can be made.
(Excerpts from the American Radio Relay League’s "The ARRL Letter")
Hidden in the Defense Department budget was an item that moved up the auction of the spectrum that was occupied by TV channels 60-62 and 65-67. The original auction was to have occurred after January 1, 2001, but Congress wants rules in place for the new service and the auction conducted with monies collected before September 30, 2000, which is the end of this fiscal year for the government.
This could affect the Consumer Electronic Associations proposed use of this spectrum called Mobile Multimedia Broadcast Service. This is a digital audio and data service using COFDM. There is not enough time to persuade the FCC from creating another wireless communication service in that spectrum instead of the MMBS. The new services would have started in 2006 under the old law.
(From BE RADIO and BROADCASTING and CABLE)
SBE MEMBERS GET DISCOUNT ON NAB SPRING CONVENTION
Once again, SBE members will be able to register for the NAB Spring Convention in Las Vegas at the NAB Member rate, a savings of $330. NAB will be sending registration materials for the April 2000 event soon. They already have on-line registration available at their web site: www.nab.org. If your station is not a member of NAB, be sure to take advantage of this great SBE member benefit. The savings are equal to SIX times the cost of ONE year of SBE membership!
MILLENNIUM PROJECT TICKS DOWN TOWARDS CONCLUSION
The next time you’re reminded of the continuing countdown to the year 2000, remember that the clock is also ticking off the time remaining for you to participate in the Millennium Certification Project. For the first and only time, SBE is offering engineers with lapsed certifications the opportunity to have those certifications restored without taking a test.
If your career and interests have kept you current in broadcast technology over the past several years, your SBE certification CAN be restored to you...but only if you act before midnight on December 31st! Contact Linda Godby-Emerick, Certification Director, for more details (lgodby@sbe.org), or go to the SBE web page (www.sbe.org) to read all about it. All it takes is a little effort on your part. But, you have to act before 1999 is over! Shouldn’t you care as much about your career as about that silly calendar in your computer?
NEW SBE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYERS’ GUIDE PUBLISHED
The 1999-2000 edition of the SBE Membership Directory & Buyers’ Guide has been mailed to all SBE members. The new directory includes listings of members alphabetically and by state. A special classified section (yellow pages) lists Sustaining Members by product or service. There is also a handy list up front of National Board and staff, with a list of who to contact for over three dozen member services and programs.
A few copies have been reported as missing some pages. If you find that your copy is not complete, contact Angel Bates at the SBE national Office at (317) 253-1640 or abates@sbe.org for a replacement.
PROPOSED
MM Docket 99-325; FCC 99-327
Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact On the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service
The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for comments on how the Commission should approach the introduction of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). The aim of this notice is not to select any system for DAB, but to set up the criteria and methods for the selection of a new DAB system. Like Digital TV, there will be a series of rulemakings to determine the final system and its introduction.
The first thing that the FCC asks for comment is on what criteria they should use. The FCC has listed the following criteria, including enhanced audio fidelity, robustness to interference and other signal impairments, compatibility with existing analog service, spectrum efficiency, flexibility and ability to provide auxiliary services, potential for updating, accommodation for existing broadcasters, coverage and costs.
The FCC is asking if the In-Band On-Carrier system is preferable or if a system that requires additional spectrum in another band be used, such as the Eureka 147 system which is used in Europe and Canada. One proposal is to use TV channel six after the transition to DTV is made. There is only one DTV station assigned to channel six, but there are 57 analog stations, some which may want to move their digital operations to channel six. One question raised if new spectrum is selected is if a multi-class system of allotment should be use as in the current FM system, or if all stations should be given the same service area.
Another issue raised is the occupied bandwidth of an IBOC system, and how it would affect current analog stations and particularly the proposed low power FM stations. In the FM band, the FCC is considering reducing or eliminating the third and possibly the second adjacent channel restrictions. In both the AM and the FM IBOC systems, the occupied bandwidth will double as the digital signal is located below and above the current analog signal. As part of this discussion, the FCC is asking about sunsetting the current analog system and whether the digital signals could be moved into the analog spectrum or if the IBOC systems will require the digital signal to remain in its original configuration. The analog information could be replace with digital information such as data. USA Digital Radio, one of the IBOC proponents, is proposing that analog transmissions end twelve years after the start of digital.
Finally the FCC is asking if a committee should be created similar to the one that selected the DTV standard.
This notice was adopted and released on November 1, 1999 and published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on November 9, 1999 on pages 61,054-61,056. Comments are due on January 24, 2000 and replies on February 22, 2000.
MM Docket No. 99-339; FCC 99-353
Implementation of Video Description of Video Programming
The FCC is proposing limited requirements for television video description. This is a service for those with sight impairment, where a narrator describes the action during breaks in the dialog. This service is transmitted on the SAP audio channel.
The FCC is proposing that affiliates of ABC, CBS FOX and NBC along with cable systems in the top 25 markets be able to pass the descriptive video audio track and that those 4 networks along with the major cable networks (those whom reach over 50% of the homes) provide 50 hours per calendar quarter. Public stations are exempt due to limited finances of many of them, particularly because of the digital transition. Commercial digital TV stations will be required to provide the service in the future as well as direct broadcast satellite, open video providers, wireless cable (MMDS) and satellite master antenna systems. The rules will be extended to smaller markets and networks in the future, along with increases in the amount of programming.
This notice was adopted and released on November 18, 1999 with comments due on January 24, 2000 and replies due on February 23, 2000. The notice was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on December 1, 1999 on pages 67,236-67,267.
Report No. AUC-99-28-A (Auction 28); DA 99-2594
Supplemental Closed Broadcast Auction Scheduled for March 21, 2000
The FCC has announced that it will conduct an auction for one TV and 10 LPTV/translator licenses. This is a closed auction and is limited to applicants for previously contested licenses. Some of the LPTV/translator licenses are for channels to replace channels lost to new DTV stations, and are being sought by a number of displaced license holders. Normally, a LPTV station seeking a replacement channel is not subject to competing applicants, except when there is a conflict cause by a lack of channels available to multiple displaced LPTV stations. This notice seeks comment on bidding procedures on licenses that would have overlapping signals. An example would be if there are three stations with one overlapping to other two. If the one that overlaps the other two has a bid that exceeds the other two combined, he would get the license, otherwise the two non-overlapping stations would win.
The FCC is also asking for comment on minimum bids and on some fine tuning of the auction rules. Comments were due on December 6, 1999 and replies are due on December 16, 1999. The notice was released on November 19, 1999 and was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on December 2, 1999 on pages 67,569-67,575.
From FCC Releases (www.fcc.gov) and the FEDERAL REGISTER (www.access.gpo.gov)
On November 18th, the FCC issued a policy statement on the guiding principles for managing spectrum. They stated that the principles would enhance competition and encourage the development of new communications technologies. Much of the discussion in this notice concerned the proposed reallocation and auction of 202 MHz of spectrum as required by Congress under the 1993 and 1997 Budget Acts. There is also discussion of other potential spectrum that could be reallocated and auctioned.
The spectrum that the FCC will be auctioning in the next three to five years includes 216-220 MHz, 698-746 MHz (TV channel 52-59), 1390-1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz. 1670-1675 MHz, 1710-1755 MHz, 2160-2165 MHz, 2300-2305MHz, 2385-2390 MHz, and 4635-4660 MHz. The FCC has proposed to license a number of mobile services in these bands, including new land mobile channels in the three bands between 1390 and 1435 MHz.
The National Telecommunications and Information Agency has identified four bands to substitute for 15 megahertz that was required to be reallocated from the 1990-2110 MHz band. These frequencies include 944-960 MHz, 1390-1400 MHz, 1427-1432 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, unauctioned parts from 2500-2690 MHz and 3650-3700 MHz. Note the proposed reallocation of the 944-960 MHz band. This is the band that the aural STL frequencies (944-952 MHz) are located in. Of the bands the NTIA has identified, all of them have already been auctioned or will be auctioned under existing law except for the 944-960 band and the unauctioned parts of the 2500-2690 band. An auction was held in 1996 for 66 MHz of the 2500-2690 MHz band which is used for wireless cable TV.
In this policy statement, the FCC proposed the use of a number of new technologies and allocation methods. The FCC would like to promote technologies such as spread spectrum and ultra-wideband digital. They would also like to use different auction methods, allow for licenses to negotiate among themselves to control interference and auction spectrum to "band managers," who would resale the spectrum to small users such as land mobile users. They also proposed to make it easier to transfer licenses so that the spectrum would be used "by the highest value end users." The would also like to clear spectrum for new users by providing incentives to existing users to move to different frequencies, which are normally located in higher frequency bands, or to non-wireless systems like wired or fiber-optic cable. Fees for the use of spectrum were suggested as one method to discourage unneeded spectrum usage.
This policy statement and the FCC strategic planning paper titled A New FCC for the 21st Century give spectrum users a look into the future and their place in it.
From FCC Release (www.fcc.gov)
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