The item also seeks comment on the court's remand of certain proposals relating to minority ownership. In addition, responsive to the quadrennial review required by statute, the Further Notice seeks comment on whether these rules sent back to the Commission by the court, as well as the dual network rule, which was not at issue in Prometheus, are necessary in the public interest as a result of competition.

Finally, the notice lists pending petitions for reconsideration of the 2002 Biennial Review Order and states that parties may refresh the record concerning these petitions.

An overview of the Further Notice and the information sought is available at this link.

Commissioners Martin, Tate and McDowell all issued statements encouraging comments on the issue. Commissioners Copps and Adelstein also released statements, although they raised concerns over the process that the other three endorse. Copps calls the action "the single most important public policy debate that the FCC will tackle this year." Copps and Adelstein are concerned that the proceeding will lead to an even greater concentration of media ownership, which they believe is not in the public interest.

Orlando Station Fined for Contest Stunt
Washington - Jun 16, 2006 - The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) to Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, the licensee of station WRUM-FM, Orlando, FL. The station is charged with conducting a contest without fully and accurately disclosing all material terms and failing to conduct the contest as announced. The fine was issued for the amount of $6,000.

In February 2005, the FCC received a complaint from Mega Communications of Daytona Beach Licensee, the licensee of station WNUE-FM in Orlando, FL, that alleged that the morning talk show hosts on WRUM had conducted a contest on Feb. 24, 2005, that for several hours encouraged listeners to call a phone number and state the name of the morning show. The 100th caller would receive $1,000. The problem is that WRUM gave the phone number for rival station WNUE.

Callers were understandably angered when they were informed that there was no such contest.

Clear Channel has disputed the notice.

New Voice Against Centralized Media Ownership Emerges
Jun 19, 2006 - Recently formed, the StopBigMedia.com Coalition is an alliance of several groups that have joined to pursue a goal to "fight runaway media consolidation and urge the FCC to put the public interest before the self-interest of large media corporations." The endeavor is a theme that has been follwed before. Charter members of the organization include Consumers Union, National Council of Churches, AFTRA, the Prometheus Radio Project, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and the AFL-CIO.

From the group's website at StopBigMedia.com

As the Federal Communications Commission takes the first steps toward enacting sweeping changes to the nation’s media ownership rules, a diverse alliance of consumer, civil rights, labor and media reform groups is speaking out against greater media consolidation.

The FCC is expected to start a new rulemaking process this week that could allow a handful of media corporations to swallow up more local TV channels, radio stations and newspapers. A draft proposal identifying which rules are up for revision is expected to be considered at the FCC's June 21 meeting.

The StopBigMedia.com campaign is mobilizing broad public opposition to any FCC ruling that would hand over more control of local media to the nation’s largest media corporations. Working together with millions of Americans, we will make the public voice heard before the FCC allows big media to become even bigger.

The group's site includes a chart that shows the influence that several companies hold over various media outlets.

Sales Call Klotz Digital Asia has received an order from HT Music in Kuala Lumpur for its new FM stations. The order includes Vadis routers in the main control rooms for each station and Aeon Digital on-air consoles for the on-air studios. Entravision Communication has chosen Nielsen BDSRadio.com to be its music monitoring service for its KXSE-FM, and KRCX-FM Sacramento, KZMP-FM Dallas, KVVA-FM Phoenix and KLOK-FM Monterey-Salinas stations. WKQS-FM, a 50kW commercial station serving the Marquette, MI, area, has acquired Jampro's JHPC antenna to replace the existing one.

Jampro shipped a two-bay JMVP vertical dipole antenna to KAIC 88.9-FM in Tucson, AZ, and a three-bay JMVP antenna to KQLU 90.9-FM transmitting from Mount Belgrade, MT. A JHPC six-bay circularly polarized antenna, optimized by Jampro for a FCC directional construction permit, is scheduled to be delivered to KYLV 88.9-FM in Norman, OK, to meet the permit expiration date.

AOL's Radio KOL has installed a Dalet system for its radio program. XM Satellite Radio is expanding its Dalet system to launch a new program called Oprah and Friends. WBLS FM and WLIB AM in New York City are updating their music programming operation with a Dalet system.

Parker Joins Network Minded as Sr. Systems Engineer
Alpharetta, GA - Jun 20, 2006 - Network Minded has added Kelly Parker, formerly the chief engineer/senior systems engineer for Susquehanna Radio/Cumulus Media Partners San Francisco, as a senior systems engineer. Network Minded is primarily composed of people from the former Susquehanna engineering/IT departments. Other members of the company include Chris Lawton, Joe Ainsworth, Robert Ferguson and Consulting Engineer Norm Philips.

Parker started his career in radio in the late 1980s working at a college radio station. He entered the engineering field in 1992, and began working for various stations around the country. In 1995, he worked for Bonneville International as assistant chief engineer and IT manager in San Francisco. In 1998, Parker joined Susquehanna Radio and held the titles of chief engineer and senior systems engineer. During his tenure with Susquehanna Radio and with Cumulus Media Partners, Parker worked on designing studios, installing digital automation systems and digital consoles, and worked on special projects related to the Internet and streaming audio.

Network Minded specializes in engineering and IT services for broadcast stations and medium-sized businesses.

Nassau Signs on its First HD Radio Station
Boyertown, PA - Jun 22, 2006 - Nassau Broadcasting Partners, operator of 49 radio stations in New England, commenced HD Radio operation on its first station: WFKB-FM, Boyertown, PA. The station serves the area around Reading, PA.

The station is transmitting a single digital signal right now, but with the next month it plans to broadcast the programming of sister station WBYN-AM on its HD2 multicast.

Backbone Updates Internet Software
Worcester, MA - Jun 12, 2006 - Backbone Networks has released version 4.1 of Backbone Radio Pro, its turnkey Internet radio station software suite. This latest version includes native compatibility with Intel-based Macs and new features specifically aimed at increasing the revenue opportunities of online radio stations. Among these features are clickable images and text that allow listeners to conduct e-commerce while continuing to listen to the radio program, as well as demographic feedback, which facilitates targeted radio advertising.

The clickable URL feature permits links to change for every song, commercial or program segment. Integrated real-time reporting tells the operator how many people listen to what programs or songs, at what time, for how long and from where, based on potential geographical mapping of IP listener connections.

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