Notes

Clark State College and The King's Musician Educational Foundation enter into consent decrees over online FCC public file deficiencies for KLBT and KLCZ.

WDGC-FM, School District #99 for Downers Grove, Illinois enters a consent decree with the FCC for failure to file biennial ownership reports, submit a Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report with its renewal application, and to upload copies of its issues and programs lists to its online public inspection file.

Eastern Florida State College dinged $6000 for failure to maintain online FCC public file for WEFS.  Langston University enters into consent decree regarding its lack of a public file for KALU.  

The FCC recently indicated that they are taking comments of four antenna manufacturers under consideration concerning the change of the rules concerning design of directional broadcast antennas.  Currently FM broadcasters indicating directional patterns for facilities are required to have an antenna manufacture test that antenna on a field or employ a scale model in a test, measuring the actual field per a specific frequency.  This is a costly procedure.  Antenna manufacturers have suggest a change to the rules to allow computer modeling of directional antennas, eliminating a field test, sa

• Broadcast AM/FM renewal filings are due coming up for:

         California - August 2, 2021

         Alaska American Samoa Guam Hawaii Marianas Islands Oregon Washington - October 1, 2021

On June 22, 2021 FCC the FCC released circulation draft for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket 21-263 that intends to merely harmonize and/or streamline codified regulation regarding broadcast AM/FM stations.  There are nominal changes -- if maybe just paperwork conveniences and slight ease of proposals for certain stations, such in the Case of Class D.  In all:

1. Eliminate the maximum rated transmitter power limit rule for AM stations set out in section 73.1665(b);

Representative's Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced legislation to extend royalty payments from broadcasters in the American Music Fairness Act.  The bill itself “is a response to the Local Radio Freedom Act championed by the National Association of Broadcasters,” which represents thousands of commercial broadcasters.

FCC announced a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on August 11, 2021 for all broadcasters.  The test is meant to provide FEMA and the FCC a barometer reading of the preparedness of broadcasters as a whole in coordinating a nationwide message.  This usually occurs on a yearly basis.  More information can be found here.  Broadcasters must fill out EAS Test Reporting Form One in the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) prior to the test.  Afterwards, stations must also report the result of sending their t

Common Frequency licensed station starts broadcasting north of San Francisco. Read local coverage in the Point Reyes Light. 

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A tiny radio station has quietly begun broadcasting from a Marshall sheep ranch, playing commercial-free music 24 hours a day. The station, KXCF, is about as small as it gets: At 10 watts, the antenna is just powerful enough to reach the west shore of Tomales Bay. 

FCC opens space in 6 GHz band for unlicensed wifi.  Read release here.