Winter 2011 Vol 16 • No
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Winter 2011 Vol 16 • No. 4 National EAS test flawed but IN THIS ISSUE successful; What’s next? Letter from the Editor The first-ever nation-wide test of the Emergency warning networks, such as cell phones, smart Alert System was generally successful phones, the internet and social media networks.” Sound Bites 2011 throughout the country but left much to work on for the future. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a Legislative Landscape in MA to bill authorizing the Integrated Public Alert and Change in 2012 The test, occurring around 2 p.m. on November Warning System (IPAWS) in late November, with Entries must be received by February 24th, 2012. 24th, February by received be must Entries 9th was the first such test of any emergency the support of State Broadcasters Associations Back to Basics: FROM THE EDITOR alerting system dating back to CONELRAD throughout the country. IPAWS, if the bill were easy! that It’s Radio. HD portable LocalBroadcastSales.com (Control of Electromagnetic Radiation), EBS (the to pass as is, will, among other things: Red Mighty a you send we’ll Airwaves next the in story your print we If event. AIRWAVES Emergency Broadcast System) and the current the of summary brief a with along up, scrounge can you else whatever or • Incorporate multiple communications day EAS system. letters articles, newspaper pictures, Send difference. a make to television or As “The Voice” said in Field of Dreams, “If technologies (i.e. smart phones, social you build it, he will come.” Here at the radio local using you’re how us tell and line subject the in letters call your and Massachusetts Broadcasters Association About four seconds into the audio message, networking sites, etc.); we’re hoping to do the same. No, we’re there was a loud echo of the alert. This was due Community” the to “Connected with [email protected] to email an not busy building a baseball field in the • Be designed to adapt to and incorporate Send community. your help to doing is station your what know to want We middle of nowhere (although that would be to an equipment malfunction at one of the 63 future technologies; Elected for 2012 was: great). We’re trying to build a bigger and Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations. It echoed Radio! HD Win an an Win Sound Bites 2011 better association for you, our members. its broadcast back onto the audio network where Chairman: It’s a slow process but we’re making steady • Be designed to provide alerts to the largest it was then picked up by the other PEP stations. Bill Pepin – WWLP-TV, Lin Media progress each day, week, month and year. portion of the affected population, including FEMA has identified and resolved this issue. In 2011 we expanded our scholarship remote areas; Vice Chair Radio: program, doubling the number of Initial reports from the FCC indicate that about Joe Flynn – WSRS-FM/WTAG-AM, Clear scholarships awarded. We are constantly • Promote local and regional public and private impressed by the talented and driven young 87% of the broadcast stations across the country Channel Communications students we are able to help each year. partnerships; and did receive and forward the alert, which is far These scholarship recipients are the future Vice Chair TV: of our industry and you should be proud to better than expected. It is consistent with the • Provide redundant alert mechanisms where be part of an organization that is able to Alex von Lichtenberg – WUNI-TV/WUTF-TV, Alaska tests that were conducted in January practicable in order to reach the greatest help them reach their goals. Entravision Communications 2010 and 2011. While detailed results are not number of people possible. Sound Bites, the MBA’s Annual Meeting and yet available, the preliminary results from the PRSRT STD Mingling event in November was, hopefully, U.S.POSTAGE PAID Secretary: a stepping stone to creating something FCC reporting indicate that the test did propagate The bill would also install specific requirements PERMIT NO. 417 The Beechwood Hotel in Worcester set the – just log onto LocalBroadcastSales.com and Phil Weiner – Weiner Broadcasting our entire membership looks forward to throughout Massachusetts with the exception for the FEMA administrator and create an attending each year. We encourage your IPAWS Advisory Committee composed of MANCHESTER, NH scene for Sound Bites 2011, the MBA’s click “Ask LBS”! feedback and suggestions for 2012. We’ll of Berkshire County. The Local Primary there Treasurer: 1-800-471-1875 Annual Meeting and Mixer, which took be planning it soon! did not receive the test from its monitoring federal, state and local representatives as well Merril Leferman place on Thursday, November 2nd. To start Later in the day, the MBA briefly held its assignments. members who represent various industry groups We also continued to offer 24/7 access the day, LocalBroadcastSales.com founder Annual Meeting and election of officers. to LocalBroadcastSales.com, our online including a consumer/privacy advocate. The Directors: Stephen Warley presented “Jumpstart Your training website, offered a reduced rate on The test seems to have served its purpose, committee is instructed to: meet at least once a vISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.MASSBROADCASTERS.ORg Then the fun really began when the Adam Ezra Bill Fine – WCVB-TV, Hearst Corporation inspections with our Alternative Broadcast Digital Sales,” an educational seminar to help Inspection Program and fought for over-the- which was to identify gaps in the Nation’s EAS year; consult with outside groups to consider new Job Banks | Member Lists | Legal Information | Everything You Need To Keep Your Station Up-To-Date Group took the stage and rocked the house with broadcasters use digital media more effectively, Craig Swimm – WMAS-FM/WHLL-AM, air radio and television stations on Beacon system. What those problems are, specifically, and developing technology; and issue a yearly their acoustic guitars and catchy lyrics. Many Hill and in Washington, DC. both for their stations and as a sales tool. Not Cumulus Media is still being determined. At press time the report to Congress with recommendation on members of MBA and its Board of Directors only did Stephen show how to sell results These accomplishments are just the data from stations across the country were still improvements to IPAWS. enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, dinner and drinks. Bill Macek – WPKZ-AM/FM, Central tip of the iceberg for the MBA. In 2012, being submitted to FEMA via their online Test (not impressions!), but he also took audience we plan on launching a number of new Some attendees even went home with door Broadcasting Stay tuned to the MBA blog, newsletter and questions and turned them into learning member services to make your life in Reporting System. prizes - an iPad2 or a Mighty Red HD radio! broadcasting a little easier. Pay attention social media outlets for updates on this important opportunities for everyone in attendance. Have David Isby – WSBS-AM, Vox Communications in the months to come and you’ll learn The question now is, “What’s next?” Damon legislation. Although the FCC has made it clear a question for Stephen, but didn’t attend the about some great benefits that anyone Feeling a little left out? Don’t worry, the MBA will be able to take advantage of. Until Penn, Assistant Administrator for National they will not use the test as an enforcement seminar? He and his team at LBS are always has plans for a 2012 event and you won’t want Carl Strube – WNBP-AM, Port Broadcasting then, we wish everyone a very happy and Continuity Programs at the Federal Emergency tool, they do expect stations to follow up on any available to answer MBA member questions to miss it! safe holiday season. As always, I can be Associate Director: reached by phone at 800-471-1875 or email, Management Agency, said in his November failures and document the action taken to correct Karl Renwanz, Video Transfer [email protected]. 9th blog post that this is the first step in a larger them. If you or your staff has any EAS related effort “to strengthen and upgrade our nation’s Sincerely, questions, please call Mark Manuelian, SECC, IN THIS ISSUE public alert and warning system.” Further, he 617-787-7054. stated, “We will continue to test the other newer LEgislativE technologies and communications tools that landscapE in are also going to be part of our public alert and LETTER FROM ma to changE in back to basics: THE EDITOR Sound Bites 2011 2012 lbs online OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION MBA 1101 Airwaves Winter 2012.indd 1 12/14/11 4:19:26 PM 2011 FCC filings recap More Sound Bites 2011 Legislative landscape in MA to change in 2012 JOBS Act Broadcast Provisions Summary With district realignment and the retirement of Below is a summarized list of the filings the MBA signed onto in 2011 to date. These examples of advocacy before the FCC illustrate how vigorous the participating State Broadcasters Associations have Greg Walden (OR-2), Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, released the “Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum” (JOBS) two longtime Congressmen, Massachusetts’ been in protecting and advancing the best interests of the free, local, over-the-air, radio and television Act of 2011. As expected, the bill includes provisions granting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to conduct voluntary incentive auctions of TV Congressional delegation will look a bit industries before the FCC. For a complete summary of each filing, head to Massbroadcasters.org, move broadcast spectrum. This bill takes significant steps toward protecting broadcast television stations through the incentive auction repacking process.