Chapter 24, Inc. Madison, Wisconsin Next Meeting:

Wednesday, January 19, 2000 Society of Broadcast Engineers January 2000

TELECOM INDUSTRY NEWS ITU-R 601 Digital By Neal McLain Video Testing A HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY CABLE SYSTEMS PART 3: STAR , MARCUS, CHARTER Dutch Treat Dinner By the time completes its pending acquisition of at 5:30 PM ’ cable systems, Charter will be the only operator left in Dane County. This is the last in a series of three articles relating the history of the original cable companies that collectively at Babes Bar & Grill became Bresnan and Charter. This article is devoted to the companies in and near Dane County that first became part of Star Cablevision, and then 5614 Schroeder Rd. eventually became part of Charter. CABLE VIDEO, INC. Meeting and Cable Video was founded in 1980 by Vern Bertrand. In the 60s, Bertrand Program had been Sales Manager at Video Systems, Inc., a video-equipment systems integrator based in Skokie, Illinois. After leaving Video Systems, Bertrand took at 7:00 PM up residence in Lodi, and served as sales representative for several video- equipment manufacturers. In This Issue: During the 80s, Cable Video acquired and built cable television franchises in four municipalities: Minutes...... page 2 • Village of Dane, Dane County • City of Lodi, Columbia County Amateur Radio News ... page 3 • Village of Prairie du Sac, Sauk County • Village of Waunakee, Dane County FCC Rulemakings ...... page 7

These communities were served from two headends, one in Dane (serving SBE Resume Service ... page 8 Dane, Lodi, and Waunakee) and one in Prairie du Sac. Extensions from both headends also provided service in several nearby townships. One such SBE Short Circuits ..... page 9 (continued on page 4) Y2K, THE DRILL By Kevin Ruppert Y2K gave us all the chance to hone stockpiled canned goods and other skills that were rusty or altogether supplies. Now that the “event” is over, Say what you want about Y2K, but it forgotten about. (Remember DOS?) It they are giving all of that food to local was an excellent drill. Before you turn also gave us an incentive to investigate food pantries. the page, think about it for just a minute. new and innovative ways to do things When was the last time you checked that had been done one way for a long Many say that it was a waste of time ALL of the systems in your plant, forged time. Maybe that change had to be and money. I disagree. Even though relationships with the tech support made because the old system would “millions” of dollars were spent by departments at their manufacturers, or no longer work at all once the date companies the world over, I think it was established new ones with companies changed over to 2000. It gave us a worth it. It gave as all a chance to see that took over the product after the chance to break old paradigms. how dependent we are on technology, originator went out of business? and to prepare to do without at least Another totally unexpected benefit some of it. When was the last time you seriously of Y2K was the opportunity to give exercised your generator during cold something back to the community. Our It gave us an opportunity to weather, or made up a plan to run the local newspaper ran an article about a remember how vulnerable we are to station on a portable Honda? group that feared the worse. They (continued on page 3) SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 2

CHAPTER 24 December Business OFFICERS Meeting Minutes CHAIR: Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers met on Kevin Ruppert (WISC-TV) Thursday, December 21, 1999 at Engineering Hall, on the W - 271-4321 UW-Madison campus. There were fourteen members and [email protected] two guests present; eleven held SBE certification.

VICE-CHAIR: The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Tom Smith Tom Smith (WHA-TV) at 7:05 pm. Minutes of the November meeting were approved W - 263-2174 as published. [email protected] It was reported that Chapter 24 has 23 Sustaining Members SECRETARY: including the recent renewal of WISC-TV. Lloyd Berg (WKOW-TV) W - 274-1234 Mike Norton reported that the January Newsletter deadline lloydberg@earthlink. will be Friday, 1/7/00, at midnight; with the folding party on Wednesday, 1/12/00, at 5:30 pm at WKOW-TV. TREASURER: Stan Scharch (WISC-TV) Jim Hermanson, Certification & Education, reported that W - 271-4321 the next local certification exams will be given in February; [email protected] deadline for application is 12/31/99. The following opportunity for SBE certification will be at the NAB convention. COMMITTEE APPOINTEES Tom Smith, Frequency Coordinator, made a report about Program Committee: recent frequency coordination efforts and issues. Mark Croom 271-1025 Denise Maney 277-8001 Tom Smith read a letter from Kevin Ruppert thanking all Kerry Maki 833-0047 who helped with the November meeting (student night). Steve Paugh 277-5139 Steve Zimmerman 274-1234 Tom Smith read a letter from John Poray (SBE Executive Director) congratulating Chapter 24 for success of student Membership: night meeting. Paul Stoffel [email protected] Vicki Kipp reported on the recent field trip to Green Bay to tour the ABC HDTV truck. Sustaining Membership and Past-Chair: Fred Sperry W - 264-9806 Tom Smith reported that WHA-TV has an opening for an [email protected] engineer.

Special Events: The business portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 Vicki Kipp (ECB-TOC) pm. W - 264-9631 [email protected] The evening’s program was presented by David Devereaux- Weber, engineer with the UW-Madison Division of Information Certification and Education: Technology. It featured information on, and demonstrations Jim Hermanson 836-8340 of, streaming audio and video over Local Area Networks and [email protected] the Internet. Tim Trendt (UW-Platteville) Submitted by Lloyd Berg, Secretary Frequency Coordination: Tom Smith W - 263-2174 [email protected] PROGRAM IDEAS? Is there a topic you would like to see covered at one of our local National SBE Chapter Liaison: Chapter 24 meetings? Or, better yet, is there a topic that you are Leonard Charles qualified to speak on at an upcoming meeting? Please forward W - 271-4321 FAX - 271-1709 any ideas to one of the Program committee members or to one [email protected] of the Chapter 24 officers. PAGE 3 January 2000

Y2K, The Drill (continued) AMATEUR RADIO NEWS “circumstances beyond our control”. (We don’t get an opportunity to use that By Tom Weeden, WJ9H phrase on the air very often anymore, • In a move that will streamline amateur radio licensing, the FCC has do we?). The skills needed for surviving issued its long-awaited Report and Order on amateur licensing restructuring. Y2K were very much like those needed Starting April 15, 2000, new licenses will be issued for only three classes: to survive a severe winter storm, a skill Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Also, the 13 and 20 word-per- that could prove useful in this part of the minute Morse code requirements will be dropped in favor of a single code world! speed proficiency test of 5 WPM.

I think that this was such a good “We believe that an individual’s ability to demonstrate increased Morse experience that we should plan on doing code proficiency is not necessarily indicative of that individual’s ability to it more often. Maybe every five years or contribute to the advancement of the radio art,” the FCC said in its Report so? (Okay, would you settle for every 10 and Order. Besides drastically streamlining the Amateur Radio licensing years?) process, the FCC said its actions would “eliminate unnecessary requirements that may discourage or limit individuals from becoming Here’s a thought for those of you trained operators, technicians, and electronic experts.” who like to indulge in conspiracy theories. Maybe our government Although no new Novice and Advanced licenses will be issued after the knew that Y2K would be a bust. Maybe effective date of the Report and Order, the FCC does not plan to automatically they found this out with their super upgrade any existing license privileges. The American Radio Relay League fast computers months ago, but let had proposed a one-time, across-the-board upgrading of current Novice and Tech Plus licensees to General class, but the FCC declined to adopt us all prepare for the worse anyway! the idea. This means that current licensees will retain their current After all, we no longer have air raid operating privileges, including access to various modes and subbands, drills or “duck and cover” drills. Maybe and will be able to renew their licenses indefinitely. this was one way that they could get us to be on our toes once again the A copy of the entire Report and Order (FCC 99-412) is available at http:/ way we were when the “red menace” /www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/1999/db991230/ was something to be concerned fcc99412.txt about. • 75 MHz of spectrum around 5.9 GHz has been reallocated to the new Anyway, those are my random “Intelligent Transportation System” services aimed at improving highway thoughts on the subject. Maybe you safety. The allocation of 5.850 to 5.925 GHz includes the upper portion of have some favorite Y2K stories that a secondary amateur radio allocation (5.650 to 5.925 GHz) which is shared you would like to share with the with government radar and non-government fixed satellite uplinks. The readers of this newsletter. Maybe you FCC said that proposed uses of this Part 90 service would include traffic light can tell us about that piece of backup control, travelers’ alerts, automatic toll collection, traffic congestion detection gear that management finally let you and electronic inspection of moving trucks. The commission has already buy, only because of Y2K. allocated 5.725 to 5.825 GHz for high-speed wireless digital communications under Part 15.

(Excerpts from January 2000 “QST” Magazine and the American Radio Relay League’s “The ARRL Letter”) Jim Rigsby Alcatel Network Systems Account Executive 2800 West Higgins Road Private, State, Suite 825 Local Government Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 Thanks to WKOW-TV for providing Thanks to WISC-TV for Tel: (847) 490 2076 Fax: (847) 490 2073 copying and folding facilities for maintaining the web server for the E-mail: james_a_rigsby@ the Chapter 24 newsletter! Chapter 24 Web page! aud.alcatel.com

Jim Pianowski Tektronix, Inc. Central Regional Manager Video and Networking Division WISC-TV CBS Western Area 515 West Algonquin Road, Ste 100 Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005 [email protected] 800 458-7587 ext. 6797 Voice Mail 847 431-5755 Mobile 847 734-6797 847 381-4738 Home John Salzwedel 847 364-7582 Fax 800 452-1368 Pager 3893 Terrace Circle DeForest, Wisconsin 53532 Office: (608) 238-7575 Fax: (608) 238-4955 P Web Page: www.tokencreek.com E-Mail: [email protected] MADISON SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 4

TELECOM INDUSTRY NEWS (continued) extension provided service in the Town (public libraries, water, sewer, electric headend via cable. of Westport near Waunakee; as a power). So, even though both villages result, Westport was served by two are served by the same telephone North-West Telephone cable companies: Cable Video in the company (GTE), it’s probably no subsequently sold all of its properties, northeastern portion, and Complete surprise that they selected different both telephone and cable television. Channel TV in the eastern and southern cable companies. The Nor-Com cable properties were portions, near Madison and Middleton. sold to Star Cablevision of Fond du In 1987, Cable Video sold all of its Lac, and the telephone properties were Another extension, from the Prairie cable television systems to Star sold to CenturyTel of Monroe, du Sac headend, provided service to Cablevision of Fond du Lac. Louisiana. townships in three counties: Sauk (Town Prairie du Sac), Columbia (Town NOR-COM VIDEO, INC. TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, of West Point), and Dane (Town of INC. Roxbury). In order to provide service in Nor-Com Video was established West Point and Roxbury, Cable Video as the cable television subsidiary of In the late 70s, when Telephone installed a trunk cable across the North-West Telephone Company of and Data Systems decided to enter the Wisconsin River. This cable, at the Tomah. In the 1980s, North-West cable television business, it was Highway 60 Bridge at Prairie du Sac, is Telephone provided telephone service already a well-established telephone still in service today (Figure 1). in several Wisconsin communities, company with operations in several including DeForest. states including Arizona, Colorado, Although Cable Video served Prairie Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee, and du Sac, it did not serve Sauk City, Prairie During the early 80s, Nor-Com Wisconsin. Locally, it owned (and still du Sac’s immediate neighbor to the acquired and built cable franchises in owns) telephone exchanges serving south. Sauk City’s village board several nearby municipalities: Black Earth, Mount Vernon, Verona, subsequently awarded a separate • City of Adams, Adams County and Waunakee. Its corporate franchise to U.S. Cable of Viking, and • Village of Black Earth, Dane County headquarters office is in Chicago, and Viking built a separate headend at the • Village of Mazomanie, Dane County its operations center is here in village’s water tower, less than two • Village of Mount Horeb, Dane County Madison. miles from the Prairie du Sac headend. • Village of New Glarus, Green County The two villages have been served by • Village of Poynette, Columbia County In 1976, TDS established a different cable companies ever since. • City of Wautoma, Waushara County subsidiary known as Verona Cable Company (VCC), and applied for the Sauk City and Prairie du Sac had, of Elsewhere in the Midwest, Nor- franchise in the Village of Verona. course, been separate villages since Com acquired franchises in three Complete Channel TV also applied for they were founded a century ago. In Minnesota communities, Caledonia, this franchise, and the resulting battle spite of several consolidation efforts Northfield, and Red Wing. raged on for five years. Because this over the years, they’re still separate battle involved so many other cable villages today (and , Sauk City is a Most of Nor-Com’s systems were companies, bits and pieces of the story village, not a city; see Figure 2). Although served by separate headends; have already been told elsewhere in some municipal services are provided however, some were fed from nearby this narrative. Nevertheless, in the jointly (schools; police protection), other communities. In Dane County, Black interest of setting down a complete services are provided separately Earth was fed from the Mazomanie record, here’s the story.

Once the Village Board had received

Town of two competing proposals, it set about Town of Prairie West Point du Sac the job of selecting the winning bidder. 60 Each party claimed to have the superior COLUMBIA COUNTY DANE COUNTY offering. Prairie du Sac SAUK Town of COUNTY Roxbury Sauk CCTV was represented by Rod City Thole, then the general manager, and David Walsh, an attorney with Walsh, 12 Walsh, and Sweeney. Walsh was a Figure 2. Park entrance sign, Sauk City. Under Wisconsin law, Sauk City is a well-known cable attorney at the time, village in spite of the “city” in its name. representing CCTV and Total TV on a Figure 1. Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, Three other Wisconsin villages also share regular basis. circa 1982. Cable Video provided cable this distinction: Bay City (Pierce County), service to portions of the Towns of Junction City (Portage County), and Thole and Walsh enumerated the Prairie du sac, Roxbury, and West Point Marathon City (Marathon County). But from its Prairie du Sac headend. Cuba City (Grant County) really is a city. (continued on next page) PAGE 5 January 2000

TELECOM INDUSTRY NEWS (continued) advantages of CCTV’s proposal: because it would not have to be but the legal standoff was still dragging transmitted by microwave from on. In an effort to get things moving • CCTV would provide a wider variety Madison. again, the City issued another call for of programming than VCC. CCTV’s proposals, with the intention of issuing programming lineup included network- • VCC would have no trouble getting a second cable franchise. This time, restoration offerings and late-night a waiver of the FCC’s cross-ownership three parties responded: CCTV, U.S. programming from WBBM-TV and WITI- rule because it intended to serve the Cable of Viking, and Verona Cable TV. entire telephone exchange area, not Communications Group, a front name just the Village of Verona. for the FCCG partners. TDS, of course, • CCTV would provide superior didn’t have to respond because it technical quality because CCTV During public hearings, a third already held a valid franchise. received local broadcast stations position was expressed by several through direct electrical connections residents — we don’t need cable The City awarded the second rather than off-the-air. television anyway: “I can see those franchise to U.S. Cable of Viking. Viking towers up in Madison from my front proceeded on the assumption that it • CCTV would be able to start window so why do we need cable?” would begin construction in the spring construction immediately, whereas of 1981 as soon as weather would permit. VCC, as a subsidiary of TDS, would After considerable deliberation, the first have to obtain a waiver of the FCC’s Village Board awarded the franchise to The Friday before Viking planned to cross-ownership rules in order to Verona Cable Company. start construction, TDS received its operate a cable television system waiver from the FCC, began within its telephone service territory. TDS immediately filed a motion with construction immediately, and worked Moreover, there was no assurance that the FCC requesting a waiver of the furiously through the weekend. By TDS would actually get a waiver. cross-ownership rule on grounds that Monday morning, it was too late for it intended to provide cable television Viking to do much except complain and TDS was represented by Archer service throughout its entire telephone threaten to file suit. Eventually, the two Taylor of Malarkey-Taylor Associates. exchange area. Walsh, as CCTV’s companies joined together in a sort of At the time, Malarkey-Taylor was one of attorney, filed an opposition motion shotgun wedding: TDS finished the the country’s leading cable television asserting (correctly, as it turned out) construction of the distribution system, consulting firms, with expertise in both that TDS didn’t really intend to serve the and Viking built a microwave link to engineering and management. Martin entire telephone exchange area, and provide signals from its main headend Malarkey had been one of the founders that even if it did, it didn’t have the local in Stoughton. of the National Cable Television cable franchises authorizing it to do so. Association and had served as its Two years later, Viking’s parent president for several years. Archer All in all, it was an amazing display company, U.S. Cable Corporation, Taylor was well known and widely of legal firepower for a cable franchise signed agreements to sell its Viking respected within the cable TV in a community the size of Verona. But subsidiary. Under these agreements, engineering community. Both men each side had a larger agenda in mind. Complete Channel TV acquired all of had been in the cable business since TDS saw Verona as a key to its plan to Vikings’s wholly-owned cable the early 50s. become a nationwide cable television television properties and its AML operator on the scale of TCI. CCTV microwave network — essentially With Taylor’s assistance, TDS (and its owners, TCI and Midcontinent) everything that U.S. Cable had owned refuted every one of CCTV’s claims: saw TDS as a well-funded potential except its interest in the Verona system. competitor who could attack it in future TDS acquired U.S. Cable’s interest in • VCC would carry Rockford network franchise proceedings anywhere in the the Verona system. stations, thus providing the equivalent country. of CCTV’s network restoration service. At this point, TDS owned the cable The FCC sat on the motions for distribution network in Verona, but it • VCC’s picture quality would be three years. By late 1980, the Village of didn’t own a headend: it was still superior, even if received off-the-air, Verona had become the City of Verona, (continued on page 6)

ATIONAL Belden Wire & Cable Company N 4218 South Regal Manor Court TOWER SERVICE New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151

5727 Tokay Boulevard Daryl Snowden Paul Jensen Phone: 414 827 0270 Madison, Wisconsin 53719 Facsimile: 414 827 0374 Office 608-884-8205 Office 608-255-0529 Phone Mail: 800 241 7564 Fax 608-884-6021 Fax 608-255-2599 Jan Reesman Box 2611 WKOW (608) 274-1234 Mobile 608-751-8284 Mobile 608-235-8559 Sales Representative http://www.belden.com Madison Fax: (608) 274-9514 SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 6

TELECOM INDUSTRY NEWS (conclusion) receiving signals from Viking’s old Video, Nor-Com, and TDS. affairs on behalf of the Republican Party. Stoughton headend. And that headend During George Bush’s presidential was now owned by its old rival, Star had been founded several campaigns, Jones was Wisconsin’s Complete Channel TV. CCTV had years earlier by Donald G. Jones of only member of Bush’s “Team 100”: a already announced its intention to Fond du Lac. At the time, Jones was a person who had, as an individual, dismantle it as part of its plan to principal in several other contributed $100,000 to the integrate the old Viking network into its communications properties, including Republican National Committee own network. KFIZ (AM), Fond du Lac, and WLIP (FM), (“Newt’s Captain in Cyberspace,” The Kenosha. Jones acquired the cable New Yorker, August 7, 1995, pp. 25-26). Given the history of the relationship franchise in the City of Fond du Lac in between CCTV and TDS, this could 1979, and entered the cable business In the early 90s, Jones began selling have been an explosive situation. But under the name Lakeside Cablevision. off his cable properties. Most of them, in the two years since the last divisive During the 80s, the company was including all of Star’s Dane County franchise battles in Verona, things had renamed Star Cablevision, and began properties, were acquired by Marcus settled down. New managers had acquiring other cable systems. Over the Cable. taken over at both companies: Richard next several years, it became one of the Wegner was general manager at largest cable companies in the Midwest. And with that, we end this narrative. CCTV, and Conrad Marks was in The subsequent history of Star’s Dane charge of all of TDS’s cable operations. By 1990, Star owned approximately County cable systems, once they Wegner and Marks were old friends: 375 cable systems in Arizona, Illinois, became part of Marcus Cable, was they had worked together at Viking Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and reported in last month’s article. Media Corporation back in the 70s Wisconsin, serving almost 230,000 when the Carleys still owned it. basic subscribers. Besides the AND SO THE BATTLE ENDS properties it had acquired from Cable The whole issue was resolved in Video, Nor-Com, and TDS, Star also And so the great franchise battles of one meeting: TDS would build a new owned several other Wisconsin the early 80s fade into history. The four headend, and CCTV would keep the properties. A partial list includes companies that fought it out in Fitchburg Stoughton headend alive until TDS’ Algoma, Boscobel, Brillion, Brodhead, and Verona have all sold out: new headend was on line. Burlington, Cuba City, Darlington, Mauston, Medford, Minocqua, Monroe, • Complete Channel TV, Inc. became A few weeks later, TDS cut the Montello, Muscoda, Necedah, part of TCI, which then sold it to Bresnan. Verona system over to its new headend. Neillsville, Omro, Park Falls, Palmyra, Seven years after it first applied for the Poynette, Prairie du Chien, Sheboygan, • Fitchburg Cable Communications Verona cable franchise, it had finally Spencer, Two Rivers, Viroqua, Group (which also called itself Verona achieved its original goal: it owned Wautoma, West Bend, and Whitewater. Cable Communications Group) 100% of the cable television system in became part of , then Verona. Several of these properties (Cuba Jones Crown Partners, then Crown City, Darlington, Muscoda, Whitewater) Media, then Marcus, and finally, Charter. Two years later, it sold it to Star were among the cable franchises Cablevision. originally obtained by Niall • TDS’ subsidiary Verona Cable Communications Group. That name Company became part of Star STAR CABLEVISION GROUP has appeared elsewhere in this Cablevision, then Marcus, then Charter. narrative: Niall’s partners, Jack O’Neill And that brings us to Star and George Walker, were among the • U.S. Cable of Viking became part Cablevision. Although Star was not original applicants for the franchise in of Complete Channel TV, which then one of the original Dane County cable the Town of Fitchburg (see became part of TCI, then Bresnan. operators, it acquired several cable FITCHBURG in last month’s article). systems in the county through By the time this story ends a few acquisitions. By 1988, it had purchased In addition to his various media months from now, they’ll all be part of the cable television assets of Cable interests, Jones was active in political Charter Communications.

And Sauk City and Prairie du Sac Visit Chapter 24 On the Web will finally have the same cable television company. SBE http://www.sbe24.org Disclosure: I have been employed : Steve Paugh is the editor for the Electronic by two of the companies named in this Version of this Newsletter, uploaded monthly article: Complete Channel TV (1976- onto SBE Chapter 24's web page. 1979 and 1983-1986) and Niall Communications Group (1979-1981). PAGE 7 January 2000

on the Retransmission Constant Process are due on February 1, 2000 1FCC FCC Rulemakings with replies due February 20, 2000. Comments from the public on the entire Compiled By Tom Smith compulsory licensing provisions of the notice are due on February 1, 2000 copyright law were previously also. The notice was adopted on PROPOSED RULEMAKINGS prohibited. The provisions of the Act December 21, 1999 and released on seeks to place satellite carriers on a December 22, 1999. It was published MM Docket No. 99-262; FCC 99-389 equal footing with cable operators by in the FEDERAL REGISTER on Establishment of a Class A making broadcast programming December 29, 1999 on pages 72,985- Television Service; Comments available to satellite subscribers, thus 72,992. Suspended adding to the consumers choice of video service providers. MM Docket No. 99-360; FCC 99-390 The FCC has suspended the filing In the Matter of Public Interest of comments in the matter of the The Commission requests Obligations of TV Broadcast establishment of a Class A Television comment on the process for Licensees service, This action was in response negotiating retransmission consent to legislation passed by Congress and between broadcasters and video The FCC has issued a notice of signed into law that was titled the providers. The FCC is suggesting the rulemaking concerning the public Community Broadcasters Act of 1999. use of the cable retransmission and interest requirements for DTV stations. This law requires the FCC to establish must-carry process in the Cable Act of This notice deals with a large number regulations by rulemaking within 120 1992 as a model. Must carry rules with of issues, including a number which days of the signing of this Act to create satellite providers will be subject to a are resurrected from the past and were a Class A Television Service. The later rulemaking, as that part of the Act eliminated by past deregulation. Many service is for low power TV stations that does not become effective until January of the proposals were based on meets certain criteria as dictated in the 1, 2002. recommendations by the Presidents Act. The criteria set in the legislation Advisory Committee on the Public more closely limits the provisions of The Act requires that broadcasters Interest Obligations of Digital the rules for Class A TV service than the negotiate in good faith with satellite Broadcasters and from a petition from notice of rulemaking did. Because of and other video providers concerning the group People for Better TV. these limitations, the FCC suspended retransmission consent and must- comments on the issue. carry, and the FCC seeks comments The FCC has listed four categories on what defines good faith of issues concerning the proposed The suspension became effective negotiations. Comments are sought public interest obligations for digital on December 14, 1999 with the on both the actual negotiations and the broadcasting. The first category comment period originally set to end handling of any fee differences that pertains to the new opportunities of on December 21, 1999. The notice stations could charge different video digital. Should any obligations be was published in the FEDERAL providers. evenly applied to all the digital services REGISTER on December 22, 1999 on or just the primary program channel. pages 71,712-71,713. The Act also prohibits stations from The Commission is asking if entering into exclusive contracts with requirements for childrens CS Docket No. 99-363; FCC 99-406 video providers. A station must make programming, public service Implementation of the Satellite its signal available to anyone. The programming, and political advertising Home Viewer Improvement Act of FCC is seeking comments on the what should be applied equally to each 1999: Retransmission Consent activities would constitute engaging in channel in the multicast mode or should Issues exclusive agreements and language the requirements be considered for all describing such actions. programming in total that is transmitted This rulemaking is the result of the over the whole DTV channel. The FCC Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1999 Comments were due on January would like comments if information on which allows satellite and other 12, 2000 with replies due on January data channels should be included in multichannel video providers to carry 19, 2000 for the Exclusivity and Good the obligations. local TV broadcast signals that due to Faith parts of the notice. Comments (continued on page 8)

Tom Sibenaller JAMES F. DOHERTY Sales Representative Traffic Supervisor Satellite & Video Services

ROSCOR WISCONSIN 7847 BIG SKY DRIVE W6428 Schilling Road 275 NORTH CORPORATE DRIVE MADISON, WISCONSIN 53719 Onalaska, WI 54650 BROOKFIELD, WI 53045-5818 phone: 608-784-6702 (608)833-0047 • FAX(608)833-5055 414.792.7708 FAX: 414.792.7717 fax: 608-785-0505 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 8

FCC RULEMAKINGS (continued) The Second category concerns proposals in this category. One is that method of prediction as requested by responding to the community. broadcasters provide five minutes each DirectTV due to insufficient details. The Emergency information to the evening for political discourse for 30 FCC did clarify the test methods to be community is one issue in this days before elections. Broadcasters used at a viewer’s home. category. Should stations be required would be able to choose formats. A via their DTV data streams and their second proposal would require Tests may be conducted with dipole web sites on the internet to supply broadcasters to provide twenty minutes or multi-element antenna with known emergency information to the of airtime for candidates for 30 days gain. The test must be done at five neighborhood level. Closed caption before a general election in even locations at least three meters apart and descriptive video obligations are number years and for 15 days before a with the antenna at height of 20 feet. also discussed. The section of the general election in odd numbered The same locations should be used community concerns that may have the years. Broadcasters would be when testing multiple signals. most connection with past regulation prohibited from adopting blanket bans Antennas should be pointed to is what is called disclosure obligations. on the sale of airtime for political adds. maximize signal. The antenna is to be This concerns a stations public file horizontally polarized with shielded and what is required to be placed in it. There are a lot of issues in this notice cable used and properly matched. The The FCC has a number of proposals of inquiry and they could have a larger field strength meter should have a including adding new categories of impact on shaping DTV and possibly all bandwidth of 200 kilohertz to one information, such as diversity issues of broadcasting. Comments are due megahertz. A written record is required and the use of ascertainment or on March 27, 2000 and replies are due of the calibration and description of the surveys of community needs. on April 25, 2000. This notice was equipment, the results of the Ascertainment was eliminated in the adopted on December 15, 1999 and measurements, description of the site 1980’s and the People for Better TV released on December 20, 1999. such as foliage, terrain, weather, and would like broadcasters to conduct obstacles and time and date of test. them again. The FCC also suggested FINAL RULEMAKING The FCC also states that the weather the broadcasters make their public while testing should not be inclement files available on their websites and by CS Docket No. 98-201; FCC 99-276 or changing such as when a front other electronic means. Satellite Delivery of Network moves through. Signals to Unserved Households for The third category is disability and Purposes of the Satellite Home These rules were adopted on diversity. The use of new methods of Viewer Act. October 5, 1999 and released on closed captioning and descriptive video October 7, 1999. They became effective were discussed, as was increasing The notice revises the rules on December 30, 1999 when they were broadcasters obligations for providing concerning the testing of signals at a published in the FEDERAL REGISTER these services. Increased access to viewers home to determine if they are on Pages 73,429-73,434. the media by diverse groups in this eligible to receiver network TV service country was another issue raised. via broadcast satellite, instead of From the FEDERAL REGISTER Besides requiring broadcasters to receiving it from a regular broadcast TV (www.access.gpo.gov) and FCC show in their public file what station. Viewers are restricted from Notices (www.fcc.gov) programming them have provided to receiving the signals from ABC, CBS, serve these groups, the FCC is FOX, and NBC from DirectTV and SBE RESUME SERVICE proposing that one of the returned Echostar if they are within a stations analog channels in each viewing Grade B coverage, unless there is some Want to get your resume out to community be reserved for non- obstruction that prevents reception. employers? Participate in SBE’s commercial use with the station Stations may use a form of the Longley- new Resume Service, available to including programming for minority Rice method or field measurements to SBE members only of charge. and other underserved groups. determine eligibility. Call the SBE National Office at (317) 253-1640 or e-mail Scott Jones at The last category is political In this notice, the FCC rejected [email protected] for a Resume discourse. There are a number of modifications to the Longley-Rice Service participation form.

David Thormodsgaard Broadcast Sales Engineer [email protected] 800-388-0008 • (612) 841-3308 Becky Hilborn 40W267 Keslinger Road Cellular (612) 860-2813 Broadcast Sales LaFox, IL 60147 USA 7711 Computer Avenue Specialist Edina, MN 55435 Phone: (800) 348-5580 (612) 896-9898 (630) 208-2372 FAX (612) 896-9899 Your Tube and FAX: (630) 208-2450 www.alphavideo.com Broadcast Component email: [email protected] Source. WWW: http://www.rell.com PAGE 9 January 2000

SBE Short Circuits – January 2000 CHAPTER 24 By John Poray, CAE materials for the April 2000 event. They SBE Executive Director also have on-line registration available SUSTAINING at their web site: www.nab.org. If your 2000 BRINGS NEW LEADER SKILLS station is not a member of NAB, be MEMBERS SEMINARS sure to take advantage of this great SBE member benefit. The savings are After three years of sponsoring five- equal to SIX times the cost of ONE year RECENT RENWAL: day Leader Skills seminars for of SBE membership! broadcast engineers, the Society of WISC-TV 3 Broadcast Engineers, in cooperation AS 2000 BEGINS, MILLENNIUM with instructor Richard Cupka, will PROJECT ENDS SUCCESSFULLY THANKS TO ALL OUR modify the program for 2000. SUSTAINING MEMBERS: Since early in 1999, SBE has been The program will essentially be offering an opportunity to engineers Alcatel USA split into two parts. Course I will be with lapsed certifications to have those held over three days, June 7-9 in certifications restored without taking a Alpha Video Indianapolis and will provide the test. The Millennium Project ended on Belden Wire and Cable essentials to understanding December 31. During that time more CTI leadership styles of yourself and than 60 people took advantage of the Clark Wire and Cable others. It will provide the technical offer. Harris Corporation individual the basics on how to manage maney-logic other people successfully. Course II, If you have questions about to be held August 16-18, also in recertification, contact your local National Tower Service Indianapolis, will pick up where Course Certification Chairman, or Certification Norlight Telecommunications I left off, going into further depth and Director, Linda Godby-Emerick at the Panasonic Broadcast providing the participant with a solid SBE National Office. You can also get Pinnacle Systems foundation to manage others. information on recertification at the SBE Richardson Electronics web site, www.sbe.org. Roscor Wisconsin The cost for each course is $425, which includes instruction, materials REGIONAL SBE CONVENTIONS Scharch Electronics and refreshment breaks. COMING UP Sony Broadcast Transportation, hotel and meals are Tektronix additional. Those wishing to attend A number of SBE chapters offer Teleport Minnesota Course II must have attended either opportunities to attend a regional SBE Token Creek Productions Course I or any of the SBE or NAB convention or conference near home. Video Images sponsored Leader Skills programs Most of these events are very WKOW-TV 27 held since 1965. Registration Forms inexpensive or free, and take minimal will be available in the March issue of time away from your work and free time. WMSN-TV 47 the SBE SIGNAL, from the SBE National WMTV-TV 15 Office or through the SBE web site, Coming up February 29 – March 1: www.sbe.org, after January 15. Great Lakes Broadcasting Expo Lansing Center, Lansing, Michigan SBE MEMBERS GET DISCOUNT ON Contact: Michigan Assn. of NAB SPRING CONVENTION Broadcasters (517) 484-7444. SCHARCH ELECTRONICS CO. Small Business Communications Engineering sessions organized by ▼ 1105 Middleton Street Once again, SBE members will be Chapter 91, Lansing, MI. MADISON, WI 53717-1078 able to register for the NAB Spring (608) 831-2266 (800) 831-2266 Convention in Las Vegas at the NAB Questions and comments about Member rate, a savings of $330. NAB SBE may be e-mailed directly to Executive has begun sending registration Director, John Poray at [email protected].

Jon Gedymin Reginal Sales Manager Broadcast Video http://www.CTIinfo.com Panasonic email - [email protected] 617 Lake Road Broadcast & Television Systems Company Oconomowoc, WI 53066 CTI Phone - 608-831-4636 Tel 800.477.6111 ext 2263 Fax - 608-836-1840 Fax 414.569.0966 HERB VAN DRIEL Atlanta 1996 [email protected] Direct Sales Manager Entertainment Systems Division The Official Broadcast VCR Controllers Equipment of the Corporate Office 1996 Olympic Games. 280 N. Bernardo Avenue Character Generators Mountain View, CA 94043 1707 N Randall Road E-Zip: 1-C-3 WI Tel: 608.355.0662 HQ Tel: 847.468.5160 Satellite Antenna Controllers Tel 650.526.1600 Elgin,IL 61023 WI FAX: 608.355.0663 HQ Fax: 847.468.5161 Fax 650.526.1601 Division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America Broadcast / Cable Television Consulting SBE CHAPTER 24 NEWSLETTER PAGE 10

HARRIS CORPORATION Communications Sector Broadcast Systems 1913 Fairoak Road Naperville, IL USA 60565 1355 ARMOUR BOULEVARD MUNDELEIN, IL 60060-4401 telephone 1-630-420-8899 SBE TOM HARLE 24-hr service 1-217-222-8200 (800) CABLE-IT • (847) 949-9944 District Sales Manager Broadcast Ctr. 1-800-622-0022 FAX: (847) 949-9595 Radio Systems facsimile 1-630-420-9171 E-MAIL: [email protected] ISO 9001 email: [email protected] NATIONAL WWW.CLARKWC.COM next level solutions www.harris.com

- SONY Kevin Peckham Account Manager Society of Broadcast Broadcast Products Division Sony Communications Products Company 1200 North Arlington Heights Road Mark Durenberger Engineers, Inc. Itasca, Illinois 60143 General Manager 90 South 11th Street Telephone (608) 271-3778 Minneapolis, MN 8445 Keystone Crossing (708) 773-6046 Office (612) 330-2433 55403 Service Center (708) 773-6037 Fax (612) 330-2603 Suite 140 Emer. Tech. Assist. (201) 833-9533 National Parts Center (800) 538-7550 e-mail Indianapolis, IN 46240 [email protected]

( Milwaukee Madison Chicago Office (317) 253-1640 VIDEO Indianapolis Fax (317) 253-0418 I M A G E S Job Line (317) 253-0474

Video Images, Inc. http://www.sbe.org 2137 S. Stoughton Road • Madison, WI 53716 Phone:(608) 221-8888 • FAX:(608)221-9252 Internet: http://www.videoimages.com/

SBE Chapter 24 Newsletter SBE 2029 Greenway Cross #11 Madison, WI 53713-3000 FIRST CLASS MAIL

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

© 2000 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. JANUARY MEETING and PROGRAM Society of Broadcast Engineers SBE CHAPTER 24 MADISON, WISCONSIN Wednesday, January 19, 2000

Testing ITU-R 601 Digital Video Systems

Jim Edwards of Tektronix will be on hand to give a presentaion on testing component serial digital video. There will also be a demonstration of some digital monitoring equipment.

Dutch Treat Dinner at 5:30pm

at Babes Grill & Bar 5614 Schroeder Road Meeting and Program at 7:00pm

Visitors and guests are welcome at all of our SBE meetings!

2000 UPCOMING MEETING/PROGRAM DATES: Day Date Program Thursday February 24 To Be Announced

Program Committee: Kerry Maki Denise Maney Steve Zimmerman Mark Croom Steve Paugh 833-0047 277-8001 274-1234 271-1025 277-5139