DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-027, February 14, 2004 edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2004 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 45: [Same as COM 03-06, but not previously on most WOR affiliates] Sun 0130 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1100 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, 1584 Sun 2100 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0430 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [last week`s 1219] Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Tue 0400 on SIUE Web Radio http://www.siue.edu/WEBRADIO/ Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 45 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx45h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx45h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0306.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 45 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0306.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0306.rm WORLD OF RADIO [not] ON IBC RADIO Hi Glenn: We are redoing our schedule and are pulling WOR for the time being. We are moving into AM radio and making adjustments. When we are configured and our new schedule is complete we will contact you. I appreciate your program. Regards, (Daryn Fleming, IBC Radio Feb 14) ** ARMENIA. Additional transmission for V. of Armenia/R. Aragas in Armenian via ERV 500 kW / 305 deg, 1630-1700 on 9965 (55555), no \\ on 4810 also in Armenian via ERV 100 kW / 140 degrees (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA BACK TO NORMAL As of late January, RA`s schedule was back to normal following its summer holidays. The following programs have returned, weekdays: 0110 Asia Pacific, the daily current affairs program focusing on the region 0210 The World Today, lunchtime current affairs program produced for the domestic Radio National service 0320 Life Matters, daily interview program on social change and day- to-day life 0410 Margaret Throsby, a classical music-based interview series 0810 PM, evening RN current affairs program 0905 Australia Talks Back, nightly ``talk radio`` program focusing on a single theme 1005 & 1110 Asia Pacific 1130 Bush Telegraph, focusing on rural and regional matters 1410 Margaret Throsby, see above (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Voice International sending new full data QSL cards; earlier they used to verify with full-data QSL letters. Foto of the QSL at: http://www.geocities.com/alokeshgupta/hca_qsl.jpg Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. FREE TRADE & THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA --- 12 February 2004 What are the implications of the new Free Trade Agreement with the US for the Australian media? Both sides are claiming the agreement is a victory, so what does it really mean for our audio visual and new media industries? Program Transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/stories/s1041752.htm (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. GERMANY: Frequency and time changes for TDP Radio DRM transmission via JUL 040 kW/ND: 1400-1500 Sat on 5985*, ex 2000-2100 Sat on 3985 JUL 040 kW / 190 deg * strong co-ch 1430-1500 RCI in Mandarin Ch. via YAM 300 kW / 290 deg in AM mode (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI help-wanted ad --- Well, I thought I'd never see one of these, but there's an RCI help wanted ad in the local newspaper this morning for an announcer-producer in the Brazilian section. The job pays $38,764 to $64,308, based on qualifications. One perplexing phrase states selected applicants may "undergo tests." Cheers, (Ricky Leong, QC, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. See INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non]. Hi Glenn, Re this item in DXLD 4- 025: ``INTERNATIONAL. "Non-official" broadcasts via relays - Latest update 10/02/2004 --- Radio Ndeke Luka (Central African Rep. peace) smtwtfs 1900-2000 11785 UAE Dhabbaya F/Sango (MNO)`` This station is currently being heard from 1830 to 1930, usually with a good signal for the first half hour, then fading down. The programme is of talks, news [including UN] and sport, mainly in French ['European', with some African accented] with short talks in what I assume is Sango. Also includes some nice lively African style music. 73s from (Noel Green, UK, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. 11934.54, Voz Cristiana, 14 Feb 1138-1200, Snappy Spanish pop music. Later check at 1157 found full ID and frequencies by M over piano music, then into Jazz music bridge, and ToH announcements by W. Very strong and clear (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) I didn`t realize VC frequencies varied that much; better measure them whenever encountered (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. China Radio International in Arabic 1600-1657 ADD 7160* \\ 7130, 11730, 11845, 15125, 17880 *strong co-ch BBC WS in English (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 7620, China National Radio-5, presumed, 1145-1200 Feb 13. Noted Chinese music until 1149 when man in Chinese language comments. Checked parallels of 9380 and 5925 and heard same program but weaker signal. According to sources in DXLD, this broadcast is beamed to Taiwan. This corrects my unID of 2/12/04 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) China National Radio, 5th Program, 5925, is also heard here this morning at 1200 in parallel with 7620 and 9380. 7620 having the strongest signal here (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Feb 13, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** CHINA. Hi Glenn, In the item on Thales/China you wrote: "The almighty franc is all that matters." It doesn't matter so much these days, having been replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002 :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, DX LISTNEING DIGEST) The French franc has been obsolete since the introduction of the euro! (Olle Alm, ibid.) I knew that --- but forgot to correct before closing the issue. Don`t let that detract from the point I was making (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Classical music on 6105 from presumed Costa Rica propagating well 13 February (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75, Pompano Beach, Florida, U S, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In daytime for you? ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Frequency changes for Radio Liberty: 0500-0600 CAs NF 9770, ex 11815 \\ 9575 11785 Avari/Chechen/Cherkessi 1400-1500 Turkmen NF 13615, ex 9565 \\ 12025, 15345 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. The new station "Voice of Liberty" that is due to start on 22 February is brokered by TDP; see link at http://www.airtime.be/whose.html The mentioned link http://www.eritrea1.org points at the website of the organisation EPLF-DP; the actual link to The Voice of Liberty program is http://www.eritreaone.com/audio The VOL frequency 15675 was originally registered by TDP for B03 for a Voice of Mezopotamya morning broadcast from the (now closed) Kvitsøy site (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7165.41, R. Ethiopia, 2/13, 1442-1500*. Nice HoA tunes, M in Arabic; closing at 1459:45 with several mentions of "Addis Ababa". Good signal with 7160 splatter, // 9560.4, which was very good (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, DX-398, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Hi Glenn: Re 4-025: ``** SOMALIA [non]. Mustaqbal, CRW is including this station/program, which does not fit into the "clandestine" radio category as defined, since it is funded with government funds for the purpose of influencing the political landscape of Somalia.`` EDC says that this programme is actually intended for the Somali speaking population in southern Ethiopia. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UAE/SOUTH AFRICA: EDC Somali program "Al-Mustaqbul" / "Future" with good signal in BUL: 0630-0700 Mon/Tue/Thu on 17565 (54544) via DHA 1200-1230 Mon/Tue/Thu on 17565 (44554) via MEY (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Yesterday (February 13), I listened to the special transmission of Radio Rainbow International on 3937 kHz (time: 1830 to 1845 UT), with SINPO: 33333. The transmission presented bad modulation (variable frequency), some interferences, but I heard the name of radio station: Radio Rainbow International and e-mail: radiorainbow@hotmail.com Best 73s, (Antônio Schuler, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, Member of Santa Rita DX Clube http://www.srdxc.com Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) At least I think it is a Euro pirate; quite a catch on 75m, daytime in tropical Brasil (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Speaking about RFI, I have not so much listened to them for a while, but I seem to recall that two different kinds of audio singled out years ago: Some transmissions had rather relaxed audio with a highpass cut-off not much below 150 Hz; others came with rather aggressive processing and the bass range not completely suppressed. The first style appears to be gone from RFI transmissions, so probably belongs to Issoudun Centre E, the old transmitters now exclusively (if there are no other, undiscovered transmissions) used by Libya. Best regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Heard the first newscast in days on RFI's French service today (Thursday, 12) at 2100 UT. It lasted about 5 minutes, ending with an announcement that there would be some disruptions to the schedule because of the strike before going to fill music (Mike Cooper, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked RFI`s English broadcast on 17620, Feb 13 around 1450 and heard continuous music, IDs only in French (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) An announcement on France Inter at 0000 UT Saturday indicated that the journalist strike has ended, but that RFI journalists would continue their strike until Wednesday (Mike Cooper, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since they joined in late??? More below (gh) ** FRANCE. FRENCH RADIO JOURNALISTS END 18-DAY STRIKE The Associated Press 2/13/04 8:53 PM PARIS (AP) -- French state-run radio journalists agreed Friday to return to work, ending an 18-day strike over demands for higher pay in the longest walkout in the history of the network. Journalists at Radio France, which groups together about 50 national and local public radio stations, agreed to resume regular programming early Saturday after winning small concessions from management. The journalists walked off their jobs Jan. 27 to demand salaries on par with their peers in public television, who earn roughly 20 percent more on average, union organizers said. The strike forced popular news stations like France-Info and France- Inter to fill up airtime with music. A novice reporter at Radio France earns just under $36,800 a year, while a senior reporter with 15 years of experience earns $58,400 annually. A deal was reached Friday after management agreed to give all Radio France journalists a $500 bonus in March and to raise salaries in 2005, although the percentage will be decided later. Hubert Huertas, a leader of the National Journalists Union, said the key goal was met: the end of an eight-year salary freeze. The "salary hemorrhage" is over, he said (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) LES JOURNALISTES METTENT FIN À LA GRÈVE AVEC UN ACCORD "HONORABLE" par Jean-Pierre ALTIER Dernières dépêches Culture 13 fevrier, 20h42 Les journalistes de Radio France ont mis fin vendredi à la plus longue grève observ’ee depuis 25 ans par cette categorie de personnel dans l'audiovisuel public, avec la signature d'un accord que les grevistes considerent comme une modeste avancée... http://infos.aol.fr/info/ADepeche?id=252329&cat_id=6 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) RFI JOURNALISTS EXTEND STRIKE AS RADIO FRANCE STAFF BACK RETURN TO WORK | Excerpt from report by French news agency AFP Paris, 13 February: Striking journalists at Radio France Internationale (RFI) voted today, Friday, to continue with their movement until 1030 hours [0930 gmt] on Monday [16 February] and negotiations with the management are due to resume on Saturday afternoon [14 February], we have learnt from the trade unions and the management. The strike at RFI began on Wednesday [11 February] for pay-related reasons. "The RFI management is going to examine the Radio France agreement. It is preparing its own proposals and negotiations will resume at 1400 hours [1300 gmt] on Saturday," RFI Chairman and Managing Director Jean-Paul Cluzel told AFP. [passage omitted] [Staff at Radio France voted earlier today to end their strike on securing a pay rise after an 18-day stoppage] Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1727 gmt 13 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. R Hara, Georgia, 4875 QSL --- About 10 months ago I sent an e-mail reception report to Radio Hara, Georgia, 4875 kHz. Today, 13 Feb, received two e-mails with .doc files from Zourab Shengelia (league @ geoconst.org.ge) One was nice detailed QSL and the other was a letter telling about Radio Hara and The Institute of Georgian- Abkhazian Relations. The letter says they've been heard in Singapore and Japan and in several countries of Europe (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Pan American Broadcasting change via JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to ME: 1400-1430 Sat 13605 in Persian ||||| new language service 1430-1500 Sat 13605 in English ||||| ex 1400-1500 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Nauen vs. Wertachtal --- some comments on this: || I wonder if any of you have noticed the difference in modulation/ audio characteristics from these Thales transmitters/antennas. The Deutsche Welle ones at Nauen all sound different --- perhaps a little "muffled" --- to my ears than those located at Wertachtal. And I have noticed this effect via RFI also when a good signal is audible. || The transmitters at Nauen are Telefunken S4105, hardly found elsewhere; the only other S4105 I'm aware of is the most recent Sveio transmitter (the other one there as well as both Kvitsøy units are S4005's, the preceding model). My shallow impression gained while travelling (all Nauen transmissions are skipping over my home) is that 9545 from Nauen sounds more punchy, not to say aggressive, than 6075 that appears to be an old SV2500 transmitter with class B modulation at the Wertachtal station. I understand that the same audio processing is in use at both Nauen and Wertachtal, i.e. Optimod 9105 with identical settings. Speaking about RFI . . . [see FRANCE above] Best regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. 5765U, AFRTS, 1400-1431 2/11. AP network news, military "PSA", then a 30-second feature on the history of "soundoff", followed by Joy Brown. VG signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R- 8, 100-foot RW, DX-398, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO ALLIANCE News release via Canada NewsWire, Standard Radio partners with CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS to bring satellite radio to Canadians NEW YORK AND TORONTO, Feb. 10 /CNW/ - Standard Radio Inc. of Canada today announced that it will join with CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) in a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canadians. "As this country's largest privately-owned broadcaster we are excited to be partnering with CBC/Radio-Canada and with SIRIUS," said Gary Slaight, President and CEO, Standard Radio Inc. "Not only will this service expand the choices available to Canadians, it will also create new opportunities for Canadian talent on this new platform." In December 2003, CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS announced their partnership to bring satellite radio to Canada, and filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). If licensed by the CRTC, this new Canadian- controlled subscription-based service will be available across the country, from urban centers to the most remote regions of the country. "Standard Radio has a long and distinguished history, especially in terms of innovative programming and support for Canadian talent, and will be an excellent partner in this exciting venture which will bring a fresh new national service to Canadians," added Robert Rabinovitch, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. "Through this and other strategic partnerships CBC/Radio-Canada is able to better fulfil its mandate by providing Canadians with even greater access to a wide range of commercial-free music, information, and entertainment programming, including Canadian content." "We are thrilled to welcome Standard Radio Inc. to this exciting initiative," said Joseph P. Clayton, President and CEO of SIRIUS. "Working closely with CBC/Radio-Canada, we believe that this combination of broadcasting experience and unique entertainment programming will be a great benefit to Canadians. Plus, our exclusive car manufacturers, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW, sell over half a million vehicles in Canada each year, so this will enhance our reach as well." (Via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada) Puff alert! Ever notice how press releases like this are essentially fill-in-the-blanks? (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATINAL WATERS [non]. 'Pirate radio' makes a come back BBC News Friday, 13 February, 2004, 09:29 GMT Radio programmes are to be broadcast from a ship in the North Sea 40 years after the first attempt to silence the pirate stations. BBC Essex marks the 40th anniversary of offshore pirate radio at Easter by broadcasting from a ship off Harwich. Some of the stars from the 60s will fill guest slots. Pirate BBC Essex will broadcast on medium wave frequencies from LV Eighteen - a former lightship owned by the charity Pharos Trust. DJs from the pirate radio glory days between 1964 and 1967 will recreate the sounds of those times. They hope to raise money to turn the vessel into a visitor and educational attraction. Among the presenters on the week-long radio output will be original pirate broadcaster Dave Cash who said: "It's just wonderful to see it all happen again. "When we first went out on the ships there were three older guys Tony Windsor, Paul Casarin and Earl Richmond with me and Kenny Everett and Keith Skues. "Now Keith and I are the older guys working with DJs from BBC Essex. It's come full circle." (Who was Paul Casarin? I assume its Paul Kaye (now deceased) ... Mike) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3484851.stm (via Mike Terry, DXLD) BBC Essex to become radio "pirate" for a week --- The 40th anniversary of the start of Britain's first offshore radio station, Radio Caroline, is to be celebrated in style - by the BBC! BBC Radio Essex has hired a lightship from which it will make a week of programmes on April 10-17. The station, which broadcasts on 729, 765 and 1530 kHz mediumwave as well as FM, will feature programmes by former offshore radio presenters such as ex-Radio Caroline DJ Keith Skues and former Radio London DJ John Peel, both of whom now work for the Corporation. BBC Essex Programmes editor Tim Gillett said that "Pirate BBC Essex" will be playing music from the pirate radio era of 1964-7. # posted by Andy @ 14:26 UT Feb 13 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIROI/IRIB in Bengali noted on Feb. 8: 1430-1527 on additional 9565 \\ 9545, 11850, 15415 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. More loggings of Radio Ozone, the pirate which carried WORLD OF RADIO on Sundays; credit names are guesses based on initials: 5810, 1025 Jan 18, Phantom FM`s Media Beacon (Paul Watson, Swindon) 6200, 0910 Jan 18, World of Radio (Paul Watson, Patrick Travers, Yorks, Zdenek Elias, Czech Republic) 6301, 0945 Jan 25, World of Radio (same three) R. Ozone has announced that he will only be broadcasting on the first Sunday of the month. E-mail is Radio3ozone @ hotmail.com (Paul Watson, Radio Without Licence, Feb World DX Club Contact via gh, DXLD) ** KALININGRAD. A collection of past Voice of Russia comments on the Kaliningrad matter can be found at http://www.vor.ru/opros/com_main_eng.html By the way, I was told that it is planned or perhaps already reality that all broadcast transmitters in the Kaliningrad region will be operated by a dedicated company. So far the Bolshakovo site belonged to the Sankt Petersburg regional centre of RTRS while another organization was responsible for the other transmitters, i.e. the Kaliningrad city mediumwave station (that's in fact the old Reichssender Königsberg site) and the FM transmitters. And I have a behaviour of mentioning once in a time that Cologne is not much closer to me than Kaliningrad. This always causes laughter, although some 450 vs. less than 600 km is certainly not so much a difference (Kai Ludwig, Feb 13, Cottbus?, Gemany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Denge Mezopotamya, 11530, is on the Web at http://www.denge-mezopotamya.com and carries its programming in RealAudio. The ``WhoIs`` data shows the domain is owned by Mehmet Dirik, info @ rojonline.com at Carl Ulrich Str. 11, 63263 Neu Isenburg, Germany, with an expiration date of 21 Feb 2050. Looking at rojonline.com, this address is Roj Online, Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse 16, Hessen 65760 Eschborn, Germany. The domain expires on 18 May 2004 (Tom Sundstrom, Net Notes, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290, 1623- Feb 14, Radio Mi Amigo. Reasonable carrier audible, and perhaps the odd snippet of audio (might be my imagination, though :(). Should propagate from Latvia at this time. Definite AM mode. Carrier weaker after 1630. Good DX for all (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6045.15, XEXQ, R. Universidad, San Luis Potosí, very weak at 1220 to 1240, had not been heard here with even fair signal for weeks (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75, Pompano Beach, Florida, U S, Feb 12 or 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6045, R. Universidad (tent.), OC at 1200 Feb 14. 1208-1209 possible song but hard to tell. 1210-1212 definite M possibly in Spanish (s/on??). Couldn't really detect anything after that. Signal seemed strong enough but there was almost no modulation. Was also getting some adjacent slop QRM (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MEXICO. See USA --- Broadcast Band Update ** NORWAY. NORWAY TO TEST DRM ON 1314 KHZ NEXT WEEK Norwegian transmitter operator Norkring will be broadcasting partly in DRM mode from Kvitsøy on mediumwave 1314 kHz on 16-19 February. This is a test designed to measure daytime DRM coverage in Norway using a mobile test vehicle, and compare it with AM. This test will be conducted using the older DRM standard, which means anyone who has upgraded their software to the new standard will not be able to decode the signal. DRM power will be 350 kW, AM power 600 kW. The DRM segments will be at 0815-0845, 0915-0945, 1015-1045, 1110- 1130, 1215-1245, 1315-1345, 1415-1445, 1515-1545, 1610-1630 and 1715- 1745 UT. # posted by Andy @ 16:40 UT Feb 14 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency changes for Radio Pakistan: 1415-1500 Russian NF 9380.6, ex 9387.6 \\ 7375.0 1515-1545 Dari NF 5865.6, ex 5858.6 \\ 4955.0 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** PERU. Re 4-017, I just noticed another apparent error when I retyped this report: ``R. Unión, 6144.96v, Jan 23 0820-0900+ mostly nonstop Spanish talk, but some OA music, IDs. Good but slightly unstable carrier (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Should be 6114.96v. Since I am no longer doing corrected html files, correxions ASAP in subsequent issues are more in order (Glenn Hauser, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6173.73, Radio Tawantinsuyo, 1025 Feb 14. Noted long Huaynos music segments with typical Spanish comments between the tunes. Signal was fair during period (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. All R. Polonia listeners can join the station`s DX Club, the principle aim of which is to promote closer contacts between listeners and the station. The Club rules are as follows: 1 --- Complete application for stating your intention of joining the DX club (please print or type) --- you will then become a candidate. 2 --- Send in ten reception reports covering all Radio Polonia broadcasts [!] over one year. Listeners are asked to use RP reception forms to make out their reports. Apart from basic tech data like SINPO, details of programme heard, we encourage remarks and suggestions concerning RP broadcasting format. 3 --- You will get a membership card after we receive your first ten reception reports, each of which will be verified with a colourful QSL card. Please quote your membership number on all correspondence. 4 --- To maintain your membership, regular monitoring of R. Polonia English language broadcasts is necessary, the minimum requirement being 5 reports a year. 5 --- Members are invited to participate in R. Polonia competitions. 6 --- Members who send in 25, 50, 100 reports will qualify for R. Polonia diplomas. 7 --- Members sending in sample recordings of R. Polonia broadcasts can count on additional prizes, such as recordings of Polish music. 8 --- the names of Club members holding the special diplomas and of the most active DXers will be put into a pool from which prizes will be drawn once a year. Application forms for club membership are available from Radio Polonia, English Language Service, P O Box 46, Al. Niepodleglosci 77 / 85,00 - 977 Warsaw, Poland. Telephone /48/22/ 645 92 62, Fax /48/22 645 59 17 (Sergei Izjumov via Arthur Ward, Radio World, Feb World DX Club Contact via gh, DXLD) Reminiscent of clubs most Eastern European communist stations used to have; the only one left? Notice no mention of E-mail or website; is this really current? Funxions by P-mail or fax only? Most funding- strapped stations these days would not want the expense of merely administrating such a club (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Frequency changes for RDP /special transmission/ to Venezuela/USA/Canada from Feb. 7 with azimuths: 1300-2400 Mon-Fri DEL 15540 / 294 1300-1700 Daily ADD 15575 / 294 1300-2100 Sat/Sun DEL 15540 / 294 1300-1800 Sat/Sun ADD 17745 / 261 1300-2100 Sat/Sun DEL 17745 / 261 1700-1900 Daily ADD 17825*/ 294 2000-2400 Daily DEL 13770 / 261 1800-2400 Mon-Fri ADD 15450*/ 261 *new freqs 1900-2400 Daily ADD 15540 / 294 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL TO CLOSE SOME LANGUAGE SERVICES Marian Stoican, editor-in-chief of Radio Romania International, has announced that the Portuguese service is to close in April due to financial and technical problems. Stoican said that broadcasts in some other languages will also close, but declined to say which ones. The Portuguese service, which was established in 1958, currently broadcasts one hour a day for Portugal, and one hour for Brazil via shortwave, satellite and the Internet. Stoican says the six broadcasters affected, all Romanian, will transfer to other work within the organization. (Source: Público Online) # posted by Andy @ 11:07 UT Feb 13 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Frequency change for Voice of Russia DRM in Ru/En/Ge/Fr from Feb. 10: 1400-1800 NF 12060, ex 9487 (on Feb 8/9 only), re-ex 9490 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) Note this frequency change to 12060 in 4-025 concerned a DRM transmission (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOR --- what`s New: LADIES OF CHARACTER In the next edition of LADIES OF CHARACTER you'll meet with Lada Tafintseva, the head of the English department and teacher of English in a private school near Moscow, who set herself unbelievably high standards and asks the same of her pupils. Lada Tafintseva will tell you of her vision of the teaching profession, why she took it up and what it means for her. Tune in with LADIES OF CHARACTER and let us know what you think on the role of women in the world of today. The program can be heard at 1745 and 1945 UT on Tuesdays and at 0445 UT on Wednesdays. Copyright © 2003 The Voice of Russia (via Maryanne Kehoe, Feb 12, swprograms via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. Mustaqbal: henceforth ETHIOPIA [non], q.v. ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Dear Glenn, I sent a reception report to Overcomer Ministry. Here is their reply. I can't understand the reason although English transmission is listed in their web site as well as WRTH 2004. Even I logged them on 5870 at 1700-1800 UTC. How can they write that? Do you know more about this? Thanks, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ----- Original Message ----- From: Brother Stair brotherstair@overcomerministry.com To: Swopan Chakroborty Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 11:44 PM Subject: RE: Reception report for QSL card. WE have no station nor qsl card. http://www.overcomerministry.com (via Swopan, DXLD) This may be a first, but I think I do understand this and even agree with it. Strange as it may seem, Overcomer does not have any stations; they are merely a program producer which buys time on stations. They expect the stations to do the QSLing, if any. Did they ever offer to QSL? If so they are obligated to do so, but I doubt that they have, just as WORLD OF RADIO has not either. This does not prevent other program producers, some of them religious, from offering their own QSL cards, but that is entirely up to them. You can hardly expect every program you hear on the radio to QSL! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Frequency change for Radio Sweden International in Swedish: 0700-0910 Sat NF 9490, ex 13790 to avoid SRI in Italian/English till 0800 \\ 6065 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. BBC WS Vietnamese was noted 13 Feb at 1430-1500 on 1503 kHz with good reception, in parallel with 7135 etc. This appeared to be via the newish high-power transmitter at Fangliao, Taiwan. At 1500, there was an opening announcement in English for VOA Vietnamese for some reason, but then audio switched to CBS (Taipei) in Mandarin. Time will tell if this was a regular transmission or just a test. As far as I'm aware, BBC programmes haven't previously been relayed from transmitters in Taiwan for reception outside the island. Regards from Surabaya, (Alan Davies, Indoneia, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. 5910, 0451-, Radio Ukraine International Feb 11 Finally, some decent conditions with RUI's English programming with good audio and not at all muffled. English female cabaret vocal (!) at 0453. Program is Close Up. Minor ute QRM barely audible. 0457 English schedule. DW IS began at same time in background (listed as Wertachtal for Russian 05 - 06). (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. UKRAINE MAY DENY RADIO LIBERTY AIRTIME A radio station that rebroadcasts U.S.-funded Radio Liberty's shortwave programming onto more-accessible FM frequencies is threatening to cancel the service, prompting a harsh complaint from the U.S. Embassy and speculation the move was politically motivated. For the full story, go to: http://rd.yahoo.com/alerts/email/news/*http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040212/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_radio_liberty_1 (AP via Jill Dybka, MSIS, DXLD) Same story: The privately owned Radio Dovira sent a letter Wednesday threatening to deny the Radio Liberty FM airtime unless it makes format changes, said Radio Liberty spokeswoman Sonia Winter in Prague. Full story at http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-ukraine-radio-liberty,0,7837198.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines (Tim Vickery, Associated Press, 12th February, Newsday.com via Mike Barraclough, Feb 12, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. RADIO LIBERTY CONDEMNS ENDING OF UKRANIAN RE-TRANSMISSION Bill Gasperini Moscow 13 Feb 2004, 20:53 UTC Radio Liberty, a U.S.-funded broadcasting service to eastern and southeastern Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union, has condemned the decision by a broadcaster in Ukraine to stop transmitting its Ukrainian service. A radio station called Dovira announced that it will halt Radio Liberty broadcasting as of February 17. Dovira Radio announced the change, saying it is a commercial decision made because of a drop in audience and revenues. But in Washington, the president of Radio Liberty and its sister station Radio Free Europe, Thomas Dine, called the move "a political act," made under pressure from the government of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma... http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=F3EE8C1A-A60A-4611-81F81B3BCFFD3748 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. Analysis of Hutton / BBC fallout by the Wharton School Interesting reading -- focusing primarily on the errors the BBC made in the first place, and the errors they made afterwards. The "whitewash" angle is also played, but (in the author's opinion) the fact remains that the BBC committed errors that, in part, violated its own policies. See http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/934.cfm (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Feb 12, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. While the analyses [by Andy Sennitt, et al.] are focused primarily on domestic public broadcasting, the issue is perhaps even sharper with international public broadcasters, since it is obvious that listenership will generally be a small percentage of the total audience vs. domestic broadcasters, whether they be commercial or public. However, I add this musing to the mix: Given the role of the relatively bandwidth-unlimited Internet as an adjunct to the spectrum- limited airwaves, shouldn't the strategy of public broadcasters be to provide over-the-air programming that is sufficiently compelling to motivate the listener to seek out more of what is on offer? I am increasingly hearing US public radio programs state "for more of our interview with John Bagodonuts, visit our website at blah-blah- blah". This generally happens due to time constraints in the program; it's then the user's option to download the additional audio -- which was an option hitherto unavailable. So, as international and public broadcasters struggle with the realities of tight budgets, they can still make more specialized, narrowly focused content available for those (like us) who are motivated to seek it out. To that end, during the BBC programming aired via PRI on US FM, they should add a blurb like, "If you enjoy what you hear of the BBC via our overnight service, you can find more of our programming via shortwave and via our website. Visit us at URL http://www.bbcworldservice.com for more details." (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Feb 12, swprograms via DXLD) Rich makes an excellent point here! The BBC is already doing this to some extent. On Sirius, the BBCWS news stream is carried, so lots of the feature programming is not broadcast there. In between programs, there are "trailers" that highlight a program that's not heard on the Sirius stream. In those cases, the listener is referred to the internet site to listen to the program. That's a good move, but I would go one step further and publicize the other available routes (shortwave, other satellite, local placement) as well by mentioning them and referring the listener to the BBCWS web site (and BBC On Air- -there's another potential tie-in incidentally) for further schedule info (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS, Feb [Americas stream times only here] Breaking Bread, Wed 1406, Thu 0106, Sun 1306, 2206 – new four-part docu sampling national cuisines and linkages between cuisines and cultures of: Ethiopia, Lebanon, Sicily, South Florida. Outlook, M-F 1306, Tue-Sat 0006, Tue-Fri 0406. Starting Feb 17, visits Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro to learn more about the traditions of the samba (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening, NASWA Journal via gh, DXLD) ** U K. VT Merlin Communication test transmissions via RMP 035 kW / 095 degrees: Feb. 7: 1130-1400 on 9565* Feb. 8: 1130-1300 on 9565* 1400-1500 on 9785* 1300-1400 on 9565 DRM 1500-1600 on 9660* 1400-1500 on 9785* 1500-1600 on 9660 DRM * in English with the same announcement during the whole programme: "This is a transmission by VT Merlin Communication. Your programmes can now be heard on digital short wave and medium wave. To find out how we can take you forward into the clarity of international digital radio using DRM, please go to http://www.vtplc.com/merlin " and "Your programming can now be broadcast as a high quality digital transmission over short wave and medium wave using DRM, the clearest and the most significant development in AM broadcasting. To find out how VT Merlin Communication can broadcast your programmes quickly and easily on DRM, visit http://www.vtplc.com/merlin and use the contact and location link.". (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Voice of America changes: 1600-0400 Arabic ADD 1431 DJI 600 kW / non-dir, R.SAWA 2300-2400 English NF 11655 UDO 250 kW / 030 deg, ex 11735 Additional frequency for Voice of America in Armenian via ERV 100 kW/140 degrees: 1600-1630 on 4810 (55555) \\ 7240, 11680, 13865 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. Alhurra.com launched! Hi guys, the web site http://www.alhurra.com launched today in both languages Arabic and English; the kick off of the station is going to be on 1500 UT 14/2/03 and they have a program schedule of the first day on the site (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AL HURRA SATELLITE TV LAUNCHES | Text of report by BBC Monitoring daily media research log on 14 February Al Hurra Television commenced programming with a news bulletin in Arabic at 1450 gmt 14 February. Al Hurra Television is available via Arabsat at 26 degrees east on 11661 MHz vertical polarization, in digital format, and 3964 MHz vertical polarization in analogue format, and via Nilesat at 7 degrees west on 11823 MHz vertical polarization in digital format. Currently it is seen in the UK only via Arabsat on 3964 MHz. Prior to the start of programmes Al Hurra had tested on 3964 MHz for 24 hours using the audio sub-carrier of 6.6 MHz. This sub- carrier frequency went off at 1430 and returned by 1500. Source: BBC Monitoring daily media research log, in English 1450 gmt 14 Feb 04 (via DXLD) ** U S A. U.S.-GOVERNMENT SATELLITE TV STATION DRAWS ARAB FIRE By SALAH NASRAWI Associated Press Writer CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Even before its first broadcast, a satellite television station financed by the U.S. government and directed at Arab viewers is drawing fire in the Middle East as an American attempt to destroy Islamic values and brainwash the young. Al-Hurra, or The Free One, is to start broadcasting Saturday. U.S. President George W. Bush has promised the 24-hour news and entertainment station will "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world." It is to debut with a scoop few could match -- a one-on-one interview with Bush. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan has said the interview allows Bush to tell of "his commitment to spreading freedom and democracy in the Middle East." Washington's hope is that a fashionably produced Arab-language station will win over Arabs and stem anti-Americanism that has risen with each step in America's war on terrorism, the occupation of Iraq and the long-standing issue of U.S. support for Israel. It promises a balanced approach -- a possibility critics dismiss -- and the station has a long way to go to capture some Arab hearts and minds. "I think the main goals of launching such a channel are to create drastic changes in our principles and doctrines," said Jamil Abu-Bakr, a spokesman of the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood movement. "But the nature of Arab and Muslim societies and their rejection and hatred of American policies and social and popular efforts to challenge (our beliefs) will ultimately limit the impact." Abu-Bakr condemned al-Hurra as "part of the American media and cultural invasion of our region." Arab journalists also have widely criticized al-Hurra in editorials and columns as unwanted or even dangerous propaganda. Al-Osboa, a pan-Arab newspaper based in Cairo, criticized the Arab Broadcasting Union and Egypt's Ministry of Information for providing al-Hurra with satellite channels to beam the service into households throughout the Middle East. "It is strange that al-Hurra will air its poison --- and brainwash Arab youths through ArabSat and NileSat," wrote the paper, referring to the two satellites it will use. The U.S. government has tried reaching out directly to Arabs in other ways, most recently through the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and a slick Arabic-English magazine, "hi," which shies away from politics to inform the Arab world of American culture and life. Radio Sawa -- Sawa means Together in Arabic -- began broadcasting to the region shortly before Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted in April. "hi" debuted in July in 14 Arab countries. Both also are accessible on the Internet. Neither appeared to be instant smash hits, though many young Arabs say they enjoy Radio Sawa's Arabic and Western pop music even if they look elsewhere for news. Rami G. Khouri, executive editor of Lebanon's leading English paper, The Daily Star, expects Al-Hurra to "exacerbate the gap between Americans and Arabs, rather than close it." "Al-Hurra, like the U.S. government's Radio Sawa and 'hi' magazine before it, will be an entertaining, expensive, and irrelevant hoax. Where do they get this stuff from? Why do they keep insulting us like this?" he wrote. Norman Pattiz, who heads of the Middle East committee of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs al-Hurra as well as the long-standing Voice of America radio network did not respond to telephone requests through his office for an interview. However, Philip Frayne, a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Cairo, said the station will offer accurate, balanced and comprehensive news and information programming with high-quality production values. "Al-Hurra will not be used simply as a vehicle for defending American policies, but rather will present a balanced perspective," Frayne said. Al-Hurra is America's answer to the popular all-news Arab satellite networks it accuses of fanning anti-American sentiments, such as Qatar-based Al Jazeera. It will broadcast from Washington but have facilities in several Middle East capitals, including Baghdad, and a largely Arab staff. Over the past decade, the Arab world has witnessed an explosion of satellite TV stations, both state-sponsored and private, which has resulted in a previously unheard of range of opinions being broadcast to the Arab public. Al-Jazeera in particular has been lambasted by nearly every Arab regime for airing views of government opponents. "These stations offer Arabic-language viewers a large choice of programs and viewpoints to watch," Frayne acknowledged. "However, an American point of view is often missing, and accurate information about American society and policies is frequently absent from the airwaves." Al-Hurra has some Arab defenders, at least in the spirit of air-wave diversity. "Everyone is entitled to express his or her opinion. This is an open sky and nobody should be afraid of that," said Samiha Dahroug, head of Egypt's Nile News Channel. But Dahroug, a media expert who's traveled extensively in the United States, added that Washington's image won't improve among Arabs until it changes its policies toward them. "America is judged by how it conducts itself in the world. The facts speak for themselves," she said, referring to the deep-seated belief Washington's Middle East policies tend to run counter to Arab interests (APws 02/12 0933 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Last year about this time, I discovered a strange program in the wee hours of Sunday morning on WWCR, a station with more than its fair share of extremist viewpoints. Perhaps the strangest is ``Exposing the Unexposed`` hosted by George Gentry of Arkansas, heard at 1130 UT Sundays on 5070. Mr (Pastor?) Gentry rants for half an hour, mostly about the evils of the white race. It makes for a change from the usual conspiracy nuts --- this time the ``one world government`s`` purpose is to exterminate the black race. This news must come as a shock to Pete Peters. I have listened for a couple weeks to this stuff --- so far I have gleaned that George is a retired auto worker with a grade eight education (his words). Some of his beliefs: ``The white man is seditious and perditious`` ``Americans are educated retards`` ``Kobe Bryant is the victim of Rush Limbaugh ni---- getters`` ``If anyone is listening I am appreciative, but if no one is listening it means I am closer to God`` As well, George expounds from a number of documentation sources, including a book entitled ``How the Irish became White`` (prior to this, they were of course, black, as were Jesus, Moses, St. Augustine, the Scots, the Jews and all of the early church) and of course the ever reliable internet. White people were put on earth by Satan, and rank just below him in the order of things in this world. Their goal? The ethnic cleansing of the entire black race. In his world view, the old Masonic/Illuminati conspiracy is designed for this goal. People who don`t agree are of course ``oblivious to elucidated visibility``. George is an interesting listen early on a Sunday morning (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, Feb ODXA Listening In via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Reminder of imminent MW DX test: Sunday, February 15, 2004 - WQMA-1520, Marks, MS 12:00-2:00 am CST. [0600-0800 UT] WWW: http://www.q1520radio.com/ (via Lynn Hollerman, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. 'THE O`FRANKEN FACTOR' --- Lefty satirist Al Franken talks about his plans for the three-hour radio show he`ll host and how he feels about going head-to-head with Rush Limbaugh WEB EXCLUSIVE By Jennifer Barrett [illustrated] Updated: 7:15 p.m. ET Jan. 16, 2004 - Al Franken has modest goals for his new radio show. In a press release prepared after Franken signed the contract this week with Progress Media, the investment group launching a nationwide liberal radio network, the newly named talk-show host said: ``My goal is to change the political landscape in this country, get rid of the radical right-wing president and serve as a beacon of hope for Americans who work hard and play by the rules.`` Then, in typical Franken style, he added: ``Short of that, I just want [air time] in Albany.`` Franken, a Harvard-educated satirist and best-selling author, probably won`t have to worry about that. If all goes well, he could soon be offering up a daily dose of liberalism for listeners from Albany to Anchorage looking for an alternative to Rush Limbaugh`s conservative talk show. Progress Media has said it hopes to be on the air in major markets by early spring, and signed its first distribution deal this week with WNTD in Chicago, the country`s third- largest market. NEWSWEEK`s Jennifer Barrett spoke to Franken about his his plans... http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3980903/ (via Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A. GEORGE MASON RADIO STATION WRANGLES WITH REGULATORS By ANDREI BLAKELY Journal staff writer After Tina Peterson was ordered to flip the transmitter switch Feb. 5 - effectively taking George Mason University's radio station, WGMU, off the air - she frantically called her co-workers. But, there was not much else she could have been done. A Federal Communications Commission inspector had visited the disc jockey booth on the first floor of the Johnson Center at the Fairfax campus, flashed his badge, and told her she was on the air without a license. So goes the story of the end to WGMU's more than one-month stay on the AM radio airwaves. ``It's frustrating because every time we get up there, we get knocked back down," said the 20-year-old music director from Springfield. ``You don't really prepare yourself for that, especially if something happens that I don't know all of the answers to. It's a little scary." The incident with the inspector, who Peterson, a junior at George Mason, called a ``very nice man," was reported Monday on the Internet site http://www.dcrtv.org which features radio and television news from Washington and Baltimore. An FCC spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the incident did occur, but said it was an open investigation that usually merits a letter of warning. So far, no fines have been levied in the case, said Matthew Mascari, 19, a GMU sophomore and the station's production director. ``There is an allowance that if you're broadcasting in a campus area it's OK," Mascari said. ``Our main idea was to have it set up to travel through lines on campus." But, he said, sources claim the station's signal was picked up from as far away as Springfield. Last fall, staff at the roughly 24-year-old station used a grant from Apple Federal Credit Union for an unspecified amount of money to purchase a 30-watt transmitter for broadcasting at 650 on the AM dial. For now, WGMU will be broadcast only over the Internet at http://www.wgmuradio.com and on the university's cable television channel. Staff members have been attempting to increase their visibility, said Rodger Smith, the station's manager. ``Student staff are very interested in broadcasting off campus," he said. ``This didn't work, but they will do other activities." Purchasing an existing AM license could cost more than a million dollars, he said, and the FCC is not opening the market to create space for new stations. One alternative is to purchase a transmitter with a lower wattage, but staff members say such a signal would be too weak to reach beyond the building from where it was transmitted. WGMU`s programming features various selections of music and sports shows. The station's top-30 play list ranks the album Prototype by the group Big Collapse at the top. Other popular bands are Primus, Cordalene, Atmosphere and Outkast. A local band called The Low Life also has been featured on the radio station recently and soon could make a visit for a live on-air performance soon. A mixed staff of paid students and interns are able to work at the station and gain experience in the area of communications. ``We reach the college audience," Mascari said. ``I've noticed our exposure is becoming larger." (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO POLITICS: BILLY TAUZEN TO RETIRE FROM CONGRESS Turning to names in the news. This week it`s Republican legislator Billy Tauzin as the Louisiana Representative announces that he will step down as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and will not run for reelection in November. The ARRL Letter credits Washington sources as saying that Tauzin originally was rumored to be in line for the lobbying position at the Motion Pictures Association of America. It now appears that he may be headed to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Texas Republican Joe Barton seems to be in line to replace Tauzin as full committee chairman. Barton also serves on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, and he`s said to have a strong interest in energy issues. Tauzin`s panel is the parent committee of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. It has under consideration two Amateur Radio-related bills. HR 713 is the Spectrum Protection Act of 2003, and HR 1478 is called the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003.One of the two Amateur Radio licensees in the US House --- Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE, an Oregon Republican, sits on the subcommittee (ARRL, published news reports via Amateur Radio Newsline February via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. THE FCC BUDGET FOR 2005 ...President Bush has submitted a budget to Congress that proposes fiscal year 2005 that includes a proposed allocation for the Federal Communications Commission of $292,958,000. According to the agency, the requested funding level will cover mandatory increases for salaries and benefits and inflationary increases for office space rental, supplies, printing, postage and contractual services. The budget proposal also includes funds for maintenance and modernization of technology systems that directly further all aspects of FCC performance. It also covers information technology equipment to support our multiyear lifecycle management program; replacement monitoring vehicles; technical monitoring and test equipment to ensure the Commission has up-to-date tools to achieve the agency`s Spectrum and Homeland Security initiatives; and skills based training for critical FCC program areas. The complete copy of the Commission`s Fiscal Year 2005 budget submission is available for your inspection on the FCC`s web site at http://www.fcc.gov (Published news reports via Newsline February 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Broadcast Band Update Feb 13 --- by Greg Hardison SILLY ME: OK, so we DO have a new Mexican border area station at AM 780; thus wiping out a prediction made here last month. XESS signed on from Ensenada around February 4 or so, following years spent at 1450. Monitoring the signal in different parts of Los Angeles tells me it`s running around 5,000 watts --- not the vaunted 20,000 that our earlier friend on 550/560 is, or was, from Tecate. That`s the station (XEPE) that prompted scads of fairly legitimate interference complaints from stations as far away as Montana. Now, everyone in SoCal seems overly concerned about XESS; meanwhile KLTX/1390 (Spanish religious format) has apparently learned to live with egregious co-channel interference. XEKT in Tecate (a trend?) moved from a nothing-signal on 1380, to 5,000 full non-directional watts on 1390 at least a year ago. If one is not in sight of the KLTX towers by the I-710 Freeway, then one will likely hear the constant nighttime flutter caused by this XE-guy. KLTX runs 5,000 watts days, 3,600 watts nights with a separate directional pattern for each mode; I must tip the Update hat to Chief Engineer Chris Compton, one of the best AM-transmitter men alive, for tweaking what he could out of that KLTX signal. Meanwhile, we hear no cross- border interference gripes from KLTX; or from Daytimer KBRT/740, regarding XEEBC/730 in Ensenada (which has run a 24/7 schedule for at several years now). Concerns have been stated from the new 780 operation, regarding KABC/790 --- a station that`s yet to bitch about CO-channel interference received for at least 35 years in the Banning Pass area, from XESU in Mexicali. (Actually, a little interference could constitute an Improvement in Programming for the once-great talk station!) Face it, y`all, radio waves know no borders, and loud trans- border signals from Mexico are almost a broadcasting tradition --- remember the Wolfman on XERF/1570 and the old XERB/1090? Hell, Mexico`s even messed up its own frequencies. Since roughly World War 2, XEW/900 has covered the entire country from Mexico City with 250,000 watts of blistering power; I`ve personally noted that signal as being easily-listenable on table radios in all parts of Texas, in years past. XEW can still be heard in SoCal, despite 79-nighttime watts pouring out of co-channel KALI in West Covina; meanwhile Mexican authorities have authorized at least three new fulltime operations on 900 in the past three years. Similar grants have appeared South of the border, on AM frequencies 730, 1050 and 1220; in each case Mexican nationwide signals in excess of 100,000 watts have been compromised. I don`t predict much success for U.S. broadcasters, in their efforts to stem Mexican interference. I also don`t see too many legitimate complaints from all this; certainly the best candidate for such would be the aforementioned KLTX. Personally, I have no plans to begin boycotting Enchiladas because of this teapot-tempest. Besides, have you heard the Romántica-tinged Musical fare on XEPE/560? Not bad, not too bad at all! DEES GETS KIISED-OFF: You may be aware that after 22 years, Rick Dees has been ousted from his Morning-Drive roost at KIIS-FM/102.7; replacement Ryan Seacrest enlisted Britney Spears to announce that particular move, on his Fox-TV program. Ry-boy will perform his new Radio routine directly from the Hollywood TV studio, to keep his production schedule intact. I`m not a big Dees fan, but cannot deny the revenue this guy has brought to the Top-40 outlet. I also doubt the wisdom of the move; KIIS` Clear Channel handlers seem to think Seacrest will pull in large numbers of ``younger`` listeners, but how does this weigh against the years of loyalty Dees raked in from his now-35-to-54 listener base? Despite mass assurances by Salesoids, the Dees demographic does possess greater disposable income than the younger folks who allegedly flock to Ryan`s act. KIIS-FM`s annual revenues are said to exceed the total take for all radio stations in Canada; seems like an expensive gamble to me. This sentiment is being shared by many observers, who also note Rick did not leave the show of his own accord. He will continue hosting his weekly Top-40 countdown show --- in direct competition with Ryan`s American Top 40, on which he recently replaced Casey Kasem. For all we know, Dees also may be weighing an offer from KQLK/97.9 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The ever-fine AllAccess webpage informs us of that generous offer made by `QLK VP Michael Schutta, who clearly knows a successful Morning Show when such an animal is encountered. ADVANCES IN MOUSETRAP TECHNOLOGY: Comcast, the Nation`s largest Cable operator, has rendered a bid to buy the beleaguered Disney Co., for $66-Billion in stock, including a little over $11-Billion in debt service --- as the maelstrom between Mouse-head Michael Eisner and ousted Board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold continues. Disney plans its annual shareholders meeting in Philadelphia for March 3, and on the day before, Roy `n` Stan are planning their own educational seminar targeting attendees. Approval of the deal by the FCC would place one of the ``big three`` TV networks (ABC), as well as ESPN and several other basic-Cable services firmly in the hands of this huge vendor, and many media-watchers are balking at the implications of such a marriage. Then there`s the Microsoft factor: Bill Gates` firm owns a little over 7 percent of Comcast. Analysts say they could wind up with some substantial control over Disney --- or, could be a suitor in its own right. I can see only improvement for ABC and the other properties, once the arguably- disturbed Disneyoids are no longer in charge. I eagerly anticipate the FCC reaction to the proposal. Comcast and Disney share ownership stakes in E! Entertainment Television, and the Style Channel; the proposed deal would meld Comcast`s pieces of the Golf Channel, the Outdoor Life Network and G4. Additionally, Philly-based Comcast owns majority stakes in the Flyers and the 76ers --- good fodder for ESPN. Comcast`s Disney Offer Is 3rd- Largest Unsolicited Bid in U.S. History, according to the Associated Press and Thomson Financial. CNN reports that Disney is ``carefully examining`` the offer. Now comes word that Time-Warner and Pixar also may be making their own offers for the Mouse That Roars. Could be why Pixar called off re- association talks this month, no? As for TW, we`re talking about another huge Cable empire (HBO/Cinemax, the CNN nets, many Cable systems and of course one Broadcast property, WTBS/TV-17 in Atlanta). As if to reflect the duplicity inherent to Disney in general, the Board of Directors earlier this week (2/9) released a statement calling Roy Disney`s recent missives,``misleading``. One day later, the Board filed regulatory papers based on earlier correspondence sent to institutional investors (NOT individuals, please note), which reveal plans underway to replace Eisner. The Board is up for a shareholders` vote on March 3; wanna bet nothing will be decided until then? I thought so. Back at the Ranch, a group of dissident shareholders has endorsed Pixar chief Steven Jobs to replace Mikey --- which lends credence to the Pixar bid for the whole magilla. You should know that the well- respected Institutional Investors` Service is recommending shareholder votes against Eisner`s tenure on the Board. What we do know is that we will NOT get the straight story from anyone currently controlling anything at Disney. And, totally unrelated: remember Radio Aahs? This was the first Children`s radio network, forged circa ten years ago in Minneapolis. Programming consisted of many things I wouldn`t mind my own young daughter hearing: storybook adaptations, music by Raffi and his ilk, and positive life-enforcing messages involving issues such as staying away from drugs. A year or two into the venture, up steps Disney (in 1994, as I recall), offering a marketing/programming partnership with Aahs. Less than three years later, Radio Disney appears with very similar programming, ripped from the guts of Aahs. Now, the 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has rejected Disney`s own challenge of an earlier ruling, which awards $9.5 Million-plus-interest to the Aahsters, for that ripoff. Have you heard Radio Disney lately? I can`t get excited about my 6-year old being immersed in the pablum-pop- Justin Timberlake-inspired garbage that RD spews out 24/7 --- MUCH different than the original intent presented by the Minnesotans. Thank you for allowing a Parent to rant! SPEAKING OF THE FCC: The Washington wags are still keeping abreast of the brouhaha caused by Janet Jackson`s NFL Championship halftime performance. Proposals abound in Congress, to dramatically increase fines levied against Broadcasters for so-called obscene presentations; the House Telecommunications Subcommittee has already approved its anti-obscenity bill, now comes the vote. (The scariest addendum comes from Florida Republican Cliff Stearns, who wants to fine individual performers and others without actual licenses up to $100,000 for obscenity. Pull out your checkbook, next time you cuss someone out over a cordless phone!) The largest domestic Broadcast operator, good ol` Clear Channel is facing a total of $755,000 in FCC fines, due to the airing of sex- heavy bits in the ``Bubba the Love Sponge`` program, which originates in Tampa, and airs on four CC stations. Seems CC & CBS/Infinity are both pushing the payoff-envelope. On the Hill, CBS/Infinity head Mel Karmazin and NFL chief Paul Tagliabue dined on Crow before the House Energy & Commerce Committee this past week, vowing that an episode such as what we witnessed on Big Game Sunday would never occur again. Wisely, though, Mel repeated his challenge to the Feds, to clearly define ``community standards`` - -- the criteria, however arbitrary, through which such instances are judged. Committee chair Fred Upton (R/New Mexico) again called for a Three-Strikes provision: that many offenses, and the related Station`s license is consigned to history. Now let`s speculate as Conspiracists for a moment: the whole Janet thing was planned. CBS, MTV and many other Viacom properties win endless hype opportunities AFTER the big game, from news & reaction features, to jokes on the Letterman show. Janet Jackson has been drifting off the pop-culture radar lately; once again her name is on the tips of many tongues. Justin Timberlake has been thru his ``N`Sync`` and Britney phases; now he too is assured a headline in the highlights of 2004. (Where`d he get that accent, anyway??) Now we know this was not a Government conspiracy, we think. But many DC- dwellers have been growing ulcers over the growing budget deficit, and it ain`t getting any smaller, as we rebuild our 51st State, Iraq. What an opportunity to pull in the income, in the form of FCC fines! Proposals to increase such fines tenfold are more prevalent in Washington than the cherry blossoms in springtime, and as Broadcasters fight for dwindling, splintered audiences, the shock factor in programming increases exponentially. Wouldn`t this make a great movie script? I can see it now: ``Network II``. We now wager that Digital Delay systems will soon be as common to ``live`` Television, as cameras have been for the past 70-odd years --- and we hear the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is already ticked off about ABC`s decision to incorporate a 5-second delay in the upcoming Oscars` telecast. Meanwhile, Rep. Billy (``Goat``) Tauzin (R/Louisiana) is stepping down from his czarhood over that same House committee, in favor of a career as paid lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical industry. I`d keep you up all night outlining the ways and means painting this guy as a complete Idiot; suffice it to say Tauzin taking his utter lack of understanding and reason regarding Broadcasting issues (under the Committee spotlight, due to the FCC/``Commerce`` angle) off of Capitol Hill is indeed proof that God is alive and well! WHAT-EVER-HAPPENED-TO DEPT.: I`m sure you`ve spent many hours wondering what ever became of Carol Marin, the WMAQ-TV/5 anchor who walked off the News-set back in`97. She did so to protest the Chicago NBC station`s decision adding Jerry Springer as a commentator. Well, she`s baaack, resurfacing during the Wednesday night (2/11) 10 PM `cast on Ch. 5 as an investigative reporter. Seems principle just doesn`t pay the bills --- ever notice that? RE-RETRO: What were YOU doing 40 years ago this week? Perhaps, awaiting another Beatles` shot on the Ed Sullivan Show. I know I was; their early work represents the finest true Top 40 ever recorded. Veteran SoCal rock jock Bruce Chandler wrote a piece published on the laradio.com website, noting that the moptoppers ``saved`` rock by showing up when they did. Bruce made some fine points, as such: ``However, after a year or so, anyone could see that the infusion from across the sea was sorely needed. Elvis` career was on the decline. He hadn`t had a number one song since Good Luck Charm in April of 1962, and, only 2 Top Ten tunes during the entire year of 1963. The last number one record before the Beatles took over? There I`ve Said It Again by Bobby Vinton! The number one national song before that? Dominique by the Singing Nun. Before that? Dale and Grace with I`m Leaving It All Up To You. Look a few weeks before that and you`ll find Deep Purple by April Stevens and Nino Tempo topping the U.S. charts. It`s easy to look back on that period of Top 40 and realize that rock `n` roll was dyin! The Brits gave popular music the needed kick in the ass before 1964 could have turned out to be the YEAR the music died. Could you see thousands of screaming teeny boppers going bananas for American groups like the Kingsmen? Uh, don`t think so; or the Trashmen? The Rip Chords? Uh uh. They were some of the American rock `n` roll groups that were burnin` up the charts `pre-Beatles.` The deejays were the stars of radio then and the music was mostly by one or two-hit wonders who would go on to become footnotes in Top 40 history after six months in the spotlight.`` I remember playlists radically changing almost overnight in `64; the only anchor of pop-music stability and continued growth at the time was Motown --- always my personal favorite genre, by the way! Now, just to get your goat: by 1966, it was all pretty much the same as 2.5 years earlier, only with UK accents. My take since that time has been that The Beatles got lazy, putting out mostly Junk, starting with ``Help``. I do feel their finest work would`ve come around 1971 or `72, if they had stayed together. Talent: yes --- Motivation: no. Your comments and challenges are always more than welcome! LEFT-CHANNEL ONLY: It seems Radio Free America, the vaunted group of Liberal would-be Broadcasters, will-be indeed. Don Barrett`s laradio.com reports on the signing of an agreement, bringing the Libs (Al Franken & company) to Chicago`s WNTD/950 and to KBLA/1580 in L.A., as of April 1, no foolin`. The deal is brokered through the stations` new owners, Arthur Liu`s Multicultural Broadcasting Co., repped by In- Language Radio in San Francisco. Ripe outlets are also available there (KIQI/1010) and in New York (WPAT/930). No additional signings have been announced so far, but those close to the deal still say the left- net will debut in those two burgs at the same time. Let`s hope the Libs don`t degenrate into the name-calling and chest-thumping that now represents much of the Conservative-boradcast fold. To me, the lack of an intelligent and objective Conservative talkhost, such as Ray Briem, is a sad testimony to the state of the (radio) ``art`` today. Lately the best I`ve heard along those political lines are commentaries by Dr. James Dobson, focusing strictly on intra-family issues. These brief chats, packed with common sense, were until recently heard on KNX/1070. NOW HERE`S AN IDEA: Veteran KGO/810 General Manager Michael Luckoff has joined with two other Bay Area Broadcast execs, to form ``Innovative Broadcast Solutions``. The new firm will focus on marrying advertisers` needs, to available solutions involving the eight associated stations. ML teams up with Inner City Broadcasting`s market manager Harvey Stone, and Bonneville area-chief Chuck Tweedle in the venture. Will someone scream, ``anti-trust``? Does anyone remember what the term means? SOUNDING BOARD: As the National Association of Broadcasters teams up with FCC head Michael Powell to tout the wonders of co-channel Digital broadcasts (IBOC, which creates a loud hash on either side of any AM or FM signal utilized), satellite providers XM and Sirius both demonstrated so-called ``surround sound`` applications last month, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. I now lift from Richard Wagoner, radio-scribe extraordinaire, from one of his recent columns in ``The Daily Breeze`` (Torrance, CA): ``Interestingly, while many observers say the AM IBOC system sound has improved substantially --- the company developing IBOC, Ibiquity, has so far refused to run tests comparing high-fidelity analog signals received with a good radio against the IBOC system. And that makes me think they have something to hide.`` - Touché. Meanwhile, XM is airing an original Radio drama about 50`s gangsters, titled `Mob Hits``, on Valentines` Day --- nice move! IN MEMORY: We told you two months ago about the too-early death of beloved KFI/Airwatch broadcaster Ed Berger from pancreatic cancer at the age of 43. Ed also headed the Broadcast Dept. at Fullerton (CA) Junior College. His widow, Peg Stewart Berger, along with colleague Ed Ford and Department chair Marie Pérez, have started a scholarship fund for aspiring broadcasters, at FJC. As Peg told Don Barrett: ``There are sufficient funds for the scholarship to be maintained by the college. But there is not enough yet for it to be a significant amount toward tuition and books. A government grant gives a little bit as well, so the principal fund can generate interest enough to be awarded in perpetuity. The Ed Berger Scholarship will allow a student to take the several core classes of the radio program at Fullerton College and pay for most of their books.`` - Contributions are tax-deductible, and can be made thus: Ed Berger Memorial Scholarship c/o Fullerton College Foundation, Inc. 321 E. Chapman Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832-2095 Until the next, Peace and Prosperity (GREG HARDISON, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. One of the most prodigious voices in Venezuelan radio, Ezequiel Suárez Avendaño, ceased to exist Jan. 17, after a serious illness. For many years he worked as the official voice of presidential events, and was an announcer on Venezolana de Televisión and Radio Nacional de Venezuela. For those Venezuelans who use the correct time 119 telephone service; and DXers abroad hearing the timesignals of YVTO 5000, and HD2IOA in Ecuador, we shall always remember him. May he rest in peace (Jorge García Rangel, Barinas, Venezuela, Conexión Digital, already in DXLD in Spanish, translated by gh for April MONITORING TIMES) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Listening to the Polisario station on 7460 could be especially interesting now, in Arabic until 2300, then Spanish until 2400* and perhaps around 0600 (gh) The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) will be extended until April 30 if the Security Council approves the peace plan, even lacking a response from Morocco, since the Polisario Front accepted it last July. This ``Baker plan`` establishes a 5-year transition period during which Morocco will have sovereignty over the former Spanish colony, altho institutions elected by the Saharan population would be in charge of local affairs. At the end of this period, the UN would organize a referendum of self-determination, in which it would be decided if Western Sahara would achieve independence, or continue belonging to the Kingdom of Morocco. Meanwhile, Radio Nacional de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática will remain one of the authentic clandestine stations, presently operating its transmitter from Tindouf, Algeria (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital, already in DXLD in Spanish, translated by gh for April MONITORING TIMES) ** ZIMBABWE. Glenn, After being heard on 3306 last weekend, the ZBC then reverted to using 6045 throughout, with no switch to 3306 at night observed all this past week. Operations on 6045 are erratic, with the transmitter often noted off the air. Regards, (Chris Greenway in Lusaka, Zambia, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But keeping an ear on 3306 well justified (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ FCC OKAYS BPL PROPOSAL; ARRL OFFICIALS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 12, 2004 --- The FCC today agreed unanimously --- with one partial dissent --- to go forward with a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the subject of Broadband over Power Line (BPL). The NPRM is the next step in the BPL proceeding, which began last April with a Notice of Inquiry that attracted more than 5100 comments --- many from the amateur community. The FCC did not propose any changes in Part 15 rules governing unlicensed devices, but said it would require BPL providers to apply ``adaptive`` interference mitigation techniques to their systems. An ARRL delegation attended the FCC open meeting in Washington, and League President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, expressed disappointment with the FCC`s decision. ``I had hoped the FCC would have shown a greater depth of understanding of the issue,`` he said. Haynie also said he was dumfounded that FCC staff and some commissioners continued to tout BPL as a broadband and Internet solution for rural dwellers when ``the economic reality of that possibility speaks for itself.`` Haynie said the FCC seemed to be echoing BPL industry publicity. The FCC has not yet released the details of the NPRM, and a presentation by the FCC`s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) revealed only its broad outlines. But ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the Commission`s own presentation and the individual FCC members` comments demonstrated to him that the NPRM should have cut the permissible emission limits under Part 15. ``The Commission clearly recognized that the existing Part 15 emission limits are inadequate to stop interference,`` Sumner said,`` but it`s placing the burden of interference mitigation on the licensed user that`s supposed to be protected.`` Sumner said that if the FCC really believed current Part 15 emission limits were sufficient, it would not have had to require that BPL providers institute interference mitigation procedures and systems. Sumner said the League cannot take a formal position until it reviews the full NPRM. Anh Wride of the OET staff outlined the scope of the NPRM, which only addresses so-called ``access BPL`` --- the type that would apply radio frequency energy to exterior overhead and underground low and medium- voltage power lines to distribute broadband and Internet service. ``We also recognize the concerns of licensed radio service users regarding the potential for interference due to operations of BPL systems, and that these licensed operations must be protected,`` Wride said. ``The staff believes, however, that these interference concerns can be adequately addressed.`` She said the proposal would require that BPL systems ``be able to modify their operation to mitigate any interference that might occur.`` The NPRM also would impose identification requirements on BPL providers to aid in interference mitigation. Wride said the FCC`s BPL NPRM: Applies existing Part 15 emission limits for unlicensed carrier- current systems to BPL systems. Part 15 rules now require BPL systems to eliminate any harmful interference that may occur ``and must cease operation if they cannot,`` Wride said. Requires BPL systems to employ ``adaptive interference-mitigation techniques, including the capabilities to shut down a specific device, to reduce power levels on a dynamic or remote-control basis and to include or exclude specific operating frequencies or bands,`` Wride said. This would alleviate site-specific interference concerns, she added. Subjects BPL providers to notification requirements similar to those now required for power-line carrier systems. This would establish a public database to include such information as the location of BPL devices, modulation type and operating frequencies. Proposes guidelines to measure the RF emissions of BPL and other carrier-current systems. ``These guidelines would ensure that measurements of the emissions from such systems are made in a consistent manner with repeatable results for determining compliance with the rules,`` Wride said. This also would aid in evaluating interference sources and applying ``appropriate interference mitigation measures,`` she added. FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy, already on record as an avid BPL supporter, said the Commission was ``proceeding cautiously in order to minimize the potential for harmful interference.`` Abernathy asked OET Chief Edmond Thomas to describe a likely interference scenario and ``how it might play out`` in terms of the NPRM`s interference mitigation provisions. Thomas said that because BPL systems would have to be registered, it would be easy to determine if one were in operation in the complainant`s vicinity. ``If the answer is yes, they report the interference to the provider,`` Thomas continued. ``The provider has the capability to adjust his power and the frequency of operation to mitigate the interference.`` Thomas said that in most such circumstances, the BPL provider --- as a Part 15 user --- would ``notch out the frequencies that are offending.`` Commissioner Kevin Martin called BPL ``an exciting technology,`` and added, ``I appreciate the sensitivity that we`re trying to exhibit to the concerns about potential interference, particularly for the government operations that have been raised by FEMA.`` Commissioner Michael Copps said the FCC still faces some difficult questions, including how to handle cross-subsidization between regulated power businesses and unregulated communications businesses. ``Is it right to allow electricity ratepayers to pay higher bills each month to subsidize and electric company`s foray into broadband?`` he asked his colleagues. Copps dissented in part on his approval of the NPRM. Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said he`s been impressed by the potential of BPL technology and thinks the rules changes the FCC is proposing will ``promote future deployment of this kind of service.`` Adelstein said, however, that it`s crucial that the Commission address technical issues such as interference. ``I think we need to be mindful of harmful interference, but we can`t let unsupported claims stand in the way of this kind of innovation,`` Adelstein said. ``We need to do everything we can to move this forward.`` Adelstein was not specific in his reference to ``unsupported claims.`` Chairman Michael Powell called BPL ``tremendously exciting.`` While conceding that BPL has ``a long way to go,`` the chairman said it also could be ``the great broadband hope for a good part of rural America.`` Powell also said the FCC`s OET has worked very hard to try to ``get their hands around`` the issue of interference and that the FCC would continue its vigilance in that area. The FCC is expected to issue the complete Notice of Proposed Rule Making within a few days and will invite comments on it sometime after its publication. Copyright © 2004, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DXLD) Apparently the public NPRM will be released within a few days. No changes to our Part 15 rules are expected other than the utilities must apply "'adaptive' interference mitigation techniques to their systems" and be prepared to make adjustments (such as change the carrier frequency) when complaints of interferrence are received. While I don't believe my local power utility is planning such a technology, this saddens me nonetheless. While amateur radio operators (as a licensed service, of which I am a licensed HF operator)) will have an opportunity to complain to a utility and expect relief, I don't see how shortwave listeners, which we all are, will have the same protections. Part 15 rules only require that devices not interfere with licensed services (Kevin Anderson, Dubuque IA USA, K9IUA, swprograms via DXLD) NASWA is working on the basis that shortwave broadcast services, operating in frequency bands allocated by the ITU for broadcasting, are licensed services protected from interference as is any other licensed service. In the case of shortwave broadcasting I doubt the broadcasters will go to bat for the listeners so it is up to the listeners to complain. The same principle applies to interference to low band TV reception from BPL systems using frequencies up to 80MHz. The NAB is likely not going to intervene in individual interference cases, the TV viewer will have to complain. The FCC has released their press release and the comments of each commissioner on the BPL NPRM: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A2.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A3.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A4.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A5.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A6.doc I just saw FCC Chairman Michael Powell interviewed on CNBC. No mention of BPL. The FCC did decide today not to subject Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone services to the taxes the government now puts on circuit-switched calls. They also talked about the super bowl fiasco and the Comcast kidnapping of Mickey Mouse. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, ibid.) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ THE BPL FIGHT: PA HAMS ORGANIZE AGAINST ALANTOWN [sic] ROLLOUT BPL is coming to an area near Alantown [sic] Pennsylvania and that region`s ham radio community is doing all it can to stop it. Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has the details: The ham behind the effort is Eric Olena, WB3FPL, the ARRL Section Manager for Eastern Pennsylvania. The company behind the campaign to expand Broadband Over Power Lines is PPL Telcom, a subsidiary of PPL, the Allentown-based electric utility company which serves northeastern and central Pennsylvania. PPL has been testing BPL, high-speed internet over powerlines, in Emmaus and Whitehall Township in Lehigh County for the past two years. Recently, the Hanover Township supervisors in Northampton County, outside of Bethlehem, approved PPL`s plan to offer BPL to some 2,000 residents. But not before Mark Miller, AK3M, ARRL EPA District Emergency Coordinator in the Bethlehem area, got on the public record. Miller and Blair Bates, K3YD, learned about PPL`s plans in a local newspaper article just one week before the supervisors were scheduled to vote. Bates says they went to the supervisors meeting and nearly got bypassed. ``I had to kind of kind of jump up and request courtesy of the floor or they would have simply steamrolled the approval through without any discussion,`` Bates recalls. After making their pitch about BPL interference, Bates says the supervisors politely turned to the PPL representative also at the meeting. ``He essentially discounted everything that Mark and I had said,`` Bates recalls. ``He said that there would be no impact and this was just the most wonderful thing that PP&L could do for the community.`` Bates says the pair was stunned they were ignored and began mobilizing efforts to let people know what happened. Enter Olena, WB3FPL. Olena sent out e-mail alerts and has been contacting clubs and individual hams throughout the region urging them to send e-mails and letters of protest to state regulatory agencies. He also is encouraging opening a dialogue with their own local representatives. ``Make some effort and contact some local officials and see that they get some input as to the negative side of BPL rather than being faced with a company that only gives them one side of the story,`` Olena says. The reason: It may not be in your back yard now, but it could be there a lot sooner than you think. ``With all the other business that local officials have to concern themselves with, they are presented with a program and there aren`t a whole lot of voices speaking up and telling the reverse side of that story,`` Olena says. ``And, consequently, I feel it`s up to the hams who have a lot of information on that score to present them with some of the negative side so that they don`t jump too far in advance of making a proper decision.`` Bates says one ham in PPL`s Hanover Township project has across-the- board interference on 10 meters. While Bates says it`s good to let local and state officials know what`s up, he thinks the agency which has the teeth to address it is the Federal Communications Commission. ``The real letter of complaint should be going to the FCC,`` Bates says. ``I mean here we have a case of an unlicensed service which is interfering to the point of jamming a licensed radio service.`` Olena says it goes beyond the ham bands. Olena is a retired state trooper and a retired assistant communications director for Berks County, PA. ``I`m hoping to get into contact with the PEMA officials and issue a letter telling our side of the BPL issue and also contacting our representatives from the Association of Public Safety Communications officers - which is basically the 9-1-1 directors - and see that they know the negative side of BPL and their frequencies also might be in danger depending on what they use,`` Olena says. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Mark Abramowicz NT3V, in Philadelphia. The Eastern Pennsylvania hams say that they will do everything that they can to sway utility regulators away from permitting BPL to spread. Many are writing to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Public Utility Commission, and officials in their own communities to ``educate`` them about the danger BPL poses (ARNewsline (tm) February 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) THE BPL FIGHT: FCC TO READY ROLL-OUT NATIONWIDE Meantime, the FCC has taken another look at BPL and its rollout nationwide. We have more in this report: The FCC says that the rollout of Broadband over Powerline should continue, but certain safeguards are needed to prevent interference from the system causing destructive interference to existing spectrum users. This, as the FCC announces rules changes on Thursday, February 12th that the agency claims will foster broadband deployment using the significantly untapped capabilities of the nation`s power grid. The Part 15 rule changes, proposed in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted by the Commission proposes rules requiring BPL devices to employ adaptive interference mitigation techniques to prevent harmful interference to existing users, such as public safety and amateur radio operators. These techniques would enable BPL devices to cease operations altogether, dynamically reduce transmit power, and/or avoid operating on specific frequencies to prevent harmful interference. But that`s not all. The NPRM also proposes developing a public database that would include such information as location, operational frequencies, and modulation type of B-P-L devices. This, says the FCC, should facilitate the resolution of interference issues in a timely fashion. As to the desire of the power industry to raise RF limits, the FCC says no, not now. Instead, it seeks comment on specific RF measurement guidelines for BPL devices and other carrier current systems. The FCC says that these guidelines will ensure that emission measurements for these systems are made in a consistent manner. Will these safeguards be enough to permit BPL and radio services to co-exist? Only in-depth study of the overall FCC Notice will reveal that answer. We will try to have the experts assess it for next week. Right now, it`s just too soon to say. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reporting. More on the fight by ham radio to stop the implementation of BPL in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports (ARNewsline(tm) February 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) It has already happened in a number of communities here. It has been tried and dropped in Europe in several locations. Discussion groups talk, they do not act. We do not need their opinions, we need actions. We cannot depend on the ARRL to fight our battles; we all need to be on the phone and writing real letters, not e-mail, to our Congressmen/Congresswomen and Senators expressing our position and explaining why. Not just complaining. They need rational and valid reasons, we need to supply them with ammunition if we expect them to wage a war for us. Letters on a desk are far more impressive than e-mail. So send a letter; a postage stamp won't break the bank. If you, or anyone else, thinks that we are going to change it, or stop it, once it gets started, you are dwelling in a fool's paradise. It will not happen. Too many big companies involved and too much money. The only chance is to stop it, or eliminate the problems if they can be eliminated, before it is implemented. Write those 'real' letters, or live with the consequences of your own inaction. We may lose, but at least we won't go down without fighting and we won't lose because the ARRL sold us out for $$ as they do nowadays. it is all about money, not about the radio hobby. The FCC has 'not' approved it in the implementation sense. That is misleading people to say that. Final approval is still in the distance and there are more discussions and other hoops to go through first. This is not a done deal, yet. It is more or less, an accepted proposal, nothing more. It is not about the FCC either, it is about entities like Comcast trying to take over Disney and the big utility companies having their power lines used by other companies to provide BPS. It is not necessarily the utility companies doing this, they just own the lines! Again, it is big money here, not the FCC panel. Can you say "Special Interest"? The FCC panel is about as powerful as the average state`s PSC when it comes to regulating the price on electricity and natural gas rates. Almost, but not quite, a rubber stamp. Let's face the facts people, money talks (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, swl at qth.net via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE SEATTLE, WA, Feb 13, 2004 --- Solar flux and sunspot numbers were up slightly this week, and average planetary A index was down a little. Unfortunately, this isn`t likely a trend, at least over the long term. The NOAA SEC Preliminary Report and Forecast for February 10 http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1484.pdf still shows us a few years past the peak of Cycle 23 and a few years until the bottom. These charts are on pages 13 and 14. Note the forecast still shows the 10.7 cm solar flux minimum --- a measure of energy at 2.8 GHz --- predicted for September 2006 through April 2007, and the sunspot number minimum around December 2006 through January 2007. Further note that a year from now we might see half the sunspots we see now, and the next cycle isn`t predicted to be back to the February 2005 level until the end of 2007. These are all guesses based on past cycles, and the numbers are smoothed using a moving average. We won`t know when the cycle minimum occurred until several years after it has passed. Over the next few days expect solar flux to stay around 110, then gradually decline toward 100, where it should stay until around February 22. Due to a coronal hole and a solar wind stream, geomagnetic conditions should remain unsettled to active. Mike Caughran, KL7R, asked about lousy 40 and 80-meter conditions in Alaska during periods of high geomagnetic activity. He has never been active during a complete solar cycle but recalls years ago as a Novice working 80-meter CW all night long under quiet conditions. (At his QTH in Juneau, he`ll experience 15 hours of darkness. Around Christmas, it was nearly 18 hours from sunset to sunrise.) He thought perhaps by now the sun would have quieted down, and asks when the lower HF frequencies will return to normal. Normally geomagnetic conditions are quite active after a peak in the sunspot cycle, although this time it seems to be holding up quite long. It should turn down some time soon, but there is really no way to know exactly when. Any guesses are based on past solar cycles. If you look at the link to the NOAA SEC site on page 15 [see above URL], you`ll see a graph of planetary A index, an average of geomagnetic indices from around the world. The graph shows the past 10 years. Note that at the sunspot cycle peak around 2000 the progression of the planetary A index was just getting ramped up. Studying the graph, we can see that if the previous solar cycle peaked around 1990-1991, the dramatic drop in Ap index must have occurred about three or four years later. Based on that, perhaps we are on the way down already. Just like with the peak or bottom of the solar cycle, we won`t know until it has passed and can study the charts. By the way, the gentleman who asked the question this week has a nice Web site that`s largely devoted to QRP http://www.qsl.net/kl7r/ Don`t miss KL7R`s photo of a QRP transceiver he built inside a Microsoft mouse! For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site http://www2.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Sunspot numbers for February 5 through 11 were 109, 98, 92, 74, 81, 78 and 91, with a mean of 89. The 10.7 cm flux was 105.5, 106.7, 111.1, 116.2, 117.8, 116.5 and 114.2, with a mean of 112.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 21, 11, 8, 8, 9 and 26, with a mean of 13.9. Copyright © 2004, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###