• Contents for this Newsletter

About This Newsletter
Meeting Announcement
Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Meeting Minutes
Digital TV Demo at EXPO
Broadband Networks- Part 28
Chapter Elections- Call For Nominations!
Membership Report
Amateur Radio News
Local Legals
Telcom Industry News
FCC Rulemakings
FCC Proposes Low Power FM Service
EAS Red Envelope Eliminated
Chapter Sustaining Members
Return to Chapter 24 Newsletter Archives

Return to Top

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:

© 1998 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!

Return to Top

Join your fellow broadcast engineers for a round table discussion of what area broadcasters are willing to admit they're doing in preparation for possible problems related to the Year 2000 transition. Is your facility ready? Will it be? Do you think anything will happen? Bring your facts and opinions, and let's have a lively discussion about broadcasters and Y2K. Afterward see WNWC's new digital on/air console, and tour the station if you'd like.

Return to Top

Return to Top

The January 1999 meeting of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, Chapter 24, Madison Wisconsin, meet at Rocky Rococo's restaurant on Mineral Point Road in Madison on Wednesday, January 20th. The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Kevin Ruppert at 6:34 PM.

The December minutes were approved as published in the January newsletter.

Treasurer, Stan Search, reported our check book is balanced and in the black.

Kevin reported 25 sustaining members.

Certification chairman, Jim Hermanson, reported that application for the February certification exams are now closed, but applicants have until March 22nd to apply to take exams at the NAB convention, and that the next locally administered exams will be held in June. Additionally, the SBE has a new certification booklet available.

Leonard Charles reminded everyone that SBE members were eligible for NAB member discounts. Also, the Ennis workshop is scheduled for Wednesday during the NAB convention.

He also reminded us to participate in the National Groundhog Day"shadow" activity, where a young person "shadows" you for the day in order to learn about your career.

A company has claimed patent rights for the EAS protocol and is now in the process of asking broadcasters for royalties for use of the EAS system. The national SBE is looking into this matter. Finally, Leonard is taking over the care and feeding of the SBE Chapter 24 web site.

Kevin announced new business: The UW will be holding a DTV course in late spring. Cost is unknown. Chris Cain has resigned as Chief of WISC-TV and will become Chief of their co-owned radio properties. Erik Barklow was introduced as the new chief of the Woodward radio stations.

Kevin adjourned the business meeting at 6:46pm.

Jim Hermanson then lead the group to the Community Tower for a tour of the new WKOW-DT digital Channel 26 and analog Channel 27 transmitter plant.

Return to Top

Every two years, the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering- Madison sponsors an open house to showcase the UW Engineering Campus, and to present to the public technology exhibits that span all engineering disciplines.

This open house is called the Engineering EXPO, and attracts over 20,000 people. The next EXPO will be in April of 1999. The dates are Friday-April 16, Saturday-April 17 and Sunday-April 18. Unfortunately, this coincides with the opening weekend of the NAB convention being held in Las Vegas. The EXPO is open to the general public. Friday is usually the day that most of the area schools bring their students in. Saturday is the busiest day and draws the general public. Sunday is more relaxed, but still well attended. Tentative hours of operation are 9 AM- 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 9 AM to 1 PM on Sunday.

The EXPO has a mixture of UW research displays, UW student exhibits and Commercial exhibits. The UW students are judged on their exhibits on the first day of the event. The event covers the entire Engineering campus, and the public walks from building to building to view the various exhibits.

Craig Bluschke, A-V facilities Director of the College of Engineering, in cooperation with SBE Chapter 24, is organizing a Digital TV demonstration during EXPO. The college has an auditorium (Room 1610) in the main engineering building that is set up for large screen video projection. He is looking for support from the broadcast community to help put together a high-definition video presentation.

The intent of this demonstration will be to inform the general public about digital TV through actual demonstrations, informational literature and collateral technology demonstrations. We would like to have all of the local TV broadcasters take part in a cooperative public display of this new technology.

An update of this project will be given at the February SBE meeting. If you can help in any way with this exhibit contact either myself (spaugh@wisctv.com - 277-5139) or Craig (bluschke@engr.wisc.edu - 265-3976). We are in need of left, center and right speaker systems for the front of the hall, HD playback vtrs, and KU band HDTV down link signals. We would like all of the local TV stations to have a presence at the exhibit.

We will need help in setting up the DTV exhibit the evening before the show. Setup is scheduled for Thursday evening, April 15th, starting at 6 PM. Let us know how you can help. Here's our chance to wow the public with HDTV and showcase the talents of the SBE.

Return to Top

• A bandsplitter to separate the subband from the rest of the spectrum. A bandsplitter is simply a band-separation filter that separates the upstream band (5-30 MHz) from the downstream band (54+). Frequencies between 30 and 50 MHz are disrupted in this filter, so they can't be used in either direction.
  
  
• A T9-2 processor to convert Channel T9 to Channel 2. A processor amplifies the signal, traps out the lower adjacent aural carrier, filters out all out-of-band signals, and delivers the signal to the combiner at a constant (AGC-controlled) level. The modulation characteristics of the signal, as it was modulated at the remote location, remain intact.
  
  

• A receiving antenna. The exact type of antenna to be used depends on a number of obvious factors: the distance between the station's transmitter and the headend; the mounting height of the receiving antenna, and the type of intervening terrain. We'll discuss off-the-air receiving antennas in detail next month.
  
  
• A 3-3 Strip Amplifier. A strip amp amplifies the signal, traps out the lower adjacent aural carrier, filters out out-of-band signals, and delivers the signal to the combiner at a constant (AGC-controlled) level. The modulation characteristics of the signal remain intact.
  
  

• Depending on the manufacturer involved, a processor may be do a better job of filtering out-of-band signals. This fact stands to reason: because the IF bandpass is at a lower frequency than Channel 3, the filter skirts are sharper. Moreover, standardized filtering components are more readily available at IF.
  
  
• A 3-3 processor utilizes many of the same components used by other processors in the headend (chassis frame; power supply; IF section). This may reduce spare-part requirements.
  
  
• A processor is required if any frequency change is required. Even though both the input and output channels are nominally the same in this case (Channel 3), there may be offset requirements in some situations. For example, the originating station's visual carrier may be offset, or the output channel may have to fit into and HRC or IRC frequency-assignment plan.
  
  

• One or more receiving antennas. Again, the exact type of antennas to be used depends on a number of factors. We'll discuss these factors next month.
  
  
• Processors, one for each channel. A processor accepts an NTSC channel at its input and delivers an NTSC channel at its output. Like a strip amp, the modulation characteristics of the signal remain intact. However, unlike a strip amp, a processor can convert a signal from one channel to another. In this case, five processors are used to convert five UHF channels to VHF cable channels. Each processor downconverts the input channel to an intermediate frequency (IF) for processing, then upconverts it to the desired output channel.
  
  

• Microwave antenna and receiver. The output of the receiver is baseband video, with the 4.5-MHz aural subcarrier intact.
  
  
• A Channel 9 modulator. A modulator accepts baseband video at its input and delivers an NTSC channel at its output. In this particular case, we select a modulator which can accept the 4.5-MHz aural subcarrier on the video signal.
  
  

• Satellite antenna. Most cable television headends utilize several fixed receive-only satellite antennas, one for each of the satellites which transmit cable programming.
  
  
• Satellite receiver. The output of the satellite receiver is baseband video accompanied by baseband audio.
  
  
• A channel 10 modulator. In this particular case, we select a modulator which can accept baseband audio.

• Satellite antenna and satellite receiver.
  
  
• A Videocipher II descrambler.
  
  
• A channel 11 modulator. Again, we select a modulator which can accept baseband audio.

• Satellite antenna and satellite receiver.
  
  
• A Videocipher II descrambler.
  
  
• The Weather Star.
  
  
• A channel 12 modulator. Again, we select a modulator which can accept baseband audio.
  

• At the headend, a scrambler suppresses the horizontal sync pulses. Most scramblers act on the visual carrier after it has been modulated. At this point, the signal is inverted: an increase in signal level corresponds to a decrease in picture brightness. A scrambling waveform (typically a pulse chain locked to the horizontal frequency) reduces the level of the entire horizontal blanking interval by a specified amount, typically 5 to 10 dB.
  
  
• At the subscriber's television set, the process is reverse: a descrambling waveform (identical to the scrambling waveform, but inverted) reduces the level of the everything except the horizontal blanking interval by the same amount.

• Satellite antenna and satellite receiver.
  
  
• A Videocipher II descrambler.
  
  
• A scrambler capable of scrambling an NTSC visual carrier.
  
  
• A channel 13 modulator. Once again, we select a modulator that can accept baseband audio.

• Allband FM. This signal consisted of the entire FM band (88-108 MHz) picked up by a single antenna, amplified, and processed to remove out-of-band signals. Subscribers received this signal by connecting the CATV drop to their FM tuners. Although more recent headends utilize individually-processed FM signals, the allband technique has a venerable history: was used by many cable systems for many years.
  
  
• Pilot. This was a special carrier inserted into the distribution system to serve as a reference for the AGC amplifiers throughout the distribution system. Although it's possible to utilize a visual carrier as an AGC reference, the level of such carriers wasn't always consistent (particularly if it was a broadcast station that went off the air at night).
  

--------------------------------

Return to Top

This is the first call for nominations for interested members to run for a Chapter 24 elected office. In April we will hold elections for Chapter Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. If you are interested in running for an office, running for re-election or know of a worthy candidate, please contact any of the nomination committee members.

The committee members are Steve Paugh (Chair) 277-5139 (spaugh@wisctv.com), Jim Hermanson 836-8340 (jmh@execpc.com) or Denise Maney 277-8001 (sloop26@aol.com).

Candidates must be current with their SBE membership and be available for the monthly meetings. A modest time commitment and a desire to serve the chapter are the only qualifications required!

Return to Top

The National SBE lists Chapter 24's current membership at 71 members; 40 certified. Chapter 24 mails out 137 newsletters.

Return to Top

• The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has filed formal comments in response to the FCC's proposed streamlining of the amateur radio rules, saying that the proposed rulemaking failed to contain "a comprehensive license restructuring proposal or even an overall review of license restructuring." ARRL called on the FCC to adopt the ARRL Board's restructuring plans as the centerpiece of its streamlining efforts. ARRL's plans call for reducing the number of license classes from six to four, and upgrading current Novice and Technician Plus licensees to General class. The FCC was not expected to take action on restructuring at least until sometime this spring.

• Space officials from the US, Russia and several other countries gathered in Houston January 21-27 to continue plans to put amateur radio aboard the International Space Station. The effort ultimately will provide amateur radio with a permanent berth in space aboard the ISS. The so-called "Amateur Radio ISS accommodations meetings" at NASA's Johnson Space Center included a representative from Energia, the Russian space company that is building portions of the ISS. The Houston sessions focused on finalizing the design of the "initial station" ISS ham radio hardware and helped to clarify and firm up the role of multinational amateur radio on the International Space Station.

• TV and electronics pioneer Robert Page Burr, K1MI, died December 31, of complications following heart surgery. Burr once wrote that getting his amateur radio license in 1937 set him on the path of a lifelong interest in Amateur Radio and electronics. After a stint in the Navy during World War II, Burr spent 10 years with Hazeltine Corp and was a key member of the team that developed the US color television standard. He chaired the National Television Standards Committee that eventually persuaded the FCC and the television industry to adopt the NTSC standard. He was 76.

(Excerpts from February 1999 "QST" magazine and "The ARRL Letter")

Return to Top

WPKO (FM) Evansville, WI 105.9 MHz

TBK Communications Corp. seeks to make changes in their transmitting plant and change WPKO'S effective radiated power, Announced February 8, 1999.

WBKY (FM) Portage, WI 95.9 MHz

Magnum Communications Inc. was granted a modification to their construction permit to change transmitter location and make changes in the antenna support structure. Announced February 8, 1999.

>From FCC Daily Notices (www.fcc.gov)

Return to Top

• Basic Program Tier. This term defines a tier of programming offered by a cable television operator to its subscribers. It must be provided to all subscribers; it cannot be scrambled; and it must include:
  • All broadcast stations except satellite-delivered superstations.
    
  • Certain access programming.
    
  • At the cable operator's option, any other programming.
  
  
  
• Cable Programming Service (CPS). This term includes one or more tiers of optional programming offered by a cable television operator to its subscribers. It is provided only to subscribers who specifically order it, usually at an extra monthly charge. By definition, CPS includes all video programming offered by the cable operator except:
  • The Basic Program Tier.
  • Programming offered on a pay-per-channel basis.
  • Programming offered on a pay-per-view basis.

• Scramble all CPS programming at the headend.
  
  
• Insert band-reject filters ("traps") into the drops of basic-only subscribers to block CPS programming.

• Because channel-selection must be done at the settop, the set's tuner can't be used; thus, the subscriber has to use two remotes.
  
  
• Special tuning features like picture-in-picture don't work.
  
  
• VCR owners can't record one program while watching another.

• Place all Basic Program Tier channels in the 54- to 216-MHz range. This block includes 22 cable channels: low band (2-6), high band (7-13), midband (14-22), and (if the frequency plan is HRC and IRC) Channel 1.
  
  
• Place all CPS programming on Channel 23 and above.
  
  
• Use traps to prevent access to CPS programming.

• If it tried to use some combination of traps to pass cable channel 41 without passing other CPS channels (assuming it could even find such a combination), it would probably have to vacate channels 40 and 42 to prevent them from leaking through into the Basic Program Tier.
  
  
• If it simply extended the basic tier on up to, say channel 42, and moved all CPS programming to 43 and above (again assuming that it could find the necessary traps), it would face unending subscriber complaints. Moreover, once this precedent was established, WXTV's commercial competitors (in particular, WNJU, Channel 47, also a Hispanic station) might make a similar demand.
  
  
• If it tried scrambling all other CPS channels, it would certainly face a rebellion among its CPS subscribers.

Return to Top

ET Docket No. 99-34; FCC 99-8

An Industry Coordination Committee System for Broadcast Digital Television Service

The FCC has issued a Notice of Rule Making request comment on the creation of a coordination committee to assist in the implementation of the digital television system. The FCC proposes that the television broadcast industry establish a coordination committee, similar to that used by the land mobile industry. The proposed coordination committee would process and evaluate proposals for changes in both DTV and NTSC station transmission facilities and changes in the DTV Table of allotments from all TV broadcasters including low-power translator stations.

The FCC is asking if the coordination by the proposed committee should by voluntary or mandatory. If the coordination by the industry committee system is mandatory, it would replace the existing rules for voluntary negotiation of DTV allotments and facility changes.

The proposed coordination system would consist of a number of regional committee under the umbrella of a national coordinating organization. The national coordinator would manage the system, maintain a national database, produce procedures and software systems and monitor the regional committees. The committees would be required to process requests in the order received and in a timely matter and maintain records of their actions. The committees could charge a fee to cover their costs.

Comments are due March 29, 1999, and replies due April 28, 1999. This notice was adopted on January 28, 1999 and released on February 3, 1999. It was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on February 9, 1999 on pages 6296-6300.

CS Docket No. 98-201; FCC 99-14

Satellite Delivery of Broadcast Network Signals under the Satellite Home Viewer Act

The FCC has adopted rules that create a method for measuring signal strength at an individual household. These rules are in response to the Satellite Home Viewer Act and the need to determine if a viewer is "unserved" by a network signal and eligible to receive network signals via home satellite dish.

To determine the signal level at an individual home, either actual measurements or prediction of the signal level can be used. If measurements are used, a tuned dipole must be used with a cluster of five measurements taken as close to the location of the likely location of the homeowner's antenna.

If the signal is determined by prediction, then the Individual Location Laughingly-Rice Model must be used with terrain elevation considered every 1/10 of a kilometer, a confidence variability of 50%, and error codes appearing on the prediction shall be ignored with the predicted value accepted or measurements used. Land use (buildings) and land cover (vegetation) shall be included when an accurate method is developed for their use in the prediction. There are a number of specifics concerning equipment, measurement methods and use of data in the use of either measurement or prediction that need to be considered to meet FCC requirements.

The FCC also determined that an standard antenna height is assumed to be 20 feet above ground for a one story home and 30 feet above ground for a two story home. The method for determining Grade B signal coverage for FCC license information remains the same as in the past.

This action was taken on February 1, 1999 and released on February 2, 1999. It was published In the Federal Register on February 21, 1999 on Pages 7113-7127. Full Text is available from the FCC on their web site.

>From the FEDERAL REGISTER (www.access.gao.gov) and FCC Press Release (www.fcc.gov).

Return to Top

In response to a number of petitions and a large number of comments in a Notice of Inquiry concerning those petitions, the FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing the creation of a low power FM service.

The FCC is proposing two classes of low power FM stations. The two classes of stations are LP1000 and LP100. A LP1000 station would operate at 1000 watts at 60 meters (197 ft)with primary status like existing FM stations. Primary status means that the station cannot be bumped off the air by any new or upgrade full power station. These stations would follow most or all of the rules that apply to existing FM stations. The 1 mV/m contour would be located about 8.8 miles.

The LP100 station would operate with 100 watts at 30 meters (98 ft) with secondary status. Secondary status means that a LP100 station would have to leave the air to make room for new or upgraded full power FM stations. The 1 mV/m contour would be at 3.5 miles.

The FCC is also asking for comments on whether it should consider the establishment of micropower stations operating at 1 to 10 watts at 30 meters with 1 mV/m contours of 1 to 2 miles. These stations would be secondary to all other stations.

The FCC is proposing that minimum separations between full power and the new low power FM stations and the separations between low power stations be based on milage separation table instead of the contour overlap method as used by low power TV which the FCC found burdensome.

The biggest technical issue the FCC is considering in the creation of low power FM is the 2nd and 3rd adjacent channel standards. The FCC is proposing that only the 1st adjacent channel be protected between low power FM stations with no protection between low power station for 2nd and 3rd adjacent channels. The FCC is asking for comment on the allowing of low power FM stations to operate without regard to the 2nd and 3rd adjacent channel protection to full power stations. The promoters of the in-band-on-channel digital systems have already express opposition to that proposal saying it would be harmful to their proposed digital broadcasting system. There are a number of tables in the notice including the mileage separation tables and separate Excel spreadsheets that gives the number of potential stations in various sized cities from the largest cities to cities as small as 50,000.

The FCC has proposed a number of ownership limitations including limiting the ownership of one station per communitity and no ownership of low power FM stations if one owns a full power station. Low power stations could not be run under local marketing agreements or as repeaters or translators of a full power station. One ownership limitation that was proposed that one could own a low power FM for one license term only. Another ownership question that the FCC raised is if the commercial operation should be allowed on stations in the non reserved band or if all low power stations should be nonprofit operations.

Comment on application processing is also sought. An electronic filing system is proposed with programs to analyze potential conflicts. The FCC is asking if applications should be processed on a first-come first-served basis or if they should use a window system for filing applications. The use of auctions for license selection was also discussed.

The FCC adopted this action on January 28th with a 4 to 1 vote with Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth dissenting on a number of points. The other Commissioners while endorsing the proposal still express some concerns about potential interference problems. Comments are due on April 12th and replies on May 12th. The Docket number is MM Docket No. 99-25; R-9208;R-9242 and the title is Creation of a Low Power Radio Service.

Besides the opposition from the promoters of the in-band on-channel digital systems, the National Association of Broadcasters has started to promote their opposition to the new service.

>From the FCC Notice and Press Release and BROADCASTING and CABLE

Return to Top

The FCC has eliminated the use of the EAS Red Envelope Authenticator List, effective 1/1/99. No Red Envelopes were sent out for 1999, and stations are no longer required to have one. Now, any National EAS Alert received through proper channels is considered to be valid. From now on, no "Authenticator Code Words" will be sent with a National EAS Alert.

From the FCC Public Notice: "Part 11 of the Commission's EAS rules will be amended to delete use of the authenticator lists. Also, the procedures in the EAS AM/FM and TV Handbooks will be revised to reflect that the use of authenticator lists is discontinued."

Per Frank Lucia at the FCC EAS Office, no versions of the updated EAS Handbooks are yet available, on-line, or elsewhere.

Return to Top

MILLENNIUM PROJECT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO GET LAPSED CERTIFICATION BACK

SBE will offer a limited time opportunity to those who have let their SBE Certification drop. Dubbed, the Millennium Certification Project, because it will continue from now until December 31, 1999, the program will allow anyone who has let his or her SBE Certification drop to apply for certification reinstatement without taking another exam. Applicants are required to complete a two-page application and submit it to the National Certification Committee explaining how they have maintained their knowledge and enhanced their experience in broadcast technology over the past several years. Applications will be reviewed by members of the National Certification Committee, who will apply essentially the same recertification criteria that would be applied to non-lapsed certification holders. Past holders of Certified Broadcast Technologist, Certified Broadcast Engineer and Certified Senior Broadcast Engineer certifications are eligible. Past holders of Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer may also apply but will recertify at the Senior level. Following recertification at the Senior level, former CPBE’s may apply for certification at the CPBE level. A flat $99 fee is required with the application. It does not include membership in SBE, which is optional, though very much encouraged. Non-members wishing to become a member of SBE should include an additional $55 (one year’s membership dues) with their application. To get a Millennium Certification Project application, see your Chapter Certification Chairman or contact Linda Godby-Emerick, Certification Director at the SBE National Office, at (317) 253-1640 or lgodby@sbe.org.

ENNES WORKSHOPS PART OF NAB BROADCAST ENGINEERING CONFERENCE

For the third year, the Ennes Workshops will be part of the NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference, held in Las Vegas as a part of the NAB ’99 Spring Convention. This year, the Workshops will be held on Wednesday, April 21, and will be the radio/audio track for that day. Admission to the Workshops is included with Full Conference Registration. Ennes Education Committee chairman, Richard A. Farquhar, CPBE, will moderate the sessions. Sessions will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a break at noon for the annual NAB Technology Luncheon. Session topics will include, "The 2000 Engineer" by Paul McLane, editor of "Radio World," "AES Audio for Broadcast Systems," by Gary Stephens of Leitch, Inc.; "Computers-The Radio Connection," by Chriss Scherer, editor of "BE Radio". Scherer will also present, Technology in Transition," which will be followed by "Building a Digital Station," by David Baden, Director of Technical Operations for Radio Free Asia.

SBE MEETINGS AND EVENTS SCHDULED FOR NAB ’99

SBE has announced its schedule of meetings and events to be held in conjunction with the NAB Spring Convention in Las Vegas, April 17-22. Saturday, April 17 Certification Committee Meeting, Royal Salon, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 6:30 pm Sunday, April 18 Board of Directors Meeting, Embassy Salon, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 8:30 am Monday, April 19 Frequency Coordinators Meeting, Conference Room 13, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 1:30 pm Ennes Trust Meeting, Conference Room 14, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 3:00 pm Tuesday, April 20 Certification Exams, Conference Room 13, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, 9:00 am Membership/Chapter Chairmen Meeting, Room N250, Las Vegas Convention Center, 5:30 pm. The NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference, co-presented by SBE and NAB, will be held Sunday through Thursday. The Ennes Workshops will be one of the conference session tracks offered on Wednesday (not on Saturday as was done the past two years). Admittance to the Ennes Workshops is included with Full Convention Registration. There is no additional fee. Exhibit Only registrants will not have access to the Workshops.

MEMBERS GET DISCOUNTED NAB REGISTRATION

Once again, SBE members get a great discount on registration for the NAB Convention in Las Vegas. SBE members will get the NAB Member rate off the full conference fee. This is a savings of $330, Six times the cost of one-year of SBE membership! If you haven’t received registration material direct from NAB, call them at (800) 424-8806 and request that one is sent to you.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED, CANDIDATES SOUGHT

SBE President Ed Miller, CPBE, has announced the names of members appointed to serve on the 1999 SBE Nominations Committee. Serving as chairman will be past SBE National President, Richard A. Farquhar, CPBE of RAF Associates in Canal Winchester, Ohio. Serving with Rick will be current member of the Board, Larry Wilkins, CPBE of Cumulus Radio in Montgomery, Alabama and Joseph Snelson, Jr., CPBE of Meredith Broadcasting in Fairway, Kansas. The Nominations Committee has the responsibility of identifying and presenting qualified candidates for national officer and board positions. The Nominations Committee is seeking candidates to run for office this summer. Candidates must be Regular, Senior or Life SBE members in good standing and hold a current SBE engineering certification. Board members serve terms of two years and are expected to attend two full Board meetings each year; the spring meeting held in conjunction with the NAB Spring Convention, and the fall meeting, held during the SBE National Meeting. Terms for officers are one year. Officers are expected to attend the two full meetings of the Board, plus two Executive Committee meetings, held in between Board meetings during the winter and summer. All those who serve must be willing to cover their own travel expenses. Members of the Board are usually appointed to serve as chairman of a committee. If you are interested in being nominated for a national elective position

by the Nominations Committee, or would like to discuss the idea further, contact any of the members of the committee before March 8th. Rick Farquhar - rick@rafassociates.com; Larry Wilkins - wilkins@wlwi.com or Joe Snelson - jsnelson@kctv.com.

Return to Top