Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 859, Volume 17, #26 for January 28, 2026

ANOTHER STORM, ANOTHER CHANCE FOR RADIO TO SHINE
Cable news seemed to be 24/7 about last week’s storm – perhaps even more so than Minneapolis. But where radio can shine is bringing immediate news and clear information about current conditions, as well as good information about sources of local help. That is, if there is staff and electricity. There are a number of reports of stations that went live and stayed with it as best they could, even as over a million electrical customers last power. Those stations should be praised. (Let’s not talk about the stations that just ran the automation – or went off the air due to lack of generators.)

DIRS ACTIVATED
The FCC activated the Disaster Information Reporting System. The stated goal is to know which stations – as well as cable, VoIP providers. and wireless operations – are operating, which ones were off the air (at least 10), and offer FCC help with STAs, etc. The Commission did encourage local emergency managers to assist broadcasters who were struggling to stay on the air – or restore operations. Some states even issue “First Responder” letters for key personnel during emergencies.  

An additional aspect of the DIRS is the MDRI (Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative). While, together, these provide after-event information that may help during future emergencies, it also may be difficult in areas where the Internet is interrupted, for example, or station personnel are seeking first to get back on the air. The FCC asks that stations do the best they can.

OPEN HOUSE AT BROADCAST DEPOT
This week, tomorrow (on Thursday 29th), Broadcast Depot will have an Open House at their Doral (Miami) Florida home. If you are near enough, you are invited to stop in for information and lunch. If not, join us on zoom (or youtube live) for a look at the companies at the Open House. Mary and Tim will be there, too. As we say: learn things!  The link request is at:  www.theBDR.net/TLG/

Join us on Thursday at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. The link request is on www.theBDR.net/TLG/

… and do not forget, on the same page we have over 200 videos you can use on subjects you will want to learn about.