WIXLIB

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTby Ralph Hogan, CPBE, DRB, CBNESBE Presidentrhogan@kjzz.orgNAB Education Foundation Technology Apprenticeshipprogram promotes SBE Certification for young technologistsAnnually, the NAB Education Foundation offers tenparticipants the opportunity to learn about the latestTV and radio gear and the state of the industry throughits Technology Apprenticeship Program. The programincludes a training course, apprenticeship, invitation toattend the NAB Show and the opportunity to become SBEcertified as a SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist.It was my distinct pleasure to speak with the tenstudents participating in this year’s TAP during the NABShow. They were bright, enthusiastic young people withan interest in technology and engineering. One couldsee their inquisitive nature by the questions they asked.They also attended the national SBE MembershipMeeting on Tuesday afternoon of the NAB Show.The participants are chosen via a competitiveapplication process that saw 45 applications submittedthis year. For the last three years, the SBE has continuedits working relationship with NAB by participatingon the panel that selects the TAP participants. Thefoundation draws upon five industry professionals toreview the applications and then selects the ten finalistsfor the apprenticeship program.The Class of 2013 was composed of students from: San Francisco State University - majoring inBroadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Omega Studios School of Applied RecordingArts and Sciences - majoring in The MasterRecording Engineering Series Program Omega Studios School of Applied Recording Arts andSciences - majoring in Live Sound Reinforcement American Broadcasting School - majoring inBroadcasting ITT Technical Institute - majoring in ComputerElectronics Engineering Technology Hocking College - majoring in Applied Sciencein Broadcast Production and EngineeringThe Technology Apprenticeship Program is a sixmonth curriculum designed to expose high-techgraduates and professionals to the broadcast industry.TAP exposes the students to the latest technologyin broadcasting at the NAB Show in Las Vegas and theRadio Ink Convergence Conference in Silicon Valley.It provides them with paid hands-on training ata radio or television station and introduces them totechnology professionals in the industry. Additionally,students are offered the prospect of becoming anSBE Certified Broadcast Technologist as part of theirexperience.The program promotes, “If you are interested invideo coding, IP audio and video, server-based audioand video, file-based audio and video or radio andtelevision transmission, then you should consider acareer in broadcast technology!”College seniors, recent graduates and individualswith the appropriate skill set seeking to enter thebroadcast industry are encouraged to apply for theprogram. To qualify, participants must have trainingin IT, digital technologies, broadcast engineering orother related areas. This program is open to all and itstrongly encourages women and minorities to apply.The participants have a very full six-month schedulestarting in March. Students begin the apprenticeshipwith an informational webinar featuring experts fromthe NAB and the SBE followed in April by participantsattending the NAB Show. There are activities plannedfor participants to interact with leaders in broadcasttechnology during the show. Then in May, theyparticipate in International Association of BroadcastManufacturers training. IABM is an internationalassociation that represents the broadcast and mediatechnology supply industry worldwide. The monthsof June and July have them complete a two-monthhands-on apprenticeship at a radio or televisionstation. In August, the participants take part in atechnology manufacturer visit. Finally, they wrap upthe experience at NAB headquarters in Washington,D.C. While there, they spend a week working with theNAB Science Department developing a presentationthat is delivered via webcast at the end of their visit.As you can see, the NABEF makes quite an investmentin each of the participants. They are the future of ourindustry. If you ever have the opportunity to meet orinteract with them, you will not be disappointed.The NAB Education Foundation is a non-profitorganization dedicated to serving the public interestin supporting and advocating: education and trainingprograms, strategies to increase diversity, initiativesstressing the importance of the First Amendment,community service, philanthropy and timelybroadcasting issues.SBE National Meeting comes to IndyThe 2013 National Meeting of the Society ofBroadcast Engineers will be held in Indianapolis,Ind. on October 29-30, at the Sheraton Indianapolisat Keystone Crossing. The event is being held inconjunction with the annual Engineering and ITConference presented by the Indiana BroadcastersAssociation. The local SBE host of the nationalmeeting is Chapter 25 of Indianapolis.4The SBE National Meeting events include theAnnual SBE National Awards Reception and Dinneron the evening of October 30. The SBE’s majorawards will be presented, including the Robert W.Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year and the JamesC. Wulliman, SBE Educator of the Year. Three newSBE Fellows will also be recognized: Lawrence Behr,CSBE, James Schoedler, CBNT, and Larry Wilkins,CPBE, AMD, CBNT. Chapters and other individualmembers will be recognized for outstandingachievement in chapter operation and professionalaccomplishments, respectively.The SBE Annual Membership Meeting, which willbe streamed live via the Internet, will take place onOctober 30 at 4 pm ET (1 pm PT). The meeting’s agendaincludes the induction of the newly elected officers anddirectors as well as updates on the society’s programsand services. Other activities during the nationalmeeting include the fall meeting of the national board ofdirectors, the annual Fellows Breakfast and a meeting ofthe national Certification Committee.The IBA Engineering and IT Conference includes afull day of technical presentations and a trade show,consisting of industry manufacturers and suppliers. Thesessions, trade show, breakfast, lunch and the awardsreception and dinner, are all included in the reasonablefee of just 100. The newly renovated Sheraton hasextended a special room rate of 109 per night plus tax.The hotel has free parking in their adjoining garage.More information about the SBE National Meetingand IBA Engineering and IT Conference is availableat the SBE and IBA websites. Pre-registration will beavailable at the IBA website later this summer. Everyoneis invited to attend, but especially if you live in Indianaor neighboring states, don’t miss this opportunity totake part. Save the dates; October 29-30.THE signal

LEGAL PERSPECTIVEby Chris Imlay, CBTSBE General Counselcimlay@sbe.orgTHE HILL, THE GAO, AND STOPPING THE NOISEI have a trio of things to talk about this month. Firstof all, during this 113th Congress, and for the third timein as many Congressional terms, SBE is back on CapitolHill once again looking for sponsors for the Senate andHouse versions of our legislative plan to improve FCCtechnical decision making. We call the Bill the “FCCCommissioners’ Technical Resource EnhancementAct.” The legislation would permit, but not require,each Commissioner to employ a fourth professionalstaff assistant -- an electrical engineer or computerscientist — to provide the Commissioner with technicalconsultation when appropriate, and to interface with theFCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology, Commissionbureaus, and other technical staff of the Commission.This can be done without any cost to taxpayers andwithout increasing the net staff levels at FCC (due to theacute shortage of engineers at the agency as the resultof retirements and hiring freezes due to sequestration).We weren’t able to get this legislation passed last term(2011 and 2012), despite very active lobbying for it bySenator Olympia Snowe of Maine (now retired) andRepresentatives Stearns of Florida and McNerney ofCalifornia. Sadly, Mr. Stearns was not re-elected in Floridalast fall. Because of that and Senator Snowe’s retirement,we have had to find champions elsewhere to introducethe Bills this term. We have commitments to do that inboth the House and Senate, but the preference is to havebipartisan support at the outset (as we have had in eachof the last two Congressional terms). The importanceof that is obvious when you consider how polarized theHouse and Senate are lately. Few pieces of legislation,when introduced, are truly bipartisan. SBE’s is prettyclose. However, there are those on the Hill who view anyincrease at all in Federal staff as a show-stopper, and evenif the FCC recoups its costs through regulatory fees, thereare those who view any increase in Federal budgets asunacceptable. Those positions are not unreasonable, butthey do pose a problem for us in pursing this legislativeagenda item. SBE government relations committee chairChed Keiler and I have made a lot of rounds in Washingtonselling the Bill, and we will be doing a lot more in thenear term. But make no mistake: Any legislation now is atough sell in Congress. More on this shortly.At the SBE membership meeting in Las Vegas at theNAB Show in April, I noted in my brief remarks to thecrowd that for the first time in my 34-year tenure withSBE, a major broadcast auxiliary band is threatenedwith reallocation. There are actually two threats to the2 GHz BAS band now. I mentioned in the February 2013issue of The Signal that there is a serious proposal toauction the band 1755-1850 MHz for broadband use.This would displace a large number of important anddiverse federal uses from that 95 MHz of spectrum,all or most of which would have to be relocatedelsewhere. The only band that is being considered forreaccommodation spectrum for those Federal users isJune 2013the 2025-2110 MHz band. Not good.The Government Accountability Office issued a reporton April 27 entitled “Spectrum Management: PreliminaryFindings on Federal Relocation Costs and AuctionRevenues.” This is an important report because the FCCis prohibited from conducting spectrum auctions wherethe cost of relocating incumbent services exceeds theanticipated revenues from the auction of the spectrumbeing cleared. The GAO report (GAO-13-563T)concludes several things, the last of them very importantto broadcasters:1. Actual costs to relocate federal users from the1710-1755 MHz band exceeded the original 1billion estimate by about 474 million as of March2013, although auction revenues appear to exceedrelocation costs by over 5 billion.2. The Department of Defense expects to completerelocation from 1710-1755 MHz for about 275million, which is approximately 80 million lessthan its 355 million estimate. According to DOD,the relocation of systems from this band has beenless expensive than originally estimated becausemany systems were simply re-tuned to operate in theadjacent 1755-1850 MHz band.3. The DOD’s preliminary cost estimate for relocatingsystems from the 1755-1850 MHz band is not firm.DOD officials said that changes to key assumptionscould substantially change its costs. Mostimportantly, said the GAO report, decisions aboutwhich spectrum band DOD would relocate to arestill unresolved.So, it is unclear whether or not 2 GHz is still the targetfor DOD facilities relocation from 1755-1850 MHz. Theother clear threat to the 2 GHz BAS allocation though isfrom CTIA, which in March recommended to FCC that itidentify 15 MHz of contiguous spectrum for reallocationto commercial broadband use as required by statute,and that it come from the 2 GHz BAS band. CTIAproposes to use the 2095-2110 MHz segment, togetherwith the 2110-2155 MHz band for base downlinks, tobe paired with 1695-1710 MHz and 1710-1755 MHzfor mobile uplinks. The 2095-2110 MHz band is, saysCTIA, attachment, the “clear choice for the Commissionto identify and allocate.” SBE sent a rebuttal to FCCCommissioners two days later, noting that the 20952110 MHz band would be the worst possible choice,and explained the public’s reliance on real-time ENG andevent production using this band daily.The final topic I wanted to cover in this issue ofThe Signal is Commissioner Pai’s well-received AMrevitalization effort. The SBE had an occasion prior to theNAB convention this spring (and prior to CommissionerPai’s panel discussion in Las Vegas) to visit withCommissioner Pai and his staff and to discuss sometechnical issues that contribute to AM broadcasting’saudience woes.Our concern is that the Commission does not have agood handle on ambient RF noise levels and trends overtime; it has uneven regulations governing noise-generatingintentional, incidental and unintentional radiators; and itsenforcement efforts in this context are both impractical andinsufficient. When an AM listener receives interference, heor she will not suffer it, they will simply utilize differentmedia. FCC interference resolution is premised oncomplaints, so AM broadcast band interference is notwell-documented. Even if AM interference complaintswere to be lodged, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau is notequipped to deal with them. Adequate staff does not exist,and attrition through retirement and hiring freezes hasleft FCC District Offices understaffed. Nor is interferencefrom Part 15 devices to AM receivers addressed at themanufacturer level. It is the user of the device that isrequired to adhere to the non-interference requirementin the Part 15 rules, and that is unworkable. Part 15device users are typically non-technical persons with nointerference resolution capabilities and no incentive toassist in resolving the problems, even if any might happento be reported to them by an AM listener.Given the inherent difficulty in finding the source of RFnoise from unlicensed (or licensed) RF devices, RF noisefrom unlicensed Part 15 devices (and Part 18 Industrial,Scientific and Medical devices) is a large and currentlyunmanageable problem. But it is not a problem that can’tbe fixed. That is the dialog that we should be having withthe FCC now. Bravo to Commissioner Pai. It is past timethat we had a hero at the FCC.5

CERTIFICATION UPDATEDouglas W. Garlinger, CPBE, 8-VSB, CBNTSBE Certification Committee Memberdoug@garlinger.comRebekah J. Sullivan, youngest Certified BroadcastTechnologist (CBT) at age 15At age 15, SBE Youth Member, Rebekah Sullivanhas become the youngest person to ever obtain thelevel of SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist, (CBT).Rebekah lives in Temple, Texas. At age 10, she gother first Ham Radio License. At age 13, she passedthe tests for FCC General Radiotelephone License andAmateur Extra Class License. Rebekah, KE5WLE, wasnamed “Ham Radio Operator of the Year” in 2012 bythe Temple Amateur Radio Club.Recently Rebekah attended a birthday party at hergrandparent's church, where she met the owner of alocal low-power Christian TV station in Killeen. Shewas interested in learning about the station’s plannedupgrades and antenna modifications to improve thestation’s coverage. She plans to tour the station soonand now that she has her CBT certification, Rebekahhopes to do volunteer work at the TV station.You would think that might be enough about thisyoung lady’s technical accomplishments but it’s not.Rebekah is the youngest person to pass the CertifiedElectronics Technician (CET) exam and become aCertified Journeyman Electronics Technician. DidI mention Rebekah has a Ship Radar Endorsementand is a Journeyman Radar Electronics Technician, aJourneyman Wireless Electronics Technician as well asholding a GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License?Rebekah describes herself as very interested incomputers and robotics. She would like to build arobot named Tag-bot that detects light, so she can playtag with him using a flashlight. She enjoys hackingwith Lego Mindstorms NXT. She likes learning new6computer languages; her favorites are Microworlds,Python and Ruby. After passing her CET, her fathergave her a Raspberry Pi computer as a gift.Rebekah has many interests in addition to electronics.Her Papa, Mama, three sisters and two brothers live ona farm. They raise goats, steers and chickens, and theygarden. She enjoys working with Boolean Algebra andloves books by J.R.R. Tolkien and is a Tolkien SubjectMatter expert. She likes drawing and crocheting,studying Spanish and Welsh and enjoys caring for“Hissy” and “Beetling Brows,” the family hissingcockroaches. She is very interested in chemistry and thefamily shower curtain has the Periodic Table on it.Rebekah’s father, Steve Sullivan, was a BroadcastEngineer and has told her many stories about late nighttransmitter repairs and equipment installs. Rebekahis home-schooled and is a student instructor for hertwo younger sisters, Hannah and Naomi, and her twoCQyounger brothers, Joshua and Caleb. Her youngersiblings are following a similar advanced path of learningunder the instruction of Rebekah and her father.Rebekah helps younger sister Hannah withtechnician flashcards.Certification Questionanswer on page 15Which is the most accurate way to measure average 8-VSB power on an RFspectrum analyzer?A. Normal marker with BW correctionB. Noise marker with BW correctionC. Channel power (or band power) markers separated by 5.381 MHzD. Channel power (or band power) markers separated by 6 MHzE. All of the above have the same accuracyTHE signal

New SBE Certification AchievementsCONGRATULATIONSLIFE CERTIFICATIONCertified Professional Broadcast Engineers and certified senior broadcast engineers who have maintained SBE certification continuously for 20 years, are at least 59 ½ years od and are current members of SBEmay be granted Life Certification if so requested. All certified who have retired from regular full-time employment and are at least 59 ½ years old may be granted Life Certification if they so request. If the request isapproved, the person will continue in his/her current level of certification for life.Certified Broadcast Television Engineer (CBTE )André Smith, Thornton, Colo. – Chapter 48NEWLY CERTIFIED CPBEApplicant must have had 20 years of professional broadcast engineering or related technologies experience in radio and/or television. The candidate must be currently certified on the Certified Senior Broadcast Engineer level.Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer (CPBE )Alan Parnau, Hackettstown, N.J. – Chapter 15FEBRUARY EXAMSCertified Senior Television Engineer (CSTE )Jonathan Solomon, Stamford, Conn. – Chapter 15Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT )Thomas Fowler, Centerville, Ohio – Chapter 33EXAMS CONDUCTEDDURING THE NABSHOWCertified Senior Radio Engineer (CSRE )Thomas Oliver, Williamstown, Ky. – Chapter 35Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer (CBNE )Timothy Anderson, Covington, Ky. – Chapter 33Joseph Carter, Arlington, Texas – Chapter 67Michael Gurthie, Cahrlotte, N.C. – Chapter 45Jeffery Hartman, Amarillo, Texas – Chapter 67Daniel Olewine, Clifton, Va. – Chapter 37Andrew Stern, San Francisco, Calif. – Chapter 40SPECIALPROCTORED EXAMSSteve Laskowsky, Bethany, Okla. – Chapter 85OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERSCertified Broadcast Networking Engineer (CBNE ) Donald Root, Jenks, Okla. – Chapter 56David Shaffer, Broken Arrow, Okla. – Chapter 56Brandon Gabbard, Tulsa, Okla. – Chapter 56Richard Brett Gilbert, Jenks, Okla. – Chapter 56Darin Hall, Tulsa, Okla. – Chapter 56COURSE COMPLETIONCertified Broadcast Technologist (CBT )DINFOSAnthony Pizzo, FPO, AECERTIFIED BY LICENSECertified Broadcast Technologist (CBT )Jan Andrews, Alexandria, Va. – Chapter 37Timothy Berry, Knoxville, Tenn. – Chapter 113CERTIFIED RADIOOPERATOR (CRO )Certified Radio Operator (CRO )Kenneth Smith, Bayside, N.Y. – Chapter 15Certified Television Operator (CTO )Patrick Danner, San Pedro, Calif. – Chapter 47Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT ) Certified Television Operator (CTO )Lara Jessen, Riverside, Calif.Charles Gawlik, San Diego, Calif. – Chapter 36Justin Shearin, Henderson, Nev.Eric Jingst, Toledo, Ohio – Chapter 104Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT )Kimberly Sacks, Hollywood, Md. – Chapter 37ALABAMA BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATIONCertified Broadcast Radio Engineer (CBRE )Dale Holden, Mobile, Ala. – Chapter 118Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT )Maria Dudzak, Ketchikan, Alaska – Chapter 89Carey McDill, Birmingham, Ala. – Chapter 68Dee Miller, Albertville, Ala. – Chapter 111Michael Missildine, Dothan, Ala. – Chapter 118Scott Shepperd, Dothan, Ala. – Chapter 118David Brett, Poland, Ohio – Chapter 122Lynn Durham, Grove Port, Ohio – Chapter 52Brian Poellnitz, Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Chapter 68James Pound, Lawrenceville, Ga. – Chapter 5Nathan Smith, Pensacola, Fla.Rebekah Sullivan, Temple, Texas – Chapter 79Charles Tate, Birmingham, Ala. – Chapter 68George Warren, Elkridge, Md. – Chapter 37Sam Casaccio, Stamford, Conn.Harold cochran, Martin, Tenn.Tim Russell, Twin Falls, IdahoPasadena City CollegeNicole Barreras, Los Angeles, Calif.Jose Cano, Pacoima, Calif.Ray Franklin, Pasadena, Calif.David Ickes, Pasadena, Calif.Mark Larane, Altadena, Calif.Hector Lozano, Pasadena, Calif.Justin Naranjo, Santa Clarita, Calif.David Rodriguez, Altadena, Calif.Sonali Serasinghe, North Hollywood, Calif.Naomi Suda, Monterey Park, Calif.Charles Yao, Glendale, Calif.CERTIFIED TELEVISIONOPERATOR (CTO )Clay Du

Hocking College - majoring in Applied Science in Broadcast Production and Engineering The Technology Apprenticeship Program is a six-month curriculum designed to expose high-tech graduates and professionals to the broadcast industry. TAP exposes the students to the latest technology in broadcasting at the NAB Show in Las Vegas and the