Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 883, Volume 17, #50 for July 15, 2026

AM ONLY?
Here is a strange thought to start the day: In an interview this week, President Trump expressed full support for the AM in Every Vehicle Act. That would seem good for broadcasters, but the BDR wonders if that might leave FM out of the mix, as already shown by Rivian, leaving an AM-only radio in new vehicles? Let us hope the whole issue gets some more thought.

DST BILL PASSES
The House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act Bill (308-117), sending it on to the Senate. It would mandate Daylight Saving Time for all year long, unless a state opted out. Given the way this would send some children to school in the dark, and keep AM Daytimers dark, the idea of extra sun in the evening is not welcome to all.

C-BAND VOTE AHEAD
If you get your programming from C-Band satellite services, it is in your interest to keep an eye on the FCC’s Open Meeting this next week. The working plan is to auction off virtually the entire segment of frequencies still used by broadcasters. For more information, you may wish to listen to Mark Johnson of LiNKUP Communications.

FREE PASSWORD GENERATOR
The recent FCC Order requiring – among other things – passwords be longer and not contain words has raised a number of questions. To help, the BDR has produced an app to generate one or more passwords instantly, and quickly copy them to your equipment. Perhaps the best part: the app is freeware, and works easily on most browsers.

Join us Thursday at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific for a live demonstration to see how it works and how it will help you. The link for our presentation is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ We will also be on YouTube live and the video will be archived on the BDR Lunch Gathering page.

By the way… we are not even asking for users to “register.” Of course, if you like it, we would appreciate knowing.

Our 328th Virtual Lunch Gathering will be on Thursday at 2PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. Join us and learn things! The link request is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ … 

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

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

RWT BY SATELLITE
Some broadcasters were saddened when SiriusXM announced they were no longer going to transmit RWTs, except from the FEMA. After some discussion, SiriusXM now is open to resuming RWTs later this year.

FCC STATION COUNT
The Q2 broadcast station totals has been released, and with a total of 33,539 stations, we see only a tiny change since March’s – and last year’s – overall totals (March was 33,552, June 2025 was 33,532). On the other hand, there were 10 fewer AM stations since March, and 60 fewer (!) since June 2025. Commercial FM’s were down by 14 for the quarter and 42 for the year. The big change was in NCE FMs. June 2025 = 4,689 … June 2026 = 4,806, a gain of 127 new NCE FM stations. LPFMs grew by 36 over the year, while translators and boosters dropped from 8,880 to 8,846 over the past year.

SINGING FOR PLAY CONSENT DECREE
Payola was a term from the 1950’s. Record promoters would pay (or provide certain “gifts”) in order to get programmers to play new records more often – and the FCC came down hard on the practice. The more modern variation is where programmers press artists to perform free shows for stations in order to gain better play rotations on the air. A Consent Decree with the FCC and iHeartMedia alleging this is essentially payola was settled with no guilt being admitted but affirming the company’s willingness to reinforce their policies and procedures against repetition.

A LOT OF STICKS OUT THERE
According to the Inside Towers Database, there are over 141,000 active telecommunications towers constructed in the US (there are another 55,000 towers in the database, granted but not yet built, terminated, Dismantled, or cancelled. Why do we mention this? Every tower requires routine inspection and maintenance. However, sometimes finding a tower crew with a good reputation can be a bit difficult, especially if time is of essence (e.g. from visible deterioration or damage). Stations should do a general inspection and schedule a full inspection on a regular basis.

TOWER DOWN!
Of course, even with regular maintenance, a strong storm can still create havoc. As the summer storm season continues – and in some places gains “strength” – the Vertical Bridge tower down in Aurora IL (Chicago) for WERV has collapsed. The station is using a portable tower to temporarily replace the 353-foot tower.

Other recent tower failures include the KTXS 199-foot tower in Abilene TX, the WKHQ 630-foot tower in Charlevoix MI, and a 295-foot tower in Alabama that was found leaning and had to be torn down, and the 500-foot KITX tower in Oklahoma toppled by copper theft.

CYBERSECURITY CORNER
It seems like each week brings us a new report or discussion of some hack or some danger. The FCC’s Public Notices and the recent Order and NPRM mean more and more focus is being generated. And reports are AI is being used to enhance 2/3 of all hacking attempts, navigating networks and cellphones, and even writing malware. With AI being used to look for bugs and backdoors, it can happen to you! Among the latest: The UK’s Register reports that Moody Bible Institute got hit and the resulting data breach could affect over 2.3 million people.

WBT SITE STORY
You would not quite call it a protest. But, some Charlotte locals are talking about trying to seek designation of the WBT site as an historical site, seeking to protect the three Blaw-Knox towers (only about 5 others still are out there, WLW, WSM, etc) and the building.

SBS GETS APPROVAL
A debtor-in-possession bankruptcy by the Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has been green lit by the judge in the case. As usual in such arrangements, the debtholders of the company will receive all the publicly traded shares of SBS. The final resolution will require FCC approval.

FOR SALE
Looking for a really great “buy” on some Wheatstone consoles? How about “you pick them up?” Not every item is priced at this point, but a lot of good buys are available on the BDR ForSale Page.
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

• A Free Tool for the New FCC EAS Password Rule – and More! – Ken Fine
• FCC Cybersecurity Order & NPRM – Barry Mishkind
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch – $50k for translator violations
• That FCC Fine is How Much? – Barry Mishkind
• IT Security for Broadcast Gear – Kirk Harnack
• Building A Maintenance Checklist – Barry Mishkind
• The Rise and Fall of C -Band – Chip Morgan
• Predicting Maintenance Needs – Rolin Lintag
• Beware of Killer Thumb Drives – Barry Mishkind
• Danger: Consumer Electronic Parts – Ron Schacht

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

Looking to meet up with a manufacturer or vendor, to ask see the products and ask questions? The Summer/Fall convention series is the place to do it.

Coming up in just a few weeks, the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) always puts on a great show. This year, it will again be at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock (Bringing your family? The Water Park beckons!) on August 5th and 6th. The TAB is especially inviting folks from neighboring states this year.  Check it out here: TAB –  August 5 and 6.

Additionally, check out these gatherings near you.

The Nebraska Broadcasters Association – August 13.
The IBC will mean in Amsterdam, slated for September 11-14 at the RAI.
The Wisconsin and Minnesota Broadcasters associations combine for the Broadcasters’ Clinic, September 14-16.
The Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) has now opened registration for the Vancouver BC gathering October 5-7. The WABE program will include, among other topics, Proactive Broadcast Tower Maintenance and RF Sweeping of Transmission Lines & Antennas
The NAB Show New York is scheduled for October 21-22.

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The Telos Alliance has announced an agreement with AudioShake – makers of a sound-separation technology – to offer AudioShake as a subscription module for Minnetonka Audio AudioTools Server customers. The product will allow separation of music, vocal, sound elements of any recording for adaptation or remixing. Learn more here. Production Directors probably will love it!

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Arrakis Systems APEX Automation Software is now available at $100/month or a buyout at $2699. An option for satellite integration is $125/month, with a higher buyout. Which is best? Take a look here.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

• 8 years ago (7/18/18) Billy Joel became the first musician to play a residency at Madison Square Garden.
• 10 years ago (7/15/16) Alice Cooper ran for President with the slogan “A Troubled Man for Troubled Times.”
• 13 years ago (7/15/12) PSY’s “Gangnam Style” video was posted – and for five years was the most watched video in history.
• 16 years ago (7/15/09) Paul McCartney played an impromptu concert from the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater.
• 30 years ago (7/14/95) Fraunhofer picked .MP3 as the file extension for compressed audio.
• 39 years ago (7/15/86) Columbia Records dropped Johnny Cash … after 26 years.
• 40 years ago (7/13/85) Live Aid was broadcast around the world from London and Philadelphia. How much did it raise? *
• 42 years ago (7/16/83) The Police began the first of seven weeks at #1 with “Every Breath You Take.“
• 53 years ago (7/14/72) the FCC eliminated the First Class RadioTelephone license.
• 57 years ago (7/17/67) Jimi Hendrix dropped out as the opening act for …. the Monkees.

… and 91 years ago (7/17/34) the FCC issued  Order #1, separating the broadcast, telephone, and telephone divisions.

How about a few “general history” items as well:

• 20 years ago (7/15/06) X was released. Its original name? **
• 30 years ago (7/17/96) the 747 for TWA’s Flight 800 exploded over Long Island.
• 31 years ago (7/16/95) Amazon opened for business.
• 71 years ago (7/17/55) Disneyland opened in Anaheim, CA. (That *has* to make you feel old!)
• 72 years ago (7/15/54) the first American jet passenger flew over Seattle. ***
• 81 years ago (7/16/45) the first Atomic Bomb was successfully exploded.
• 85 years ago (7/17/41) Joe DiMaggio ended his 56-game hitting streak.
• 91 years ago (7/16/35) the first parking meter in the world was installed Park-O-Meter #1 in OKC.

… and 123 years ago (7/15/1903) the Ford Motor Company opened and took its first order – Chicago Dentist Ernst Pfenning paid $850 for a Model A.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

* �150 million ($283 million USD at the time)

** Twitter!

*** It was a Boeing 367-80 “Dash 80,” a prototype of the 707.

MIDWEEK BONUS

Do you like looking back a bit? Maybe nostalgia strikes from time to time. Take a look at how the Internet looked ten years ago.        
Ten years ago….

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PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN US
We sure hope you are finding the BDR and the Newsletter to be of value to you. If so, there are two things that you can do to ensure the BDR keeps pulsing along:
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PLEASE TELL US WHAT’S WHAT
There are so many areas into which we would like to expand, but it is feedback from you that helps us decided where to go first. Are you interested in a certain piece of gear or technology? Let us know. Even better, would you be willing to do a user report and share your experience?

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We sure do appreciate you spending time with our Newsletter. And even more so when you recommend us to your colleagues and friends.

barry

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Now … some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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