October 31, 2003

Board Of Directors Complete Retreat

The New Jersey Broadcasters Association just completed a 4-day retreat designed to plan the direction of the Association for the next three years. The Board regularly holds retreats every two years. Several items on the Association’s agenda for the coming year include the question of translators and LPFM as far as interference in the crowded northeast New Jersey corridor, a new and more dependable EAS system, inviting the FCC to hold a localism hearing in the state and many other challenges facing the broadcast community in New Jersey. 

Convention Plans In High Gear

The New Jersey Broadcasters annual conference, scheduled June 7 and 8, 2004 at the Bogotá, is moving ahead. The opening reception will be held at the MIXX nightclub, and Sally Bremer, of Creative Selling Concepts has been hired to conduct the sales training session. Our keynote speaker Michael Janke, a former Navy Seal, will discuss the importance of winning. He keynote is titled “Take No Prisoners”. Reserve your rooms today. They will go fast.

 FCC Expands Penalties

In several recent notices of violations, the Enforcement Bureau has added a new requirement to the program. Stations are not only being fined, they are now being required to state what they intend to do about the violation, i.e. how they will correct the violation and by what date. The recent action against the high RF levels at their towers in California have required the users of the Mount Wilson Radio and TV transmission site to detail how and when they intend to cure the infraction of the rules. The FCC also issued the same requirements for several stations with public file problems. If your Alternate Inspection is not up to date, today would be a good time to get it going.

 Congressman Menendez Opposes Rules

Congressman Menendez, a major figure in the House Leadership, who represents the Union County area, has come out in support of the Dorgan Amendment. The Amendment would role back all of the FCC rules and regulations announced recently. The changes would have no effect on any broadcast station in New Jersey.    

Crack Down On Indecency Continues

The FCC has fined Infinity over $300,000 dollars for the “Sex For Sam” contest and the maximum fine on Clear Channel of $55,000 for broadcasts on  “Elliott in the Morning” on WWDC-FM.  However, Commissioner Copps was very clear the fines were not enough, and wanted the licenses of the stations cancelled. The “Sam” incident was broadcast of WNEW-FM in New York. It took the FCC a year to reach these decisions. The future is clear, indecency costs big and license revocations could be next.

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