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2016 SBE Membership Drive March 1 -May 31
March 2016
Next Meeting
>>> Captioning continued on page 5
Meeting Minutes....................... 2Amateur Radio News................ 3Pirate Crackdown.......................4Certification Information............ 6Notice of Elections..................7
In this IssueTues., April 12 FCC Satellite Uplink ID Mandate & ElectionsWed., May 25 NAB Wrap-UpThur., June 16 SBE Summer Picnic
Coming Up
Thursday, March 24
LOUDSPEAKER TASTING PARTY
& NominationsSimilar to a wine tasting,
this month we’ll audition several loudspeaker offerings
from the vintage to the nouveau. The basic production techniques will be explored to give you an
understanding on how to evaluateand interpret the various
loudspeaker “flavors”.
SBE members Kevin Peckham and Steve Paugh will host the “tasting”
and Full Compass Systemswill supply the samples.
We will also have the last call for nomination for the office of Secretary.
Dutch Treat Dinner at 5:30pm Rocky Rococo
Tree Lane (Mineral Point at Beltline)(near Brothers Main Appliance store)
Madison, WI
Meeting and Program at 7:00PMFull Compass Systems
9770 Silicon Prairie Parkway(use main entrance)
Madison, WI
Your Ideas Needed The Broadcasters Clinic programming committee, with support of the WBA, is soon to start planning our 2016 conferences. The Summer Engineering Workshop will be held June 22 at the Radisson in La Crosse, and the annual Broadcasters Clinic will be held October 11-13 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton. Save the dates. If you have an idea for a session please send it to [email protected]. The committee seriously considers all suggestions, especially those with speaker recommendations included. Thanks for your tremendous support over the years. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s events.
Auction CommitmentWindow Set
On February 25, the FCC released a notice (http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0225/DA-16-199A1.pdf) setting the window for stations participating in the Incentive Auction to make their initial commitment to participate in the reverse auction. The window will start at10:00am ET on March 28 and end at 6:00pm ET on March 29. Late commitments received after 6:00pm ET on March 29 will not be accepted. There will be a preview of the initial commitment module (log-in website) of the Incentive Auction from10:00am ET on March 24 to the beginning of the commitment window at 10:00pm ET on March 28. There will also be a workshop at the FCC for the auction participates on making the initial commitment to the auction. It will be held on March 11 from 10:00am to 1:00pm ET and is open to the public and there will be a live webcast of the workshop. The initial commitment window is the start of the actual auction process for both the reverse and forward auctions. For some stations who make the commitment to participate, it could be the end of the process if the FCC decides to honor their commitment at the opening offer. Once a station makes a commitment, they have to accept the opening offer if the FCC decides to make an offer. Stations can reject the FCC offers during the following rounds. Because we do not know how many stations have applied, we have no idea if the FCC will make any offers during the initial commitments or if there enough stations to have competitive bidding between multiple stations. This is the start of several months that will be interesting as the future of TV broadcasting goes through what could be historic changes.
>>> by Tom Smith
Captioning Rules Revised
On February 18, the FCC revised its rules on closed captioning of TV programs. The main thrust of the rulemaking (http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0302/FCC-16-17A1.pdf) was to better define the responsibility for captions between program suppliers and video program distributors. Program suppliers would be networks, syndicators and others who provide programming to TV stations and cable and satellite providers. Program suppliers will be responsible for
>>> by Tom Smith
Society of Broadcast Engineers
Chapter 24Newsletter
Madison, Wisconsin
ChairKevin Ruppert, CPBE, CBNT
WISC-TVW: 608-271-4321
Vice-ChairRichard Wood
Resonant ResultsW: 608-839-3950
SecretaryPete Deets, CBT
WMTVW: 608-274-1515
Treasurer &Webmaster
Leonard Charles, CPBEWISC-TV
Past ChairKevin Trueblood
Committee AppointeesProgram Committee
Steve Paugh, CPBE, CBNT608-277-5139
[email protected] for the
program committee!
Membership / Newsletter EditorPaul Stoffel, CPBE
Sustaining MembershipFred Sperry, CPBE
Certification & EducationJim Hermanson, CPBE, [email protected]
Frequency CoordinationTom Smith, CPBE
Page 2 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
Chapter Contacts Meeting Minutesfrom the February 2016 Business Meeting
Portable, Professional AudioSound Devices, LLC
E7556 State Rd. 23/33 P.O. Box 576
Reedsburg, Wisconsin 53959www.sounddevices.comPhone: (608) 524-0625
Fax: (608) 524-0655
The monthly meeting of Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers was held Wednesday February 24, 2016, at Ebullient Cooling systems in Madison, WI. There were 9 members and 1 guest present. All 9 members being certified. Chair Kevin Ruppert called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. A motion to approve the minutes as published in the newsletter was approved. Treasurer Leonard Charles reported the chapter’s bank balance is in the black. There was no membership or newsletter report. Recent sustaining membership renewals: Heartland, Clark Wire, Sound Devices, WKOW TV and WMTV TV. There was also a $10 expense for our annual Chapter incorporation renewal. Program Committee Chair Steve Paugh the March 24 meeting will be a “loudspeaker tasting party” at Full Compass Systems and nominations for chapter offices. April 12 will be chapter elections and an update on FCC requirements for SNG ID’ing. Certification Chair Jim Hermanson reported that there is one recertification in progress and thanks were expressed to the ECB for use of their conference room for the exam. Exams at NAB have a registration deadline of March 18. The next local exam session will be June 3-13 with a registration deadline of April 15. Frequency Coordination Chair Tom Smith had nothing to report. National Liaison report: SBE will have a webinar Sharing 2025-2110 MHz between Broadcasters and the DOD on Thursday March 3. A new SBE Broadcast Engineering Handbook will be released during the NAB Show in April. There is a new SBE chapter, Chapter 147, at Ft. Bragg, NC. The 16-page “SBE Sustaining Member Resource Guide” will be mailed with the April issue of The Signal. There was no old business. In new business, we welcome returning member Matt Rockwell. Professional announcements: None. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM. Respectfully submitted, M.L. Deets, Sec’y
Page 3 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
compiled by Tom Weeden, WJ9H
Amateur Radio News
John C. PurveyBAV SpecialistBroadcast & AV Solutions
[email protected] PHONE: 815.441.5298
447 Hampshire Lane Crystal Lake, IL 60014
WMTVMADISON
615 Forward DriveMadison, WI 53711
608-274-1515www.nbc15.com
7847 BIG SKY DRIVE
MADISON, WISCONSIN 53719
(608) 833-0047 • FAX (608) 833-5055
Shane CollinsClark Wire & Cable Sales
Unit A408 Washington Blvd
Mundelein, IL 60060-4401(800) CABLE-IT (847) 949-9944
Fax: (847) 949-9595e-mail: [email protected]
www.clarkwire.com
5727 Tokay BoulevardMadison, Wisconsin 53719
(608) 274-1234Fax: (608) 274-9514
● The Amateur Satellite Corporation’s (AMSAT’s) all-volunteer Phase 4 Ground Terminal team has made significant strides in developing an ensemble of solutions to support the so-called “Five and Dime” (5 GHz and 10 GHz) strategy AMSAT has embraced for microwave satellite projects. Prompting the effort is the planned launch of a geosynchronous military satellite in the 2018 time frame, which could play host to an Amateur Radio payload operating on the two microwave bands. “We’re going to make it as awesome as possible,” Ground Station team lead Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, told the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). The project not only would support the Phase 4B geosynchronous launch, but provide solutions for the Phase 3E high-Earth orbit satellite, and receiver support for AMSAT’s entry into the NASA Cube Quest Challenge, which would go to the moon. “We’re currently exploring the Amateur Radio implementation of a very advanced and exciting open standard called DVB-S2X for the downlink,” Thompson explained, noting it offers a variety of modulation and coding. Earth stations will use their individual radios, transmitting a digital signal — probably something called Offset QPSK (O-PSK) — directly to the satellite, with each getting its own channel in a frequency division, multiple access (FDMA) scheme. Amateur Radio Access Points (ARAPs) — essentially signal aggregators — would allow legacy radios, FM handheld transceivers, or emergency traffic providers to use the satellite from any point where an ARAP can be deployed, packaging the input for uplink to the satellite. Hams within ARAP range would be able to use the Five and Dime terrestrial network just as if they were operating through a satellite. The name “Five and Dime” also reflects the project’s economics. AMSAT Board Member and Virginia Tech Research Professor Bob McGwier, N4HY, recently explained that the Ground Team’s
work is “an effort to design an inexpensive ground terminal for amateurs that would cost tens of thousands of dollars commercially, for as much under $1,000 as we can get it.”
● The number of licensed Amateur Radio operators in the US continued to climb in 2015. According to Joe Speroni, AH0A, on his FCC Amateur Radio Statistics web pages <http://www.ah0a.org/FCC/index.html>, a record 735,405 licensees were in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) database by the end of the year. That’s up 9,130 over December 2014, a 1.2 percent rise, continuing a steady increase in the Amateur Radio population in every year since 2007. The figures do not include expired licenses that are within the 2-year grace period or club station licenses. Compared with the same month 10 years ago, the Amateur Radio population in the US has expanded by 72,805 licensees — or nearly 11 percent. ● The FCC is seeking comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760) that asks the FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio licenses. Mark F. Krotz, N7MK, of Mesa, Arizona, filed his request with the FCC last November. He wants the FCC to revise § 97.25 of its rules to indicate that Amateur Radio licenses are granted for the holder’s lifetime, instead of for the current 10-year term. Krotz noted that the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) already is issued on a lifetime basis, and he maintained that not having to renew licenses would lighten the FCC’s workload. “It would be mutually beneficial for the FCC and Amateur Radio operators to update Part 97 to grant operator licenses for lifetime,” Krotz said in his filing. “The FCC would benefit by reducing administrative costs.” (Excerpts from the American Radio Relay League’s <arrl.org> web site)
http://www.sbe.org/sections/cert_index.php
Page 4 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
Antenna System Specialist
TVFMAM
TroubleshootingSweep TestingInfrared Testing
www.ResonantResults.comRichard Wood (608)839-3950
WISC-TVCBS
MA
DIS
ON
Thanks to Leonard Charles for maintaining the Chapter 24web site and to Steve Paugh
for mailing the meeting reminder postcards.
April 2016 Chapter 24Newsletter Deadline:Sunday, April 3, [email protected]
edited using Adobe InDesign CC
Gepco International, Inc.114 South Greenwood Avenue
Palatine, IL 60074Tel: 1-630-496-0486
www.Gepco.comMatt HayesInside [email protected]
5201 Femrite DriveMadison, WI 53718p 608.221.8888 f 608.221.9252w avisystems.com
Tom SibenallerSystems Sales SpecialistCTS, CSTEe [email protected] 608.807.1860 c 608.386.2611
GPS Rules for Whitespace Devices
The FCC adopted a Notice of Rulemaking (http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0226/FCC-16-23A1.pdf) on February 25 that would require all fixed TV whitespace devices to have GPS location installed as part of the device. Currently the rules require a GPS locator installed in the device or have a professional installer provide the location of the device to a database administer as part of the system to prevent interference to licensed users such as TV broadcasters and wireless microphone systems. There was a long discussion on how to provide a GPS location signal to a device installed inside a building or other structure where the GPS signal is blocked. There were many methods discussed for placing a GPS receiver outside the building and how the GPS receiver would be connected to the TV whitespace unit. Also discussed was verification of the registration of the unit in the database including e-mail or phone verification. One of the reasons for this rulemaking is that there are numerous errors in the database in which it gives the locations of TV whitespace devices that are known to be incorrect, including being at locations that are not possible to be used.
>>> by Tom Smith
Pirate Crackdown
On March 1 the FCC issued an advisory (http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0301/DA-16-159A1.pdf) concerning pirate broadcast stations. In this advisory, the FCC noted that the operation of a pirate broadcast station was illegal and can cause interference to licensed broadcast reception and other radio services. They give instructions on how to contact the FCC to report an unlicensed pirate station and asked for assistance from landlords and advertisers in reporting pirate stations. The FCC also released copies of letters they sent to the NAB, trade organizations for property leasing owners and advertising as well as law enforcement and government. In New York and Florida and other parts of the East Coast, this has become a real issue with state and local laws enacted against these illegal operations. Some of these pirate stations go beyond a hobby and operate as a business selling advertising which brings even more attention to these stations from broadcasters beyond the normal interference issues. Success in eliminating pirate stations has been unsuccessful so far as it has become a game of Whack-a-Mole with a new pirate station popping up whenever another pirate station is shut down.
>>> by Tom Smith
http://www.sbe.org/sections/SBEUniversity.php
FCC Waives SNG Carrier ID Requirement until Sept. 3, 2017
The FCC published an order today waiving the identification requirement for digital video transmissions in Section 25.281(b) for a period of one year, beginning on the effective date of the requirement, Sept. 3, 2016. The order states, “In light of information concerning the equipment available to meet these requirements, this temporary waiver will allow additional time to update the record on the anticipated costs of compliance and to determine whether any additional relief is warranted.” The waiver extends the deadline to Sept. 3, 2017. This news affects those responsible for satellite news gathering (SNG) uplinks. Section §25.281(b) of the FCC rules had stated, “As of June 1, 2016, transmissions of fixed-frequency, digitally modulated video signals with a symbol rate of 128,000/s or more from Satellite News Gathering vehicles or other temporary-fixed earth stations must be identified through use of an ATIS...”. ATIS stands for Automatic Transmitter Identification System. This is also known as Carrier Identification (CID). Broadcasters had expressed concerns about the cost and availability of equipment to provide this for older SNG vehicles. This order also serves as a correction to the original order, which stated a deadline date of June 1, 2016, adjusting it to Sept. 3, 2016. The complete FCC order is available at http://sbe.org/sections/documents/20160304130242-367.pdf.
Page 5 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
the captioning of programs and the quality of the captioning and video program distributors will be responsible to making sure that the captions pass through their transmission systems.
Other issues that the FCC ruled on include: the certification requirements that captioning meets FCC requirements by programmers; the complaint process for both program suppliers and video program distributors; and the providing of contact information by program suppliers and distributors. The following bullet points from the FCC Notice provide a basic explanation of the requirements that the FCC has instituted:
● Assign responsibility for the quality of closed captioning to VPDs and video programmers, with each entity responsible for closed captioning issues that are primarily within its control; ● Maintain current rules that place primary responsibility for the provision of closed captioning on television programming on VPDs, but also hold video programmers responsible for a lack of captions where they have failed to provide captions on non-exempt programs;
● Require each video programmer to file with the Commission a certification that: (a) the video programmer (i) is in compliance with the rules requiring the inclusion of closed captions, and (ii) either is in compliance with the captioning quality standards or has adopted and is following related best practices; or (b) is exempt from the captioning obligations; if the latter certification is submitted, the video programmer must specify the specific exemptions claimed;
● Allow each VPD to satisfy its obligations regarding the provision of closed captioning by ensuring that each video programmer whose programming it carries has certified its compliance with the Commission’s closed captioning rules;
● Revise the procedures for receiving, serving, and addressing television closed captioning complaints in accordance with a burden-shifting compliance model;
● Establish a compliance ladder for the Commission’s television closed captioning quality requirements that provides VPDs and video programmers with opportunities to take corrective action prior to enforcement action by the Commission;
● Require that each VPD use the Commission’s web form when providing contact information to the VPD registry; and
● Require each video programmer to register with the Commission its contact information for the receipt and handling of written closed captioning complaints, and to use the Commission’s web form for this purpose.
Most of the rules are similar to those previously in effect other than the increase of responsibility by program suppliers. The notice mainly better defines the actions need to be in compliance with the captioning rules.
>>> Captioning continued from page 1
The Association for Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Professionals
Society of Broadcast Engineers
>>> SBE Regulatory Update, 3/4/2016
CHAPTER 24SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Recent Renewals:WMTV-TV 15
Thanks to all ourSustaining Members:
AVI Systems
Alpha Video
Belden, Inc.
Clark Wire and Cable
Full Compass Systems
GEPCO International, Inc.
Heartland Video Systems
Joseph Electronics
Resonant Results, Ltd.
Ross Video
Sound Devices, LLC
Token Creek Productions
WISC-TV 3
WKOW-TV 27
WMSN-TV 47
Page 6 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
© 2016 by SBE Chapter 24, Inc. Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Society, its officers, or its members. SBE Chapter 24, Inc. 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.
SBE Certification Exam Scheduling Information for 2016 Exam Dates Location Application Deadline
April 19, 2016NAB Convention
Las Vegas, NVMarch 18, 2016
June 3-13, 2016Local Chapters
(Madison, WI Area)April 15, 2016
August 5-15, 2016Local Chapters
(Madison, WI Area)June 3, 2016
November 4-20, 2016Local Chapters
(Madison, WI Area)September 30, 2016
Recertification SBE Certification is valid for a period of five years. Applications for recertification will be accepted six (6) months prior to the expiration date on your certificate. All materials and fees must first be sent to SBE National. Please see sbe.org for fillable forms for each certification and more information. Certification can be renewed the following ways:
• Recertification for Certified Radio Operator (CRO) and Certified Television Operator (CTO): At the end of the five (5) year period, the Radio and Television Operator certifications can be renewed by meeting the service requirement as verified by your supervisor, or you may upgrade your certification to a higher level by passing an examination and meeting the appropriate service requirements.
• Recertification for Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT): At the end of the five (5) year period, the Broadcast Technologist certification can be renewed by meeting the service requirement of continuous employment in broadcast or broadcast related industry for three (3) of the past five (5) years preceding the renewal application, or you may upgrade your certification to a higher level by passing an examination and meeting the appropriate service requirements.
• Recertification for Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT), Certified Audio Engineer (CEA), Certified Video Engineer (CEV), Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer (CBRE), Certified Broadcast Television Engineer (CBTE), Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer (CBNE), Certified Senior Radio Engineer (CSRE), Certified Senior Television Engineer(CSTE) and Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer (CPBE): The continuing education of broadcast engineers is necessary to remain current with state-of-the-art technology. To ensure that each Certified Broadcast Engineer maintains technical competence, he or she must participate in the Maintenance of Certification Program. He or she may do this by accumulating the required professional credits every five (5) years or by examination.
• Recertification for Certified 8-VSB Specialist (8-VSB), Certified AM Directional Specialist (AMD) and Certified Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist (DRB): Specialist Certifications are renewable with their host certifications for a modest fee. When applying for recertification of the host certification, simply indicate your desire to recertify your specialist certification and include the additional fee; no other action is required.
Page 7 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
Notice of Elections By Steve Paugh, Nominations Chair
In April we will hold elections for Chapter 24 offices of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer for the 2016-2017 term. Our current nominations for officers are:
Candidate for Chair- Kevin Ruppert Candidate for Vice Chair- Rich Wood
Candidate for Treasurer- Leonard Charles Candidate for Secretary- open for nominations
Appointed OfficersThe appointed offices do not fall under the jurisdiction of the nominations committee and are appointed by the Chair of Chapter 24. Traditionally, the existing appointed officers continue for another term automatically. If you are a current appointed officer and would like to step down, please contact the current Chair Kevin Ruppert. If you would like to serve as an appointed officer please make your desire known to the Chair.
The current appointed offices are Program Committee Chair- Steve Paugh and we have two vacancies on the on the Program Committee, Newsletter Editor- Paul Stoffel, Membership Chair- Paul Stoffel, Sustaining Membership- Fred Sperry, Certification and Education- Jim Hermanson, Frequency Coordination- Tom Smith and National Liaison- Leonard Charles.
VotingAll balloting will be done on-line using the link provided on the www.sbe24.org chapter web site. You will need your membership ID when you sign in to cast your ballot for authentication. The deadline for nominations and the submission of biographies will be March 30th, 2016. The nominations committee consists of Steve Paugh (Chair), Mike Kulis and Leonard Charles.
February Meeting Location: Full Compass Systems
Page 8 SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter March 2016
February Dinner Location: Rocky Rococo Party Pizzeria West
