Blog Archives

Random Noise: July 2018

July 20, 2018
By
DENNIS THOMPSON

DENNIS THOMPSON

As many of you know, there is another nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System coming up on Thursday September 20th. This test will also includes a WEA (Wireless Emergency Alert) test message to be sent to cell phones. Be aware that, on or before 11:59 p.m. EDT, the day of the test (Sept. 20, 2018), EAS participants must file the day-of-test information sought by ETRS Form Two. This Newsletter includes information on what FEMA will do the day of the test, as well as some links to help you prepare.

Steve Dresser is taking a quick summer break from the FCC applications and actions desk, but will return next month.

We have a great meeting coming up featuring a presentation by Eddy Vanderkerken, director of sales from the Broadcast division of RFS (Radio Frequency Systems). They’ll be hosting the July lunch meeting at the Mitsui Buffet. As always, bring any questions, concerns, and updates you may have for the meeting before the RFS presentation. Hope to see you there.

National EAS Test Scheduled for Thursday September 20, 2018

July 18, 2018
By

In 2007, FEMA began modernizing the nation’s public alert and warning system by integrating new technologies into the existing alert systems. The new system, known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) became operational in 2011. more…

June Meeting: Thursday June 28, 2018

June 25, 2018
By

12:00 Noon    No-host Lunch

Mitsui Buffet

117 West Shaw  Clovis

(Wild West Village Shopping Center between Villa and Minnewawa on Shaw-North Side)

Mention you’re with the SBE group when you enter for seating

FCC Extends C-Band Earth Station Filing Window

June 18, 2018
By
 

In a public notice, the International Bureau of the FCC announced a 90-day extension, to October 17, 2018, to the filing window for fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth stations currently operating in the 3.7-4.2 GHz frequency band as announced in public notice DA 18-398 on April 19, 2018. The earlier notice announced a temporary freeze on new or modification applications, and established a 90-day filing window for existing entities to voluntarily register or license their FSS earth-station facilities. The FCC also waived the coordination report requirement for the duration of the freeze. That filing windows was due to expire on July 18, 2018.

Since the beginning of the freeze, many parties have submitted to the record their concerns about the volume of unregistered earth stations and the difficulties that many of these operators have faced in preparing the information for filing. These parties indicate that without some relief many operators will be unable to satisfy the filing deadline and the Commission will be without accurate information for its deliberations in the Mid-band Proceeding. To address these concerns, the International Bureau now extends the 90-day filing date for an additional 90 days, until October 17, 2018, in order to provide operators with more time to file applications, should they choose to do so. Only earth stations constructed and operational as of April 19, 2018 are eligible for filing during this window.

The FCC also clarified that applications to register multiple FSS antennas operating in this band that are located at the same address or geographic location may be filed in the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) by using a single registration form and paying a single fee (fee code CMO, currently $435). Finally, the FCC announced the availability of an additional option to facilitate the registration of large numbers of geographically diverse earth stations by filing an application for a single “network” license and paying a single fee in IBFS (fee code BGV, currently $10,620).

On May 22, SBE President Jim Leifer, CPBE, and SBE General Counsel Chris Imlay called on representatives from the FCC International Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology with specific requests to ease the registration burden to broadcasters. The SBE is pleased that the FCC implemented most of what the SBE requested.
 
The SBE’s requests were to extend the filing window, which it did, and to eliminate the filing fee. If the filing fee could not be waived, the SBE suggested a method of bulk filing for multiple stations or locations, which the FCC granted.

Read the FCC public notice

Sage Alerting Systems and Digital Alert Systems Unit Update

June 17, 2018
By

Emergency alerts and tests issued in the CAP format have, for security reasons, specific signed certificates. These certificates are routinely updated. FEMA, the agency that issues IPAWS alerts and tests, has scheduled an update to its security certificate on June 24 at 11:24 a.m. ET.

Both Sage Alerting Systems and Monroe/Digital Alert Systems have released updates that users must upload to their units to make the devices compliant. Stations that do not update their EAS equipment will not be able to receive required tests and/or alerts from the IPAWS server after June 24.

Digital Alert Systems

Sage Alerting Systems

Larry Wilkins, CPBE, AMD, CBNT
Chair, SBE EAS Advisory Committee

May Meeting: Thursday May 31, 2018

May 29, 2018
By

Arirang Mongolian Buffet

Join us for the SBE66 May Meeting

Thursday May 31

12:00 Noon  No-Host Lunch

458 W Shaw Ave Clovis – Shaw & Peach Shopping Center
Pay as You Enter

sbe-arirang-buffet       sbe-arirang-buffet2

Fresno Area Television RePack – A Preview

May 20, 2018
By

 

As part of the broadcast spectrum incentive auction, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is authorized to repack the television band, so it can sell channels 38-51 (614-698 MHz) to wireless carriers. more…

April Meeting: Thursday April 26, 2018

April 23, 2018
By

Arirang Mongolian Buffet

Join us for the SBE66 April Meeting

Thursday April 26

12:00 Noon  No-Host Lunch

458 W Shaw Ave Clovis – Shaw & Peach Shopping Center
Pay as You Enter

sbe-arirang-buffet       sbe-arirang-buffet2

Chairman’s Message: April 2018

April 22, 2018
By
JAIME GONZALEZ

JAIME GONZALEZ

Hello Everyone. I’ve just returned from that electronic Disneyland known to broadcasters as NAB. A great show, as usual. more…

Recognize Excellence and Submit a Nomination in the SBE Awards

April 18, 2018
By

Nominate SBE members and chapters for the 2018 SBE award season. Consider your chapter and chapter members when you think about these awards. There may be an individual in your chapter who has been an outstanding engineer, educator or mentor for new broadcast engineers. Recognize that person by nominating him or her for the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year or the James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year awards.

This will be the sixth year that the Chapter Engineer of the Year award is nominated by SBE Chapters. Each chapter has the opportunity to nominate one of their own members. Chapter s are ecouraged to take this opportunity.

The SBE Freedom Award recognizes an individual or group that has performed extraordinary service to the United States through the use of media technology. The SBE Technology Award recognizes the person, group or company that has developed innovative new technology or systems for media technology. Maybe someone you know has written a notable technical article or presented a technical paper at a meeting or program. These are a few of the awards that are presented each year by the SBE.

Of the 13 awards that are presented each year, the local chapter or SBE members nominates for 10 of them. Many SBE members are highly qualified and deserving of recognition. Likewise, many chapters do an excellent job promoting the ideals and goals of the SBE. Please nominate these members and chapters so they can receive the recognition they deserve.

Find all the details on the SBE awards at sbe.org/awards. If you have any questions or need more information, contact Certification Director Megan Clappe at mclappe@sbe.org or SBE Awards Committe Chair Jason Ornellas at jornellas@sbe.org.