SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
The WEBSITE version of the
SBE Chapter 67 NEWSLETTER
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=-=-=-DISCLAIMER-=-=-=
This NEWSLETTER is published by the SOCIETY OF BROADCAST ENGINEERS CHAPTER 67 for the benefit of its Members and others interested in BROADCAST ENGINEERING. Submission of news, articles and information is encouraged. The NEWSLETTER assumes NO responsibility for the content or accuracy of articles or information presented in the NEWSLETTER. The opinions, views, and ideas expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or ideas of the SOCIETY OF BROADCAST ENGINEERS, INC, the officers or members of SBE Chapter #67, or the NEWSLETTER.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
JUNE 1997 SBE CHAPTER 67 MEETING NOTICE
THE BASICS OF FIBER OPTICS
Rick Berkbigler, Senior Account Manager
Professional Audio and Video
ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
DATE: Thursday, June 26, 1997
DINNER: 6:00pm CHOWLINE RESTAURANT
2635 W. Airport Freeway, Irving, TX
MEETING: 7:00pm
DIRECTIONS: This month's dinner and meeting will be held at the CHOWLINE. Take the AIRPORT FREEWAY (HWY 183) to Story Road. Go WEST on the NORTH access road. The CHOWLINE is not directly on the access road - it is behind the BurgerKing. The CHOWLINE is strictly a `buffet' and you pay the cashier as you enter (no personal checks, but Visa and MasterCard are accepted), Gratuity is not included in the check. The meeting room is on the right as you enter the buffet area.
A few years ago, at one of the SBE National conventions, the featured speaker stressed the fact that, if you are going to stay in broadcast engineering, you are going to have to learn the newer technologies. One of the emerging technologies in broadcasting is fiber optics. Radio and television programs are being moved from point to point, and data is being transferred in enormous volume through fiber today. This month's program is your chance to get caught up on, not only the applications and connectors, but some of the history of fiber optics.
Rick Berkbigler, Senior Account Manager for Professional Audio and Video at ADC will be discussing `The Basics of Fiber Optics'. This promises to be a very enlightening program if you will pardon the play on words.
====REMEMBER THE JULY MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY JULY 23====
The next meeting will be another joint SBE/SMPTE meeting being hosted by VIDEO SOLUTIONS, Inc during their 1997 `FOCUS SHOW' scheduled July 23-24 at the MEDALLION MOTEL in North Dallas.
SPECIAL THANKS to Buddy Brown and the other KXTX-TV 39 folks for arranging and hosting the May joint SBE/SMPTE meeting for the SONY digital presentation in conjunction with the Houston SBE/SMPTE joint meeting at KHOU-TV 11.
Tentative plans for the 12th CROUSE-KIMZEY `COOK OUT' are being formulated. This year, it is scheduled for NOON Saturday October 25, so CIRCLE THE DATE and PLAN TO ATTEND.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
CAPFLASH—CAPFLASH—CAPFLASH
With all the interest in the program, no one in the huge turnout seemed to mind that we had canceled the drawing for the "CAP of the MONTH", so this month we will have two drawings. Come on out because you have twice as many chances to win. Our "CAP of the MONTH" feature is provided by DANNEY STANLEY, HIS MARKETING. Danney is the factory rep for EEV (Camera Tubes, IOTs, ESCs, and Steller Products) and GEPCO WIRE AND CABLE (Mgrs of broadcast wire and distributors of ADC, KINGS, NEUTRIK, and SWITCHCRAFT). So come early and sign in so you will be eligible for the drawing because someone always WINS (that is when we have a drawing)!!
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
No, May was not the month to have a `DOOR PRIZE' winner for the $220. As a matter of fact, we canceled the business portion of the meeting so there could be no `DOOR PRIZE' winner. So, as we usually do, this month we will double up or have a `make good'. Consequently, two numbers will be drawn for the $220 of last month, (and possibly $320). If there is no winner, we will draw two more numbers for this months prize of $230 (and possibly $330). The door prize is sponsored by Bret Brewer, CONTINENTAL ELECTRONICS. The additional $100 is possible thanks to Don Splettstosser, and ELECTROTEX - your Electronics Parts Store, if the winner introduced a qualified guest. This could be YOUR LUCKY MONTH.
KNOW and REMEMBER the RULES!! You MUST produce your current month's NEWSLETTER in order to claim the DOOR PRIZE. You must bring an eligible GUEST in order to win the additional $100.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
<<<<CHAPTER SUSTAINING MEMBERS>>>>
BROADCAST SYSTEMS UNLIMITED-Terry Garcia
RENAISSANCE TOWER COMMUNICAITONS COMPLEX
BROADCAST AUTOMATION, INC.-Earl Bullock
G.P. ENTERPRISES, INC.-Gordon Peters
DOTY-MOORE TOWER SERVICES
DYMA ENGINEERING, INC.-Brad Torr
JACK SELLMEYER ENGINEERING-Jack Sellmeyer
PESA SWITCHING SYSTEMS-J. Michael Edelman
PANASONIC BCST & TV SYSTEMS-John Leahy
DATA MARKETING ASSOCIATES-Mike Riley
REID BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS, INC-Ed Reid
T J ASSOCIATES-Tom Johnston
BROADCAST TOWERS, INC.-Jimmy Chiles
CROUSE-KIMZEY COMPANY
KEMP INSTRUMENTS—AMCO-Mary Ellen Garner
MIDCOM, INC-Jay Wallace
SONY BROADCAST SALES DIVISION-Jess Harris
RF SPECIALTIES of TEXAS-Don Jones
TOWER NETWORK SERVICES-David Mulhausen
COMREX CORPORATION-Lynn Distler
AUDIO PRECISION-Sprectra Sales
LEITCH, INC- John Neilsen
TEKTRONIX-GVG-Jon Ulfsrud
VIDEOTEX SYSTEMS, INC.-Michel Relihan
FACTORY DIRECT SALES-Jimmie H. Joynt
RF SPECIALTIES of TEXAS-Steve White
QUANTEGY, INC-Richard Farha
RICHARDSON ELECTRONCIS-Larry Borden
MZB VIDEO SOLUTIONS, INC-Dan Bock
QUANTEL-Michael Rucker
IMAGE TECHNICS-Dale Rochon
ADVANCED BROADCAST SVC-Bill Freiberger
FUJINON, INC.-David Waddell
MARTI ELECTRONICS
LEITCH, INC-John Nielsen
AMERICAN MEDIA SERVICES-Bob Sims
MEGAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY, INC—Jim Hopper
COMMERCIAL VIDEO SYS., INC.—Cyndi Anderson
TEKTRONIX, INC.-"Jim" Edwards, II
SHOOK ELECTRONICS USA, INC.-Keith Beard
BURST COMMUNICATIONS-Barry Samuels
SCOTT STUDIOS
SOUTHWEST MICRONET
FACTORY DIRECT SALES-Jimmie H. Joynt
ECI-VIDEO-John N. Leedom, Jr.
DYMA ENGINEERING-Gary Keener
UTAH SCIENTIFIC-Phillip Smith
HIS MARKETING—Danney Stanley
PHILIPS-Brian Gleason
ANDREW CORPORATION-Jolene Walker
INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS-Michael Holley
KHALTEX, INTL-Nizarali Khalfan
RICHARDSON ELECTRONCIS-Larry Borden
PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.-Steve Krant
HITACHI DENSHI AMERICA LTD.-Rusty Pafford
TROLL TECHNOLOGIES-Mark Merrill
IMAGE TECHNICS INC-Dale Rochon
QUANTEL-Chris Wilkerson
THE PRO SHOP-"Spunky"
WILLIAM J.B. SMITH-Bill Smith
DUKE CITY, DALLAS-Scott Thompson
JVC-Lawrence E Librach
NORTHEAST BROADCAST LAB-Doc Masoomiam
HARRIS BCST COMMUNICATIONS
FAIRVIEW AFX-Ricky Williams
CREATIVE VIDEO PRODUCTS-Roger Miller
SCITEX DIGITAL VIDEO-Mike Provancha
MILLER TOWER-Scott Riley
BROADCAST SATELLITE INTL, INC.-Rick L. Creel
MZB VIDEO SOLUTIONS, INC.-Rance Bradley
HERMES MUSIC CO-Rick Hernandez
MARSAND, INC.-Matthew Sanderford
BURST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.-Lee Harrison
JDS TEST EQUIPMENT, INC.-Jim Skiles
PRO MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES-Chris Waddell
ELECTROTEX-Don Splettstosser
FAIRVIEW-AFX-Jerry Zumwalt
CONTINENTAL ELECTRONICS-Bret Brewer
SONY PROFESSIONAL TAPE DIV-Richard Chambers
GTE VISNET
MICROWAVE SERVICE CORP, INC—Warren Parece
BROADCAST ELECTRONICS—Stuart McRae
CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE RADIO—Eric McCulley
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP-Joe Dempsey
P.A.S.-Sean Shallenberger
IKEGAMI ELECTRONICS-Mike Mackin
BEXEL CORP.-John D. Rodgers
CHYRON GRAPHICS-Gene Sudduth, Jr.
ESCO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.-Ricky Estes
COMARK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.-Ken Barker
<<<<SUPPORT THESE FIRMS!!!>>>>
<<<<THEY SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER>>>>
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT JUNE, 1997
By Craig Harper
Summer has started! I hope everyone that joined us last month at KXTX in Dallas for our look at SONY Betacam SX had a great time and most of all learned something new. I hope that our SBE chapter and SMPTE can have several joint meetings throughout the year. I am sure that you and your station management are in the middle of DTV/HDTV planning. I know we are. I realize once again how important our organization is to the future of our industry. We are facing technical times and decisions ahead that are new and long-term. I know that in the future, we will have more meetings and most of all discussions on DTV and HDTV within our chapter. The more participation we have from everyone, the better informed we all will be. I know that our program committee is working hard to bring us the best and most informative meetings in the months and years ahead. As we all head into this new world we will also not exclude the other parts of the broadcast world. Radio and even Internet broadcasting are a part of the ever changing field we work in. I hope that you will make every effort to be at our next meeting. With you in attendance, we all will benefit.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
EAS NOTES
JUNE 1997
TAB has FCC approval to release the Required Monthly Test (RMT) for the remainder of 1997. Frank Lucia, FCC Director of Emergency Communications, agrees with TAB that stations will have a better chance of correcting initial problems with the system if the schedule is known in advance.
EAS TEST SCHEDULE for TEXAS:
10:19am, Wed, Jul 9
5:49am, Fri, Aug 8
Talks are underway between the SBE and the various DTV committees in an attempt to incorporate the EAS into the digital stream that will be Advanced Digital Television.
The SBE EAS Committee is preparing a Petition for Rules Change to submit to the FCC in an attempt to address some of these issues. Other issues will be addressed in talks and correspondence between the SBE, EAS equipment manufacturers and the National Weather Service.
Your EAS Committee asks you to file your own comments on these issues when its FCC Petition is filed. In the meantime, any further EAS concerns should be forwarded to the Committee either in writing to the SBE National office or E-Mail from the EAS Committee page on the SBE web site at `www.sbe.org'.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
MINUTES
Here are the minutes of the last meeting of SBE Chapter 67 for member's information and review. We hope that this will enable our membership to be better informed and to save time at the next meeting. Any additions or corrections will be discussed when the minutes are presented for approval at the meeting. We are interested in and solicit your comments.
Because of the special combined meeting and program, the normal business portion of the May 21 meeting was canceled and as a result, we will be approving the secretary's minutes of both the May 1 and the May 21 meetings.
MINUTES OF SBE CHAPTER 67 MEETING: 5/21//97
LOCATION: KXTX-TV 39 STUDIOS
3900 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX
The meeting was called to order at 6:55pm by Chapter Chairman Craig Harper. He welcomed the large turnout of 73 sign-ins, including 49 SBE members, 14 SMPTE members and 10 guests, and announced that the annual CROUSE-KIMZEY "COOK OUT" has been scheduled for Saturday October 25. Final details to be announced later. SMPTE Secretary, Greg Blanton was recognized to introduce the program. The program was a cooperative effort with the Houston SBE/SMPTE meeting at KHOU-TV 11's studio to demonstrate high quality video being transmitted at 2X real time speeds via DS-3 telephone circuits. Richard Majastic (in Houston) explained and demonstrated how the characteristics of the digital SX format is ideal for news acquisition and post production applications requiring transmission between locations by DS-3 telephone lines, satellite, or microwave circuits. Dual monitors were used to compare signals which were transmitted back and forth during the program. Jess Harris coordinated and gave explanations for the Dallas meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm.
Society of Broadcast Engineers, Inc.
North Texas Chapter 67
Frank Bonner, Chapter Secretary
(817) 565-4188, Metro (817) 267-3731 ext 4188
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
TV NOTES DROPPED OVER THE TRANSOM
By John Galt
Duane Sanders, who moved back to the METROPLEX recently in now working at KMPX-TV 29 as assistant Chief Engineer. The studio operations, now located in the Communications Complex, will be moved to their new studios located near Hall-Johnson and Highway 121 in Colleyville within the next month or two. Chief Engineer Dave Thompson and his staff are installing equipment in the new location.
KUVN-TV 23 has leased the 19th floor in the Alliance Financial Center at 2323 Bryan St, just east of downtown Dallas. Page Graham, Director of Engineering, is in the midst of renovating and constructing new studios. Ron Rentfrow, BROADCAST CONSTRUCTION, is building and installing the consoles and furniture. Josh Solcolof is doing the audio and Harrison console installation. Lots of equipment is going atop the building - five 4.5m C/Ku band satellite antennas and a 25 foot tower for the STL/TSL microwave equipment. Tentative timetable calls for the sales and administration departments to move about mid-August; master control by the end of August; and the news department in September. Lots of effort has been put into frequency coordination to fit in STL and TSL channels.
KTVT-TV 11 has completed the move of their Dallas news and sales operations from Stemmons Freeway to the Gaylord owned North Central location. Doesn't seem possible that Channel 11 has been doing five years of local news. At any rate, they are back in the building they occupied for their Dallas operations during the 60s, 70, and part of the 80s.
The KXTX-TV 39 tower is being topped out and the `T-BAR' erection will be next followed by the antenna and transmission waveguide.
Bill Miller of Miller Towers is making the rounds of potential TV and FM tenants for a new tower which is now planned to be located 600 feet northeast of his present stick. He is offering TV top spots on a candelabra, ports on a one megawatt FM panel and two TV side mount slots below.
The city of Cedar Hill has placed a 60 day moratorium on applications for tower building permits and zoning changes pending drafting of city regulation on tower construction, operation and maintenance.
North Texas Public Broadcasting, owner of KERA-TV 13 and KDNT(TV) 2 was denied a zoning change from residential to special use-tower, without prejudice for a 60 acre undeveloped site on the north side of Beltline and Cedar Hill.
A Dallas real estate agent named Ray Halford has initiated legal action to take over a half completed tower near downtown Cedar Hill from his former partner, Esco. He is contacting potential TV tenants about plans to work with Landmark Tower of Fort Worth to convert the unfinished Stainless G-10 to a candelabra. Landmark is also seeking tenants for a new tall tower to be located south of the Cedar Hill city limits.
A quick survey indicates that of 13 TV stations now transmitting form Cedar Hill, 7 to 9 probably don't yet own the sites for their future digital antennas.
Harris has signed a contract with Belo Broadcasting (WFAA-TV 8) to supply analog and digital transmitters for their analog and digital stations. It's not expected that very many of them will be strictly analog.
KXTX-TV 21 has completed installation of their new 240 Kw Comark IOT transmitter and a major expansion of their quarters at the Miller Tower.
TV broadcasters reached an agreement with Echostar, Primestar and Netlink to define white areas for the entire country based on zip codes. The DBS companies agreed not to sign up customers outside those areas for signals duplicating local network stations. PrimeTime 24 and DirectTV did not sign the agreement. Primetime 24 has been sued by broadcasters for signing up customers for network service within the Grade B signal of some local affiliates.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
—> ADVERTISER & INDUSTRY NEWS <—-
Recent acquisitions involved two METROPLEX film/video firms. MATTHEW ELECTRIC COMPANY has purchased DUKE CITY which is the parent of DUKE CITY-DALLAS. DUKE CITY, a full service broadcast equipment rental company, also has offices in Albuquerque, NM and Burbank, CA.
VISION ACTION HOLDINGS, parent of VICTOR DUNCAN, Inc has agreed to the purchase of VICTOR DUNCAN by PANAVISION, Inc. PANAVISION is a leading designer and manufacturer of film camera systems which it rents exclusively through its owned facilities and a network of selected dealers worldwide. VISION ACTION HOLDINGS owns VICTOR DUNCAN offices in Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit and Chicago and acts as the PANASONIC agent in France, Australia and parts of the USA. VISION ACTION HOLDINGS still owns ADVANCED BROADCAST SERVICES which was separated during the restructuring of the parent holding company in May and is operating in the VICTOR DUNCAN offices.
Effective July 1st, the Southcentral offices of QUANTEGY, Inc will be relocating to Lewisville. The new local office number will be (972) 219-7066, FAX (972) 219-7918 and has added voice mail at (800) 242-8739. Richard Farha, Senior Sales Representative, emphasizes that the ordering numbers will remain the same: (800) 241-3258 and FAX (770) 496-1848. In November, 1996, QUANTEGY, major manufacturer and supplier of audio and video tape products, acquired the inventory and technology assets of the 3M audio/video tape division, and has integrated some of the formulations and technology into their manufacturing processes and now has a complete line of audio and video tape products.
WESTCOTT COMMUNICATIONS has begun the search for possible sites capable of housing a new production/operation center and the sales and administrative staff under one roof. Preliminary building and space requirements and plans are being assembled. It is anticipated that the center will be operational in about two years.
Eddie Perez, Assistant Chief Engineer, BLUE CACTUS PRODUCTIONS until its demise, has joined WESTCOTT engineering staff.
Roy Howell, Director of Engineering, BLUE CACTUS PRODUCTIONS, has formed GROUND ZERO as a contract and free lance engineering services firm.
The BLUE CACTUS PRODUCTION bankruptcy auction was held last month and everything has been removed from the building.
SCOTT STUDIOS of Dallas has acquired the digital audio products of ELECTRIC WORKS CORP (EWC was formerly called THE MANAGEMENT) of Fort Worth. The combined firm will offer the radio industry's largest variety of digital audio technology to make broadcast stations more efficient. Although ELECTRIC WORKS has closed their offices and Pete Charlton, President of EWC will not be returning to the digital audio industry, EWC's key people have been retained by SCOTT STUDIOS. EWC software guys, Pete Cervasio and Cory Smith, and support technicians, Dennis Christenson and Stan Holden, have been added to Ron Richards, Alan Freeman and Lawrence Miller who joined SS before the merger. SS also emphasizes that all EWC contracts and service agreements will be honored and immediate systems upgrades and system compatibility with SS is a top priority. Although the EWC daytime support phone number has changed to (817) 306-9999, FAX (817) 306-9995, the night/weekend support pager number, (817) 331-1180, has not changed. For additional information, contact: SCOTT STUDIOS at (800) SCOTT-77, (972) 620-2211.
HARRIS CORPORATION has announced that the acquisition of NORTHEAST BROADCAST LAB, Inc has been completed and will be part of HARRIS BROADCAST DIVISION's Richmond, IN studio product line. Bill Bingham, president and owner of NBL, has joined HARRIS and will head up a sales center at NORTHEAST's South Glen Falls, NY facility and will focus on smaller turnkey studio systems. Doc Masoomian has joined HARRIS, will remain the NBL southwest represenative, and can be reached at the same phone numbers: (800) 729-0494 or (972) 612-2053.
Rush Beasley has disposed of his holding in SUNDANCE DIGITAL, Inc. and will be concentrating his efforts on RUSH WORKS. Robert C. Johnson is President of SUNDANCE DIGITAL which assembles, sells and service low cost radio station PC based automation systems such as the TIMELINER and FASTBREAK NT. SUNDANCE is located in the COMMUNICATIONS COMPLEX. For additional information call (972) 444-8442. (Ed note - See JOBS).
HARRIS CORPORATION has entered into an agreement with A.H. BELO CORP to provide analog and digital (DTV) TV transmitter equipment for the 16 TV stations owned and operated by BELO (including WFAA-TV 8 in Dallas). BELO joins more than 130 TV stations and TV groups such as CBS, ABC, COX BROADCASTING, TRIBUNE BROADCASTING, Washington, DC PBS stations WETA-TV and WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC to sign HARRIS agreements. Bob Turner, A.H. BELO corporate manager for engineering services, notes that the HARRIS agreement allows BELO to firm up its plans for DTV, to move forward with the process of converting to digital broadcasting in the next few years, and know that equipment will be available as needed. HARRIS CORPORATION developed the RF test bed for the ATTC which was used to evaluate all DTV systems proposed for the USA and supplied the transmitter for the first US broadcast commercial digital TV signals. The company recently announced plans to conduct a nationwide digital TV information initiative to prepare broadcasters for DTV and donated a dual-monitor display to the Smithsonian Institution to allow people to compare HDTV with traditional television. A DTV guidebook and other digital TV resources are available by contacting your HARRIS TV Sales Manager, Tony Guess at (817) 682-4776.
Rupert Murdock's NEWS CORP didn't waste much time after the fallout of the ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS fiasco and lawsuits to align itself with ECHOSTAR's competitor PRIMESTAR. PRIMESTAR, now owned by various cable companies, is being reorganized into a new company — PRIMESTAR, Inc with TCI being the operator with 37%, TIME WARNER 30% and NEWS CORP/MCI 30% ownership. NEWS CORP's investment, valued at $1.1 billion, will be in the form of the A-SKYB satellite system and will be a passive type investment with no day to day involvement. PRIMESTAR is the second largest DBS operator with 1.8 million subscribers compared to DirecTV's 2.6 million.
Meanwhile, DirecTV is seeking to expand their 175 channels by using six new satellites to be launched in 1999 but faces several hurdles including getting FCC approval.
Split-up of the 817 area code has be implemented with Tarrant County maintaining 817, the Wichita Falls and northwest area becoming 940, and Waco and the south area being assigned 254. Crossover dialing will be in effect for another month or so.
BUFFTON CORP which owned CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES, Inc has sold it to DANAHER CORP for $25.5 million in cash and assumption of $2 million in debt. BUFFTON sold CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES so it could focus on its entertainment, food and beverage services.
Rupert Murdock's NEWS CORP announced that it will buy INTERNATIONAL FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, the parent company of THE FAMILY CHANNEL, for about $1.7 million with plans to combine it with the FOX KIDS NETWORK. Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson will continue as co-chairman and his son, Tim, will stay on as President and CEO. It is expected the cable channel will now go global.
MICROSOFT, ever expanding into the programming and distribution arena, is expected to strike a deal with COMCAST CORP, the nation's 6th largest TV cable operator, to invest about $1 billion for a 15% stake in the family-controlled company. COMCAST also owns the (AT)HOME Network, the QVC Network, and is a major supplier of cellular service on the Eastern Seaboard.
In the megamerger arena, the second `Baby Bell' merger to combine BELL ATLANTIC and NYNEX which when completed will be slightly larger than the SBC-PACIFIC TELESIS, has moved another step forward with approval from the Justice Department.
AT&T and SWC CORP (SWBELL) have the rumor mill busy claiming that the two are in merger talks. AT&T CEO Robert Allen gave some credence to the rumors in a speech where he gave reasons why a merger with a `BABY BELL' (he did not mention any by name) would be good for the public and the companies. Talk about "what goes around - comes around". For this merger to take place would require many approvals which will be a very difficult task.
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, Inc plans to open a $12 million customer service center in Oklahoma City. The facility is one of four centers to handle sales orders and billing for 1.5 million businesses so that `one call will do it all for our customers'. LUCENT, AT&T's former research lab and equipment unit was spun off last year.
Japan's Parliament has passed legislation to allow deregulation of their telecommunications industry and permit the world's largest telephone company, NIPPON T&T Corp, to split into three units to be controlled by a holding company and to conduct international operations for the first time.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
SBE NEWS—JUNE, 1997
Since there has been practically no activity at our Chapter BULLETIN BOARD, it has been dismantled, the information added to our WEB SITE (www.sbe67.org) and can be accessed at freqcoord@sbe67.org. SO CHECK IT OUT!! E-Mail boxes have also been set up for each of our Chapter officers and can be accessed at: `(officer name)@sbe67.org. The officer boxes are `chairman, vicechairman, secretary and treasurer'. SBE Chapter members who have E-Mail addresses can be linked via the chapter WEB PAGE's `Who's Who' section. Send you E-Mail address to who@sbe67.org. Our supporting advertisers who have WEB SITES can be linked right from the Chapter 67 WEB SITE. Send your request to: adlist@sbe67.org. If you would like to have a Chapter 67 E-Mail address which forwards to your regular E-Mail, we can do that too. Send your requests to: forward@sbe67.org. Our WEBMEISTER, Gerry Dalton, will handle the requests.
The NBC coverage of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with ten EMMY awards. Chapter 67 member Craig Slaton of Duncanville was among the recipients, winning in the category of TECH TEAM STUDIO. Congratulations Craig and NICE GOING!!
Have you mailed in your membership renewal?? Renewals were due on April 1 and are now overdue. A reminder that the Society By-Laws state that a member is removed from the membership roll when dues are 120 days or more in arrears. Be sure to return your payment and renewal now and keep your membership intact. DO IT RIGHT NOW!!
The National Certification Committee recently added two additional certification categories - Certified Engineer/Video (CEV), and Certified Engineer/Audio (CEA). These categories are for those who do not operate or maintain transmitters. For more information, contact our Certification Chairman Arthur Runyon, KHSX-TV 49, a Chapter officer or the SBE National Office. Arthur can be contacted at (972) 579-4900. Also, a reminder to those who are interested in certification, the next test schedule will be the local window November 14-24 with the application deadline being September 26.
After many years of service on the SBE National Certification committee, two broadcast pioneers have resigned. National Certification Chairman, David Carr, CPBE, recognized and thanked William Orr, CSTE, and Robert Dye, CPBE, for their many years of service to the SBE and the National Certification Committee. Carr noted that it is through people such as these that the Certification Program and our profession have achieved the success that we enjoy today.
Believe it or not - It's almost time for the SBE National Elections again. The Nomination Committee has been busy lining up nominees for SBE National Officers and Directors and have released a list of candidates. The Committee, chaired by Larry Wilkins, CPBE, and aided by members Richard Farquhar, CPBE, Robert Hess, CPBE and Michael Scott, CPBE, has put forth two candidates for SBE President. Edward J. Miller, CPBE, and James T. Bernier, Jr, CSTE. Candidate for Vice-President is Troy Pennington, CSRE; Secretary-Thomas Weber, CPBE and Treasurer-"Andy" Butler, CPBE.
The Nominations Committee had submitted the names of thirteen members to run for the six available Board seats. The top six vote getters will win the seats. The list of nominees includes:
Robert Chase, CSTE
Greg Dahl, SCRE
Richard Edwards, CPBE
Dane Ericksen, PE, CSRTE
Mario Hieb, CSRE
Ralph Hogan, CPBE
David Hultsman, CPBE
Keith Kintner, CSTE
Oscar Medina, CSTE
Chriss Scherer, CBRE
Robert Stroupe
Barry Thomas, CBRE
Larry Wilkins, CPBE
Ballots will be mailed to all members eligible to vote by July 30. Brief information about each candidate will be provided with the ballot, along with a voting history of the current Board and Officers. Completed ballots must be returned and received by the SBE National Office no later than 5:00pm, Thursday, August 28. Ballots will be opened and counted by a board of Tellers that evening. Results will be released the following day.
The newly-elected officers and board members will be installed during the Awards Dinner at the SBE National Meeting in Syracuse, September 26.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
====JUNE 1997====
PROGRAM=TIDBITS=and=MORE=or=LESS
Thanks to the many folks and companies who helped to arrange, coordinate, install and test the equipment and circuits for the splendid program and demonstration of the digital SX format and transmission products. Special thanks to David Carr, CPBE, KHOU-TV 11, Houston, Buddy Brown, CPBE, KXAS-TV 5/KXTX-TV 39, Dallas, SWBELL for the fiber optics circuits, LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES Linkrunner, and the many SONY folks involved including Richard Majactic, Randy Brigham, David Washington, Don Lee, Ernie Magnotti, Jeff Harris, etal. Representatives from SONY-San Jose present were Chris Golson, VP Storage Systems Marketing and Jean-Paul Creignou, Product Manager, Betacam SX Hybrid Products. The SONY folks appreciate the opportunity to make the presentation and wish to thank everyone for their interest.
Next month we will get an update on one of the other rapidly advancing technologies, HDTV. In cooperation with MZB's annual show, we will meet a week early on Wednesday, July 23. More information on this program will be forthcoming. Watch your mail and check the NEWSLETTER. We will be eating in a different location for this meeting, so be sure to check the next NEWSLETTER for the location.
In August, the program will be presented by GENTNER ELECTRONICS. September will feature the new `Smarti' from BROADCAST ELECTRONICS. Then the annual CROUSE-KIMZEY 12th annual picnic is the feature for Saturday, October 25.
I thank the members who helped line up this series of programs. They have done an excellent job of locating interesting, informative and entertaining programs. Again THANKS GUYS.
The Chapter Officers and Program Committee members urge you to contact any Committee member to make your ideas, wants and suggestions known.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Chairman-George Whitaker, CPBE, PRACTICAL RADIO COMM, (817) 468-2586, Members-Tyler Callis, CBRE, CONTINENTAL ELECTRONICS, (800) 733-5011, Wayne Kube, CPBE, WFAA-TV 8, (214) 977-6261.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
RADIO RUMBLES
by Clay Steely
SBE Chapter 67 member Margaret Bryant, Director of Engineering, ABC Radio Networks, Dallas, was among the judges selected by BE RADIO magazine to select the `PICK HITS' of the 1997 NAB. A review of the top 10 new product winners can be found in the May/June issue of the magazine.
According to Dave Stewart, HEFTEL BROADCASTING Director of Engineering, the HEFTEL stations will remain in the Rodriquez Building on Carpenter Freeway.
The M Street Journal reports that KEGL was able to keep its license but was fined $18,750 after being accused by the NAACP of EEO violations.
KOAI (107.5) has been granted an extension of time to build a new auxiliary facility and has modified the CP to 53Kw at 1069 feet at a different location at Cedar Hill.
KDSX (950) in Denison has applied for a new expanded band station on 1700 AM.
KCLE (1120) in Cleburn has applied to move to 1140 and increase to 875 watts days and add 740 watts night and to change transmitter location.
KRRW (97.9) `B-97,9' has changed call letters to KBFB.
Mel Karmazin of Infinity and now CBS Radio has been promoted to oversee CBS' owned television stations as well.
Integrated circuit manufacturer Analog Devices has developed an inexpensive chip which produces something called the `HUSH' Noise Reduction System. The system reduces noise on typical AM and FM radio reception some 25db with no encoding on the part of the broadcaster. No word yet whether certain types of noise, such as `radio talk show hosts', will be affected by the device.
CD RADIO, Inc, one of two DBS digital radio permitees, has contracted with SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL to build two satellites for launch in 1999, with an option for a third. CD RADIO is developing a 50 channel satellite DBS digital radio service for delivery of music and other programming to motorists throughout the USA.
USA Digital Radio, longtime proponent of in-band on-channel digital broadcasting, has teamed up with Lucent Technologies (Bell Labs) to develop a single DAB system. The system would use Perceptual Audio Coding (PAC) to achieve the compression necessary to squeeze digital audio into standard AM and FM bands. PAC is a mathematical version of how humans hear sound.
SBE CHAPTER 67 NEWSLETTER
JUNE, 1997
CALENDAR
In order to keep you up t date for future planning, here are dates for important meetings for 1997.
Jun 26, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting.
Jul 23, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting. SBE/SMPTE meeting at MZB VIDEO SOLUTIONS FOCUS SHOW, Dallas.
Aug 28, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting.
Sep 12-16 '97—RAI EXHIBITION, CONGRESS CENTRE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sep 17-19 '97—SCEC97, 19th SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS EXPO and CONFERENCE, Washington, DC.
Sep 17-20 '97—FALL RADIO SHOW, New Orleans, LA
Sep 25, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting.
Sep 26, '97—SBE NATIONAL MEETING, Livepool, NY.
Oct 25, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting. 12TH ANNUAL CROUSE-KIMZEY COOKOUT.
Oct 29-Nov 1, '97, SBE/TAB Conference & Exhibition, El Paso Convention Center.
Nov 5-7 '97—TELECOM XVII, Anaheim, CA
Nov 21-24 '97—SMPTE TECHNICAL CONFERENCE & EQUIP EXHIBITION, MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL, NY, NY
Dec 4, '97—SBE Chapter #67 monthly meeting.