Michi Bradley - Thu, 01/23/2020 - 12:01
Background: In the January, 2020 issue of QST, outgoing CEO Howard E. Michael, WB2ITX wrote a editorial, titled "Dare to Imagine". In response to his soliciation for comments, here's what I had to say:
I had the pleasure of reading your column in the January QST in regards to the direction of the ARRL.
Tue, 01/21/2020 - 14:22
REC has filed comments today in two FCC rulemaking proceedings.
First, in MB Docket 19-310 which called for an elimination of a rule which prohibits two commonly owned stations in the same service (AM or FM) to simultaneously run more than 25% of programming within generally the same area, REC has told the FCC that it opposes the repeal of this rule as it would destroy any hope for broadcast diversity and localism especially in light of the recent layoffs at iHeartMedia.
In the refresh of the record for MB Docket 03-185, REC performed an extensive analysis of what rules would need to be put in place for both Franken FM stations (which we also refer to as "FM6") as well as full-service and secondary FM broadcast stations on 88.1, 88.3 and 98.5 MHz.
Thu, 12/19/2019 - 23:10
REC is planning a series of system work to take place between December 21, 2019 through January 5, 2020.
Planned for this project:
Tue, 12/10/2019 - 20:30
Today, the FCC unceremoniously adopted the Report and Order in MB Docket 19-3. This proceeding has made some changes to the way that mutually exclusive (MX) or competing applications filed in future full-service noncommercial educational (NCE) and Low Power FM (LPFM) stations will be handled. The changes related to this include relaxation of required information on governance documents for NCE applicants, some harmonization of the NCE time share process with LPFM, additional priority for NCE applicants that filed in 2007 or 2010 but lost out on points and for the next LPFM window
Tue, 12/10/2019 - 16:18
In an early vote prior to the December 12 open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Report and Order on MB Docket 19-3. A majority of the items in this docket spell out the ground rules for future filing windows for new noncommercial educational (NCE) and low power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations. The FCC has officially addressed the timeline for future filing windows. REC is promoting a timeline that calls for the window for new NCE FM stations to take place in mid to late 2020 (following Auction 106 and the conclusion of the TV repack) and for LPFM stations, in ear
Michi Bradley - Fri, 12/06/2019 - 21:08
When you review through the old history cards of various radio and television stations, you come across many of the experiments in the broadcast radio and television art that have taken place over the years.
Wed, 12/04/2019 - 15:00
REC Networks has had a chance to review the language of the Ask Musicians For Music Act of 2019 or AM-FM Act as submitted by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10).
The intention of the bill is to put into place a method where the recording industry would obtain payment in connection with music played on terrestrial radio. Historically, radio has been on a statutory exemption as it was perceived that radio acutally promotes music. When you look at today's post 80-90 environment with stations so heavily narrowcasted and the lack of local talent (i.e. DJs) and more of a public expectation of "more music and less talk", especially when faced with competition by "non-radio" (streaming) services, with the exception of a small number of noncommercial and commercial stations that still care about the music, radio is not promoting music. When was the last time you heard a DJ say what label a certain song is on? For many years now, the recording industry had relegated that task to Walmart.
Wed, 11/27/2019 - 13:50
"Growing pains" associated with the Federal Communications Commission recent conversion of FM engineering applications such as modifications and licenses is causing substantial delays in the processing of broadcast applications.
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