DENNIS THOMPSON
If you’re reading this it means that you’ve almost made it through 2017, congratulations.
Move over AMBER, here comes the BLU alerts. The FCC this month has added a new alert option, called a “Blue Alert” to the nation’s emergency alerting systems. Blue Alerts can be used by state and local authorities to notify the public of threats to law enforcement and to help apprehend dangerous suspects. The FCC is providing a 12-month implementation period for Blue Alerts to be delivered over the Emergency Alert System and 18 months for delivery over the Wireless Emergency Alert system. Manufacturers will be expected to include the BLU code in their next software updates. Also this month the FCC cancelled the Wheeler Commission’s Net Neutrality rules. That action prompted Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chair of the House Communications Subcommittee to put forth a bill to amend the Communications act of 1934 called the Open Internet Preservation Act. The legislation would restore the ban on slowing or blocking websites. You can read it HERE. For the latest on what the commission has been doing in the Central Valley, be sure to check out Steve Dresser’s Broadcast Activity Report in this Newsletter.
Speaking of alerts, SBE Chapter 66 is issuing one of its own. We’re calling it the TOM. We’re sending it along now to alert everyone that long time SBE 66 Chapter member Tom Whitlock will be closing Whitcomm Electronics at the beginning of the year. He will be selling the remaining store inventory at discounted prices when he reopens the shop on January 8th. I suppose it’s understandable that after 37 years of keeping the parts in order, you might want to take a breather. See the article about the closing of Whitcomm Electronics in this newsletter for more information on the TOM alert.
Our last meeting of the year approaches, if you haven’t been to one in 2017 this is your last chance. If you’re taking a holiday break from the bench, or burning off some of that take-it or lose-it vacation time, join the guys and gals of Chapter 66 for lunch at the Mitsui Buffet in Clovis, Thursday December 28th at noon. As always, bring along any questions, concerns, and alerts you would like to discuss.
