Chapter 24, Inc. Madison, Next Meeting:

Tuesday, April 27, 1999 Society of Broadcast Engineers April 1999 Local Elections TELECOM INDUSTRY NEWS and NAB Review By Neal McLain PSC SPLITS 414 ... AGAIN! J.T. Whitney's On March 16, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) ordered another split of . The split line essentially follows the 674 S. Whitney Way County line: Milwaukee County keeps 414 and the rest of what’s now 414 will get new . The actual split line follows telephone exchange boundaries as close to the Milwaukee County Line as possible (see figure). Dutch Treat Dinner at 5:30pm It’s only been two years since 414 was split the last time. That split, which created 920, was ordered in November, 1996, and became mandatory in Meeting and October, 1997. According to Ameritech’s Number Plan Administrator, that split was supposed to last eight years. It didn’t, and 414 is now “in jeopardy” again. Program That’s the official way of saying that it’s about to run out of central office codes. at 7:00pm OVERLAY VS. SPLIT

Given the need for new number capacity within 414, the Commission didn’t have much choice about addressing the issue: it had to do something. The real question it faced was, how do we do it? In This Issue:

Officially, the Commission considered five alternatives: Minutes ...... page 2

• Two-way split Amateur Radio News ..... page 3 • Three-way split • All-services overlay FCC Rulemakings ...... page 3 • Wireless overlay • Number conservation SBE Short Circuits...... page 8

Of these alternatives, three were rejected immediately: Local Legals ...... page 9 (continued on page 4)

THE FCC UNDER FIRE FROM CONGRESS By Tom Smith Congress has also complained about to mergers, a look at broadcast ownership the White House involvement and rules including more restrictions on local On March 17th, all of the FCC influence in FCC and telecommunication marketing agreements for TV, and low Commissioners appeared before the policy. power FM. Many of the Congressional House Subcommittee on leaders want to loosen the ownership Telecommunications, Trade and They have complained the FCC has rules while Chairman Kennard would like Consumer Protection to make their annual not been implementing the to revisit some of the rules in light of all of report. They appeared as high-ranking Telecommunications Act of 1996 fast the consolidation. A number of members of both the House and Senate enough and that new competition in the Congressmen did send Chairman Committees that oversee the FCC were telecommunications industry, mainly Kennard a letter of support concerning criticizing Chairman William Kennard, and telephone, has not been increasing at a the low power FM action. recent actions of the FCC. Senator John fast enough rate. They also have McCain, Congressmen Billy Tauzin, and complained about items that Chairman At the March 17th hearing, the John Dingell have lead the attacks on the Kennard has either sought to or brought Commissioners outlined what they have FCC with other members joining in. Some before the Commission. They include done in the past year to implement the have even called for the abolishment of free airtime for candidates, the review Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the FCC or privatizing some of its functions. and attaching of public interest conditions (continued on page 9) SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 2

CHAPTER 24 March Business OFFICERS Meeting Minutes

CHAIR: Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers met on Fred Sperry (Wis. Public TV) Tuesday, March 23, 1998, at J.T. Whitney's restaurant in Madison, W - 264-9806 FAX - 264-9646 Wisconsin. There were 17 persons in attendance, including 15 [email protected] members (12 certified). John L. Poray, CAE, Executive Director of the SBE, was one of the members present. VICE-CHAIR: Kevin Ruppert (WISC-TV) The meeting was chaired by Chapter 24 Chair Fred Sperry. W - 271-4321 Call to order: 7:10 pm. Sperry introduced Poray. On unanimous [email protected] voice vote, the minutes of the February meeting were approved as published in the March Newsletter.

SECRETARY: Treasurer’s Report (reported by Chapter Treasurer Stan Lloyd Berg (WHPN-TV) Scharch): the chapter balance is in the black. Newsletter Editor’s W - 270-5700 Report (reported by Newsletter Editor Mike Norton): The deadline [email protected] for the April Newsletter is midnight 4/9/98; the folding party is 5:30 pm 4/14/98 at WKOW-TV. TREASURER: Stan Scharch (WISC-TV) Sustaining Membership Report (reported by Fred Sperry): W - 271-4321 Recent renewals include Maney Logic and Clark Wire & Cable. [email protected] The Chapter now has 26 sustaining members. Program Committee: The April meeting will include elections COMMITTEE APPOINTEES for the upcoming year, and the annual NAB Convention roundup. At the May meeting, Neal McLain will present “EAS/Cable,” a Program Committee: repeat talk he had given last summer at the 1998 Wisconsin Mark Croom 271-1025 Broadcasters Association meeting. Denise Maney 277-8001 Kerry Maki 833-0047 Certification and Education (reported by Jim Hermanson): Steve Zimmerman 274-1234 The deadline for the examinations to take place at the NAB Convention has passed. The next local examinations will take Membership and Past-Chair: place in June. Paul Stoffel Frequency Coordination Report (reported by Tom Smith): [email protected] Most current activity relates to wireless microphones.

Sustaining Membership: Fred Sperry Nominations Committee Report (reported by Steve Paugh): a number of people have indicated in interest in running for office. Special Events: Kevin Ruppert Any Chapter members wishing to run for office is encouraged to contact a member of the Nominations Committee. Certification and Education: Jim Hermanson 836-8340 Old Business: Steve Paugh reported on the Chapter’s planned [email protected] activities in connection with the Engineering Expo. The Expo is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering, Tim Trendt (UW-Platteville) and will take place on campus April 16-18. The Chapter plans to sponsor a booth and a DTV demonstration. Paugh explained Frequency Coordination: the planned schedule, and recruited volunteers to staff the booth. Tom Smith W - 263-2174 [email protected] New Business: Sperry reported on efforts by a company to obtain equipment inventories from participating broadcast National SBE Chapter Liaison: stations, through local SBE chapters. Leonard Charles W - 271-4321 FAX - 271-1709 Announcements: Leonard Charles announced that WISC-TV was hosting an exhibit of Sony DTV equipment on March 24. SBE [email protected] members were invited to attend. (continued on next page) PAGE 3 April 1999

1FCC FCC Rulemakings AMATEUR RADIO NEWS

Compiled By Tom Smith By Tom Weeden, WJ9H PROPOSED The Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) of France wants to put some distance between itself and the latest, soon-to-be-launched mini- MM Docket No. 99-25; RM-9208; Sputnik satellite, which reportedly will transmit messages on behalf of RM- 9242 Creation of Low Swatch, a Swiss watchmaker. AMSAT-Russia, with help from the Russian Power Radio Service Space Flight Control Center (SCSC), had contracted with AMSAT-France last December to design and fabricate an RF module and electronics for this The FCC has extended the latest mini-Sputnik. The new Sputnik-99 satellite will carry a 100-mW comment and reply periods on the transmitter and is expected to be hand-launched sometime this month Notice of Proposed Rulemaking during a space walk by Mir cosmonauts. It will be able to transmit up to 10 concerning the proposed new low different voice messages in addition to digital messages and telemetry. power FM service. The comment AMSAT-France later discovered that the SCSC had made a separate period has been extended from April commercial contract with the Swatch watch company to put its messages 12, 1999 to June 1, 1999, and the on the satellite. AMSAT-France has protested, citing contract provisions reply period has been extended prohibiting “direct advertising” on the air. The concept of commercial from May 12, 1999 to July 1, 1999. messages coming from an amateur radio satellite has touched off a This action is in response to petitions worldwide controversy with many hams threatening to boycott Swatch. from Lucent Digital Radio, the NAB, Others are threatening to jam the satellite by intentionally “legally” transmitting the Consumer Electronic on its 2-meter downlink frequency. Manufacturers Association, all of the state broadcasting associations, The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) will again have a booth at the and the Walt Disney Company. annual NAB Convention in Las Vegas, April 17-22. The NAB has donated the booth space, and volunteer hams from the Las Vegas area will staff the Adopted and released on March booth. Steve Scott, KD8S, of KVWB-TV, invites hams to use the Las Vegas 19, 1999. Amateur Radio Club’s repeaters on 146.94 and 449.700 MHz. “Local broadcasters, SBE Chapter 128, and club members will monitor the From FCC Notice (www.fcc.gov) repeaters and provide assistance as needed during the convention,” Scott says.

Meeting Minutes An AM station in Florida was fined $7000 by the FCC for various (continued) technical violations including radiating an excessive signal on 1909 kHz— The business meeting was in the amateur 160-meter band. WINV in Inverness, FL also was cited for adjourned at 7:41 pm. The program EAS deficiencies and for not having its public file available. Well-known consisted of a discussion led by SBE Georgia ham Tom Rauch, W8JI, had noticed the spurious emission on 1909 Executive Director John Poray. The and contacted the station. “After four unsuccessful attempts to get them to discussion included a description of correct the problem, their switchboard operator said, ‘If we are bothering you the activities planned for the SBE way up in Georgia, why don’t you just call the FCC and quit calling us?’” National Meeting taking place in Rauch reported. “Just to be helpful, I did exactly what she asked!” Rauch connection with the 1999 Broadcasters said it took the FCC just a week to visit the station following his complaint. Clinic, scheduled to take place in “It’s great to see the FCC is back in business!” he said. Madison in October. (Excerpts from April 1999 “QST” Magazine and “The ARRL Letter”) Submitted by Neal McLain, Secretary

Thanks to WISC-TV for maintaining the web Thanks to WKOW-TV for providing copying and server for the Chapter 24 Web page! folding facilities for the Chapter 24 newsletter!

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Telecom Industry News (continued) • The three-way split was deemed More on this later in this article. must be dialable with the same dialing unacceptable because it wouldn’t have plan. And that means everybody has to lasted any longer than a two-way split So that left the PSC with only two dial ten digits for local calls. unless Milwaukee County itself was choices: a two-way split or an all- split. services overlay. The usual arguments THE SPLIT LINE were considered: • The wireless overlay was rejected The PSC also faced another major because it violates FCC rules. This • A split means that half the phone decision: if it ordered a split, then where? idea inevitably comes up in area code numbers in the affected area get a new The split line has to fall somewhere, relief proceedings: if the wireless area code. Businesses don’t like this and wherever if falls, local residents (paging, cellular, and PCS) companies because they have to change their and businesses are invariably upset. are using up all the numbers, why not phone numbers on everything from put them in their own area code? New letterheads and business cards to Further complicating the situation: York implemented a wireless area code trucks, buildings, websites, and the split line must (or at least should) several years ago when 917 was billboards. Companies that do a lot of follow telephone exchange boundaries. overlaid on 212 and 718. It apparently business with out-of-town customers These boundaries usually don’t follow worked fine, but the wireless companies lose business because their old political boundaries. As an example, didn’t like it because that “funny” area customers can’t reach them. And the 414/920 line splits the Town of code put them at a competitive cellular companies have a special Oconomowoc in two: the southern half disadvantage. The next attempt to problem: changing the number of a cell is in 414 and the northern half is in 920. implement a wireless overlay (in phone means that the phone itself has During the 1996 proceedings, the Town Chicago in 1995, when Ameritech tried to be reprogrammed, so half their Chairman claimed that the split line to overlay 630 on 312 and 708) wound customers have to bring their phones in should follow county lines. But that up in the FCC’s lap. The FCC decided for reprogramming. plan, of course, would split right through that overlays are okay if they’re the middle of several exchanges. “competitively neutral” and apply • An overlay means 10-digit dialing Furthermore, it would split incorporated equally to all services. So all companies for local calls. Theoretically, it’s possible municipalities like Watertown and — cellular, paging, PCS, and landline to retain 7-digit dialing within each Whitewater which straddle county lines. — have to draw from the same pool of separate area code, even in an overlay numbers without regard to area code. situation, but that means customers PUBLIC INPUT But overlays that discriminate against would have to dial 10 digits to reach specific types of service are prohibited. numbers in the other area code. And Before it reached its decision, the that would put wireless companies at a PSC solicited comments from the major • “Number conservation” was competitive disadvantage because constituencies affected by the decision: rejected primarily because the FCC they’re the ones most likely to need the telephone industry, the business has claimed jurisdiction. But there’s new numbers. In its Ameritech decision, community, and the general public. also a secondary (unstated) reason: the FCC responded to this complaint the whole issue is so fuzzy that nobody by establishing the “dialing parity” rule: According to the PSC, the public really knows what to do about it anyway. in an overlay situation, all numbers favored a geographic split. Surveys published in its recent order show that 60% to 70% of residential customers prefer a split, primarily to retain 7-digit 414 Area dialing. These same surveys also show Code Split 920 that an even higher percentage of Ozau- businesses prefer a split — this in spite kee Dodge Washington of the fact that many of them would have to change area codes.

414 The telephone industry favored an overlay. This represents a shift since Jefferson 262 1996: Mil- Waukesha waukee • In 1996, the industry was divided. Ameritech favored a split, and produced

608 Racine an extensive survey to back up its Walworth position. BellSouth, then the owner of Rock the Cellular One franchise in Wisconsin, Kenosha advocated an overlay, asserting that

(continued on next page) PAGE 5 April 1999

Telecom Industry News (continued) splits don’t solve the problem, they just THE NEW CODE population; rising residential beget more splits. To bolster its position, penetration levels; the increased use BellSouth pointed to the Chicago The new area code will be 262. Like of centrex and centrex-like telephone situation where the 312/773 split had all new area code assignments, this systems by businesses. And, of course, just been implemented, thus creating code was selected on the basis of the endless proliferation of gadgets: the fifth separate area code in what several constraints: pagers, cell phones, PCS phones, fax used to be just one area code. machines, computer modems, voice • An area code can be used only mail boxes. • In 1998, the industry favored an once. This is an obvious criterion, but overlay. According to the PSC’s order, it poses definite limitations on the But there’s a more fundamental “the telecommunications industry team selection of a new code. Theoretically, reason: the proliferation of competitive ... reached a general consensus that there are a total of 784 area codes; telephone companies demanding new an all-service overlay, rather than a however, about 260 have already been central office codes. geographic split, should be assigned, and another 200 or so are recommended to the Commission.” reserved for special purposes, so the To understand the significance of Apparently Ameritech changed its mind. actual pool of available codes is limited this reason, we first have to understand to around 300 combinations. the format of North American telephone THE PSC DECISION numbers. Every North American • To avoid customer confusion, an telephone number is composed of three In the end, the Commission voted area code cannot be the same as any parts: for the split. The final vote was 2-1: existing central office code within the NPA-NXX-XXXX area. Thus, for example, 608-608- Chairperson Ave M. Bie voted for a XXXX is a prohibited combination. The where: split. Commissioner John H. Farrow new area code meets this criterion: 262 voted for a split. Commissioner Joseph is not used as a central office code • NPA is the “Numbering Plan Area” P. Mettner voted for an overlay. anywhere in 414. Even so, there may (that’s the official name for an area be some confusion in Racine (which code). In a comment to the Milwaukee will have 262-260) and Port Washington Journal Sentinel, Mettner noted that “a (262-261). • NXX is the Central Office Code. N conversion to an overlay system would can be any digit 2-9; X can be any digit be cheaper and would push back the • Insofar as possible, a new area 0-9. An NXX code can be anything inevitable time when southeastern code should not conflict with any nearby from 200 to 999 except for N11 Wisconsin would have to add yet central office code in any adjacent area combinations like 411 and 911. Each another area code.” [1] code. The new area code will be NPA contains 792 NXX codes. adjacent four other area codes: 414, Mettner was also the only 608, 847, and 920. Two conflicts exist: • XXXX is the line code; it can be Commissioner who seriously 608-262 in Madison and 920-262 in anything from 0000 to 9999. considered an overlay back in 1996, Watertown. Of course, 414-262 does even though he eventually voted for a not exist; neither does 847-262, in spite The NPA-NXX combination split in that proceeding. According to of the fact that 847 itself is in jeopardy. identifies a specific telephone exchange Albert F. Schams, a Communications owned by a specific company. Thus, Analyst with the Commission, “The SO WHERE DID ALL THE for example, 608-271 identifies the [1996] vote ended up being unanimous. NUMBERS GO? Ameritech exchange on Black Oak Drive There were some questions by in Madison, 608-272 identifies the Commissioner Mettner regarding some So why did the 414/920 split last CenturyTel exchange in Cataract, and other possible area code relief. only two years? Where did all the 608-279 identifies a Cellular One However, after a brief discussion with numbers go? exchange. These combinations are the other two Commissioners, he important for two reasons: call routing changed his position in support of the We’ve discussed the obvious and billing. staff draft recommendation.” [2] reasons in these pages before: rising (continued on page 6)

ATIONAL Jim Rigsby Alcatel Network Systems N TOWER SERVICE Account Executive 2800 West Higgins Road Private, State, Suite 825 Local Government Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 Daryl Snowden Paul Jensen Tel: (847) 490 2076 Fax: (847) 490 2073 Office 608-884-8205 Office 608-255-0529 E-mail: james_a_rigsby@ Fax 608-884-6021 Fax 608-255-2599 aud.alcatel.com Mobile 608-751-8284 Mobile 608-235-8559 SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 6

Telecom Industry News (conclusion) Every one of those NPA-NXX company, every PCS company, every there are literally millions of software combinations contains 10,000 possible competitive landline carrier — needs a programs that can’t accommodate telephone numbers. Whether they’re separate NXX code before it can provide routing and billing down to the 1000- actually used or not, these numbers service to even one customer. number level. Getting every one of are locked up and can’t be used these programs replaced would be a elsewhere: even an exchange with as And that’s the problem: area codes monumental task. few as 1000 lines still locks up 10,000 don’t run out of telephone numbers, numbers. Cataract, for example, has, they run out of NXX codes. And, of course, there’s an obvious at most, 1000 lines: all numbers in question: will it make much difference? Cataract are in the form 608-272-3XXX. NUMBER CONSERVATION In larger, growing communities like Madison, where there are lots of Now what happens when another In at attempt to mitigate this problem, competitors, NXX codes get used up company comes along and wants to the FCC has undertaken a “number fairly rapidly. In smaller communities, provide a competitive telephone service conservation” study. The idea is to where number conservation might help, in the area? For call-routing and billing assign telephone numbers in blocks of there aren’t many competitors purposes, it needs a separate NPA- 1000, rather than 10,000. Thus, for requesting new numbers anyway. So, NXX combination, even though it may example, a call to 608-268-1XXX would one might ask, what’s the point? not need anywhere near than 10,000 be routed to an Ameritech exchange, numbers. But it still gets 10,000 but a call 608-268-7XXX would routed I guess we’ll find out when the FCC numbers because that’s the way the to a competitive carrier. releases the results of its study. system works. There’s a big problem with this idea: —————————————— In recent years, dozens of new the NPA-NXX-XXXX number format is [1] Lee Bergquist, Milwaukee Journal companies have entered the telephone embedded into just about every one of Sentinel, February 17, 1999. business in competition with the existing the thousands of software programs landline companies. Every one of them that run telephone exchanges. [2] E-mail message, Schams to McLain, — every paging company, every cellular Including “smart” pay phones and PBXs, December 4, 1996.

OVERLAY vs. SPLIT: THE two years age. Since then, the entire requires 10 digits. All calls within the BATTLES ELSEWHERE state has had only two geographic metro area are “local” in the sense areas, each with two overlaid area that toll charges do not apply. This codes, and 10-digit local-call dialing plan was devised in order to retain 7- By Neal McLain has been mandatory statewide. digit dialing; yet, according to Max Maryland will never have to deal with Jarman, a reporter for The Arizona Wisconsin isn’t the only state the issue again — at least not within the Republican, 70% of all local calls still facing area-code relief decisions: the lifetimes of the present members of the require 10 digits because they cross battle continues to play out in many PSC. area-code boundaries. other states and provinces as well. Several states that have resolutely Here’s a rundown of some of the California. Having already insisted on splits are now facing the more memorable decisions of late: chopped the Los Angeles area up second and third rounds of splits. into six geographic area codes, the Many of them have finally decided to Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Public Utilities Commission has finally bite the bullet and order overlays, but Commission has split the Phoenix metro decided to stop splitting, and has some are still ordering more splits. area into three area codes. Most of ordered an overlay of 424 on 310, an Phoenix remains in 602; suburban area that covers the western suburbs Meanwhile, the State of Maryland areas have been moved to 480 or 623. from Torrance to Santa Monica. The sits quietly on the sidelines: the Dialing within each separate area code dialing plan: 11-digit dialing (1-310- Maryland Public Service Commission remains 7-digit; dialing across area NXX-XXX or 1-424-NXX-XXXX) is resolved the issue once and for all code boundaries within the metro area (continued on next page)

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OVERLAY vs. SPLIT (continued) required for local calls. Florida. The Florida Public Service boundary rule: it ordered a split that Commission has ordered two very doesn’t follow telephone exchange Why eleven digits instead of just strange overlays: boundary lines. Under the PUC’s order, ten? To answer that, we have to look at 612 was split along municipal boundary the historic reasons behind that initial • In what used to be 305, they’ve lines: Minneapolis and suburbs retained “1”. Back in the early days of long ordered a “concentrated” overlay. Dade 612, while St. Paul and suburbs were distance, the “1” was a switching County (Miami metro area) gets a new moved to 651. Unfortunately, 39 NXX necessity: the old electromechanical overlay (786) and 10-digit dialing. But codes straddle the line. In order to switches couldn’t handle direct-dial long Monroe County (the keys) retains 305 accommodate the split, these 39 codes distance, so the “1” switched long- exclusively, with 7-digit dialing. were duplicated in both area codes, distance calls to another switch that resulting in a waste of 390,000 could. As older switches were replaced, • In what used to be 407 (Orlando telephone numbers. the “1” ceased to be necessary for plus the “Space Coast”) they’ve also switching purposes, but by then, it had ordered a concentrated overlay, but And that’s not the end of it: just last acquired a sociological significance, this one is even weirder. Brevard month, the PUC ordered a 3-way split and several state commissions County (home of Cape Canaveral) of what’s left of 612. Minneapolis will instituted rules to keep it. Unfortunately, moves to an entirely new area code: keep 612, and the western suburbs get different states instituted different rules: 321 (as in 3-2-1-IGNITION) and keeps the two new area codes. They haven’t 7-digit dialing. The rest of what’s now even tried to draw the split lines yet, but • In some states, including Arizona 407 (including Orlando and Walt Disney that will surely be another big battle. and Wisconsin, the “1” was a “toll alert”: World) stays in 407, but gets 321 as an the call you about to make is a long- overlay, along with mandatory 10-digit Nevada. NAB attendees will be distance call. All long-distance calls dialing. happy to know that the area code in Las required an initial “1” whether they were Vegas has not changed, although most inter-area code (1+10 digits) or intra- Illinois. The Chicago area is once of the rest of Nevada now has a new area code (1+7 digits). Remember again running out of NXX codes, and code (775). When Nevada first began when you could call Janesville from Illinois Commerce Commission is more- area-code relief proceedings three Madison by dialing 1-75X-XXXX? or-less perpetually studying the years ago, Las Vegas requested a new situation. The immediate problem is in area code: 777, as in LUCKY 7-7-7. • In other states, including Illinois the northern suburbs, where customers But they didn’t get it because all easily- and California, the “1” meant that that have already suffered through two area remembered combinations (222, 333, next three digits are an area code. All code changes in the past ten years etc.) have been reserved for some inter-area code calls, toll or local, (312, then 708, and currently 847). unspecified future use. required 1+area code; all intra-area Splitting it once again would result in a code calls, toll or local, prohibited the third area code change for many New York. The New York Public “1”. customers. But every discussion of Service Commission has ordered two overlays immediately runs into overlays in New York City, but it has left Once embedded in the regulations, opposition from the Citizens Utility the existing wireless overlay (917) intact. these rules were soon embedded in the Board which adamantly opposes 10- Local-call dialing will be either 10 or 11 routing and billing software as well. (or 11-) digit dialing. So the ICC keeps digits, but they’re still arguing about postponing a decision. Meanwhile, that. In either case, New York City will Since 1995, an area code has been cellular and PCS companies are signing end up like this: required for all long distance calls up new customers in 847 by stealing nationwide, so these distinctions have NXX codes from neighboring area Manhattan: 212+646+917 largely disappeared. But the legacy codes. If that keeps up, they’ll end up software programs are still in use. And with a wireless overlay by default. Outer boroughs: 347+718+917 in California, an area code has to be preceded by a “1” even if it’s your next- . The Minnesota Public Texas. The Texas Public Utilities door neighbor. Utilities Commission has created a split Commission has dissolved two splits it that violates a fundamental split- (continued on page 8)

JAMES F. DOHERTY Traffic Supervisor SCHARCH ELECTRONICS CO. Satellite & Video Services Small Business Communications ▼ 1105 Middleton Street MADISON, WI 53717-1078 (608) 831-2266 (800) 831-2266

275 NORTH CORPORATE DRIVE B ROOKFIELD, WI 53045-5818 414.792.7708 FAX: 414.792.7717 e-mail: [email protected] SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 8

SBE Short Circuits - April 1999 Employment By John L. Poray, CAE chapters, plus, exams may be taken SBE Executive Director during the NAB Convention in Las Opportunity Vegas. You have more opportunities to LETTER TO GMs PROMOTES SBE become certified - at times convenient WISC TV currently has an CERTIFICATION to you. For more information about opening in the Engineering SBE Certification, see your Chapter department. Duties include On March 29, a letter was sent by Certification Chair or contact Linda installation and maintenance of First Class mail to all radio and Godby-Emerick, Certification Director broadcast and production television station general managers in at the SBE National Office at (317) 253- equipment. Our Engineers also the U.S., from Terry Baun, SBE 1640 or [email protected]. participate in operator training and Certification Chairman. Mr. Baun’s assistance. letter described the benefits of having MONTHLY HAMnet BRINGS SBE a competent, professional engineering TO REMOTE AREAS Qualifications include 3 years staff and that SBE Certification is one experience in broadcast of the best ways to ensure that they do. At 8:00 pm EST, 0000 GMT, on the engineering and the energy to The letter encourages each GM to second Sunday of each month, SBE participate in the transition to Digital support in tangible ways, the efforts of Chapter 73 takes the air. Hal Hostetler, Television. their engineering staff to become WA7BGX, of Tucson, Arizona, is the certified. GMs were reminded of the tie control station for the “meeting.” Prefer SBE certification. between having a qualified engineering Updates on SBE activities are given Experience in other areas of staff and an improved station bottom each month and participants can Television or Radio Broadcasting line. discuss technical issues and visit. and computers is a plus. HAMnet was originally begun to help MAKE 1999 THE YEAR YOU serve members who lived too far to WISC TV is an entity of BECOME SBE CERTIFIED attend meetings of any regular chapter, Television Wisconsin, Inc. which but any amateur operator is welcome owns and operates additional media There are now four SBE Certification and encouraged to participate. Look companies in Southern Wisconsin. exam periods held each year in local for HAMnet on 14.205 MHz. We offer a professional challenging work environment, competitive compensation benefits package, OVERLAY vs. SPLIT starting assigning 281 numbers before the split line was finalized. After the and we encourage our employees (conlusion) split line was finalized, many new 281 to grow professionally with us. customers had to be moved into 713. created just two years ago after But to avoid conflict with other 713 To apply, send resume and salary protracted legal battles. In both cases, numbers, these customers ended up requirements by Friday 4/23/99 to: the existing split line has been dissolved, with completely new numbers. the two area codes have been merged, Television Wisconsin Inc. and third area code has been overlaid Virginia. The Virginia regulatory Attn: HR/ENG on top. In both cases, 10-digit dialing is commission has ordered an overlay of PO Box 44965 now mandatory. The new combinations 571 on 703, and has instituted 10-digit Madison, WI 53744-4965 are: dialing; this area includes the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. The Dallas metro area: 214+469+972 Maryland suburbs, of course, are Chapter 24 already in an overlay (301+240) with World Wide Web Site Houston metro area: 281+713+832 10-digit dialing. This leaves DC as a 7- http://www.sbe24.org digit island in the middle. Big question SBE The Houston situation is particularly now: will DC split, or institute an overlay? : ironic. The legal proceedings back in Steve Paugh is the editor for the HTML Version 1996 were so drawn out that BellSouth Sources: LincMad’s Telecom website; of this Newsletter, available monthly on the simply ran out of NXX codes in 713 and AreaCode-Info website. SBE Chapter 24 web page.

David Thormodsgaard Panasonic Broadcast Sales Engineer Belden Wire & Cable Broadcast & Television Systems Company [email protected] Company 800-388-0008 • (612) 841-3308 4218 South Regal Manor Court HERB VAN DRIEL Atlanta 1996 Cellular (612) 860-2813 New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151 Direct Sales Manager 7711 Computer Avenue Entertainment Systems Division The Official Broadcast Equipment of the Edina, MN 55435 Phone: 414 827 0270 1996 Olympic Games. (612) 896-9898 Facsimile: 414 827 0374 1707 N Randall Road FAX (612) 896-9899 Jan Reesman Phone Mail: 800 241 7564 E-Zip: 1-C-3 WI Tel: 608.355.0662 HQ Tel: 847.468.5160 Elgin,IL 61023 WI FAX: 608.355.0663 HQ Fax: 847.468.5161 www.alphavideo.com Sales Representative Box 2611 http://www.belden.com Division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America PAGE 9 April 1999

FCC Under Fire LOCAL LEGALS CHAPTER 24 (continued) 1FCC their plans for the future of the FCC. SUSTAINING Chairman Kennard and Commissioners Compiled by Tom Smith MEMBERS Susan Ness, Gloria Tristiani and Michael Powell outlined similar views that there GRANTED need to be fewer regulations, a RECENT RENEWALS: reorganization of the FCC with fewer WIBA-AM 1310 KHz, WTSO bureaus, and greater emphasis on (AM) 1070 KHz, WIBA-FM 101.5 Alpha Video enforcement with less emphasis on MHz, and WZEE (FM) 104.1 MHz National Tower Service rulemaking. Universal phone service, in Madison, WMLI (FM) 96.3 MHz Sauk City, WMAD-FM 92.1 consumer protection and information, THANKS TO ALL OUR MHz Sun Prairie increasing competition, and spectrum SUSTAINING MEMBERS: management were issues that they feel The FCC granted the application the FCC should focus on. Commissioner Alcatel USA Harold Furchgott-Roth took a different for transfer of licenses from Capstar view, in which the FCC should follow the Broadcasting Corporation to BCS Wireless laws that Congress writes in a very narrow Chancellor Media Corporation. The Belden Wire and Cable way. Commissioner Furchgott-Roth often investment firm of Hicks, Muse, Tate CTI disagrees with the other four and Furst was a major stockholder Clark Wire and Cable Commissioners decisions. of both companies and it’s Harris Corporation chairman, Thomas Hicks will head Hewlett-Packard Chancellor. Chancellor Media will The first person to appear before the maney-logic Congressional Committee was Mr. Huber own about 450 radio stations when the merger is completed. Norlight Telecommunications Peter, a senior fellow with the Manhattan Panasonic Broadcast Institute for Policy Research and a partner Announced on March 12, 1999. in a Washington D.C. law firm. In his Richardson Electronics statement, he claimed that the FCC was WTLX (FM) 100.5 MHz Roscor Wisconsin impeding new competition by taking too Colombus Scharch Electronics long to act on many issues and that the Skyline Communications FCC still follows, much of what he felt An application was granted for Sony Broadcast a construction permit for WTLX to was, outdated language that still exists in Tektronix move it’s transmitter location and the 1934 Communications Act. He Teleport Minnesota thought that language in the build a new antenna structure with a change of height. The transmitter Token Creek Productions Telecommunications Act of 1996 Video Images overrode parts of the 1934 Act. Mr. Peter will move from the coordinates of called for the FCC to move from a role of 43-20-04/89-09-57 to the WISC-TV 3 a general regulator into a role of an coordinates of 43-16-28/89-16-32. WKOW-TV 27 arbiter, adjudicator, and enforcer. The present site is seven miles WMSN-TV 47 west of Colombus near WI. Highway WMTV-TV 15 The tension between Congress and 60 and County Highway N. The the FCC increased during the tenure of new site is 4 miles northeast of FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, and will DeForest on County Highway V continue as the telecommunications between US Highway 51 and revolution grows and the industry players County Highway C. Announced on jockey and lobby for position. March 16, 1999. From the FCC Daily Notices and From Statements before the House John Salzwedel Commerce Subcommittee FM Database (www.fcc.gov) and 3893 Terrace Circle DeForest, Wisconsin 53532 BROADCASTING and CABLE. Office: (608) 238-7575 Fax: (608) 238-4955 (www.house.gov) and BROADCASTING Web Page: www.tokencreek.com E-Mail: [email protected] and CABLE.

• Tower Construction Jim Pianowski Tektronix, Inc. • Maintenance Central Regional Manager Video and Networking Division • HDTV upgrades Western Area 515 West Algonquin Road, Ste 100 Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005 [email protected] 800 458-7587 ext. 6797 Voice Mail John W. Crooks (608) 527-5670 847 431-5755 Mobile 847 734-6797 847 381-4738 Home 7847 BIG SKY DRIVE Vice President 847 364-7582 Fax 800 452-1368 Pager MADISON, WISCONSIN 53719 (608)833-0047 • FAX(608)833-5055 Over 40 years of service to the Broadcasters. P SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 10

Milwaukee Madison Chicago Indianapolis VIDEO Becky Hilborn 40W267 Keslinger Road Broadcast Sales LaFox, IL 60147 USA I M A G E S Specialist

SBE Phone: (800) 348-5580 (630) 208-2372 Video Images, Inc. Your Tube and FAX: (630) 208-2450 NATIONAL 2137 S. Stoughton Road • Madison, WI 53716 Broadcast Component email: [email protected] Phone:(608) 221-8888 • FAX:(608)221-9252 Source. WWW: http://www.rell.com Internet: http://www.videoimages.com/

- Thomas Sibenaller Sales Representative

Society of Broadcast Roscor Wisconsin 2610 Van Loon Road Engineers, Inc. 1355 ARMOUR BOULEVARD La Crosse, WI 54601 MUNDELEIN, IL 60060-4401 Phone: 608-784-6702 8445 Keystone Crossing (800) CABLE-IT • (847) 949-9944 FAX: 608-785-0505 FAX: (847) 949-9595 e-mail: [email protected] Suite 140 E-MAIL: [email protected] Indianapolis, IN 46240 WWW.CLARKWC.COM ( Office (317) 253-1640 Fax (317) 253-0418 Mark Durenberger General Manager 90 South 11th Street Minneapolis, MN 5727 Tokay Boulevard Job Line (317) 253-0474 55403 Office (612) 330-2433 Madison, Wisconsin 53719 http://www.sbe.org Fax (612) 330-2603 e-mail WKOW (608) 274-1234 [email protected] Madison Fax: (608) 274-9514

SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter SBE 5174 Anton Drive #15 Madison, WI 53719-4201 FIRST CLASS MAIL

Newsletter edited on Pagemaker 5.0 by: Mike Norton Contributors this month: Neal McLain, Tom Smith, and Tom Weeden. Thanks to Leonard Charles for his work on the Chapter 24 WWW page.

© 1999 by SBE Chapter 24, Inc. Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Society, its officers, or its members. SBE Chapter 24, Inc. regrets, but is not liable for, any omissions or errors. The Chapter 24 Newsletter is published twelve times per year. Other SBE Chapters are permitted to use excerpts if attributed to the original author, sources, and SBE Chapter 24. APRIL MEETING and PROGRAM Society of Broadcast Engineers SBE CHAPTER 24 MADISON, WISCONSIN Tuesday, April 27, 1999

Elections and NAB Review Chapter 24 members will be voting for officers for the upcoming term.

This month's program will also include a roundtable discussion with those who attended the annual NAB convention in Las Vegas. Please bring you questions and answers about the big show!

Dutch Treat Dinner at 5:30pm

at J.T. Whitney's 674 S. Whitney Way

Meeting and Program at 7:00pm Visitors and guests are welcome at all of our SBE meetings!

1999 UPCOMING MEETING/PROGRAM DATES: Day Date Program Thursday May 20 EAS/Cable Tuesday June 22 T.B.D.

Program Committee: Kerry Maki Denise Maney Steve Zimmerman Mark Croom 833-0047 277-8001 274-1234 271-1025