DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-099, June 29, 2004 edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2004 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1235: Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 Wed 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1235 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1235.html WORLD OF RADIO 1235 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1235.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1235 in MP3, the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_06-23-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_06-23-04.mp3 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1236: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, maybe 17495-CUSB Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 ON DEMAND: from early UT Thursday, change 1235 above to 1236 WORLD OF RADIO ON SIUE WEB RADIO Web Radio Changes Format...but WOR/COM/MR will stay! Glenn, Just a note to let you know that World of Radio, Continent of Media and Mundo Radial will continue as scheduled for the rest of the summer at various times on Web Radio at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, despite a format change at the station. The format will be changing from a mix of current and recurrent hits from different genres to an all-'80s format; the station is carrying WOR and MR during the transitional period, as Web Radio is stunting with old-time radio programs in preparation for the July 1 format change (E.B. Stevenson, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. BANDA AMPLIADA DE ONDA MEDIA ARGENTINA (1610 a 1700 kHz) Actualizacion: 25/06/2004 --- Por Marcelo A. Cornachioni Seguidamente se ofrece la nómina de estaciones que han sido reportadas en la banda ampliada de la onda media de la Argentina. Este listado forma parte del DIRECTORIO DE EMISORAS DE ONDA MEDIA DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA, cuya nueva versión actualizada será editada a partir de la primera semana del mes de Julio 2004: Estaciones: 1610 KHz / Radio Guaviyu QTH: Gregorio de Laferrere, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4457-8712 1610 KHz / Radio Exitos QTH: Zufriátegui 830, 11 Piso, (B1714GDL) Ituzaingo, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4458 4603 E-mail: radioexitos1610 @ hotmail.com // radioexitos @ yahoo.com.ar DG: Hernán A. Zabala Cxs: FM Oriente / 94.7 MHz 1610 KHz / Radio Cántico Nuevo [*] QTH: Av. Roberto Oliver 1319, (B1839AMO) 9 de Abril, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4272 2943 DG: Alfredo H. Soto 1610 KHz / Radio Luz del Mundo QTH: Catamarca 2560, (B1847CXH) Rafael Calzada, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4219 1150 OP: Ministerio Evangélico "El Amor de Dios" DG: Jorge Antonio Daniel Potencia: 0.05 Kw 1610 KHz / Radio Cultura [*] QTH: Bernal - ex Domingo Purita - 2247, (B1826DEC) Remedios de Escalada, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4247-6197 OP: Sociedad de Fomento y Cultural Villa Talleres Cxs: RL88, Radio Lanus FM / 88.1 MHz 1610 KHz / Radio Buenas Nuevas QTH: Dr. Luis Tozzini 40, (X6120DDB) Laboulaye, Córdoba. Tel: (03385) 42-6664 E mail: buenasnuevas @ arnet.com.ar DG: Pedro Saavedra Potencia: 0.5 Kw 1610 KHz / Radio Maranata QTH: Hipólito Yrigoyen s/n esq. Andresito, (N3370) Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. Tel: (03757) 42-2713, 42 2557 QTH-2: Casilla de Correo 45, (3370) Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. E-mail: icn.futuro @ hotmail.com OP: Iglesia Camino Nuevo DG: Hugo Eidinger Cxs: FM Futuro / 101.7 MHz + Radio Baluarte (SW 6215 KHz) 1620 KHz / Radio Tropicana / (Cadena Vida) [i] QTH: Av. San Juan 2461, (C1232AAG) CA Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4942-6913, 4942-6916 QTH (TXR): San Justo, Buenos Aires. OP: Asociación Civil "Jesús es mi Salvador" DG: Genuario Rodríguez Almeida Cxs: FM 89.1 MHz y en // a 1130 KHz Potencia: 10 Kw 1620 KHz / Radio Italia QTH: General Guemes 5025, (B1603CUE) Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4709-1172 DG: Juan Berardis 1630 KHz / AM Restauración QTH: Tgrl. Pedro E. Aramburu - ex Debussy - 2948, (B1686FBB) Húrlingham, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4452-0167, 4662 6387, 4662 9032 E-mail: restauracionam @ aol.com OP: Iglesia Pentecostal Piedra Viva DG: Osvaldo Adrián Silva 1630 kHz / AM-1630 Radio Buen Ayre / (Red 92) QTH: Av. Circunvalación -Calle 32- N1 426, (B1902BKV) La Plata, Buenos Aires. Tel: (0221) 483 8998 E-mail: am1630 @ red92.com Web: http://www.red92.com OP: Nuevas Comunicaciones S.R.L. DG: Marcelo Balcedo Cxs: Emisiones Platenses (92.1 MHz) + Mix FM (102.7 MHz) Potencia: 1/5 Kw 1640 KHz / AM Libre QTH: Av. Int. Francisco Rabanal 1465, PA, (C1437FPB) CA Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4919 2994, 4919 3659 / 6327-5350 DG: Haydee E. Catalano Obs: Ex Radio Bolivia 1640 KHz / Radio Boanerges QTH: (3300) Posadas, Misiones. Tel: (03752) 45-4425 Cxs: FM 94.5 MHz 1650 KHz / Radio Fortaleza QTH: 12 de Octubre 537, PB, (B1804AAC) Ezeiza, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4232 9739 OP: Iglesia Pentecostal La Estrella DG: Miguel Navarro Obs: Ex 1520 KHz 1660 KHz / Radio Unidad [*] QTH: Molina 830, (B1846BEL) José Marmol, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4241 2544 OP: Iglesia Internacional Unidos en el Amor de Jesús DG: Alicia del Carmen Veliz Cxs: FM 94.1 MHz 1670 KHz / Radiomania [+] QTH (TXR): San Justo, Buenos Aires. E-mail: 1670 @ starmedia.com OP: Merlin Communications Ltd. (UK) Obs: Rtxn Servicio Latinoamericano de la BBC (Londres, UK) Potencia: 5 Kw 1680 KHz / Radio Getro QTH: Magallanes 3136, (B1824PYB) Lanus Oeste, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4267 2074 OP: Iglesia Jesucristo La Roca Viva DG: Viera Huberuk 1690 KHz / Radio Apocalípsis II QTH: Monseñor Bufano 3386, (B1754BZN) San Justo, Buenos Aires. Tel: (011) 4484 4517, 4484 7617 E mail: apocalipsis2 @ starmedia.com Web: http://apocalipsis2.freeyellow.com OP: Fundación "Cristo la Solución" DG: Alberto Guadagna Cxs: FM 90.7 MHz Potencia: 1/0.25 Kw Abreviaturas utilizadas: Cxs: Comentarios DG: Director General o Propietario Obs: Observaciones OP: Operada por ... QTH: Dirección postal de la emisora QTH (TXR): Ubicación del transmisor Rtxn: Retransmisión de una emisora o programación Tel: Teléfono/s de la emisora [*] Emisora reportada inactiva [+] Emisora definitivamente inactiva [i] Irregular Se agradece el envio de cualquier dato que tienda a actualizar, modificar o suprimir la información suministrada en el presente listado. Comentarios, consultas y sugerencias que quiera Ud. formular relacionadas con este trabajo, deberá ser dirijida a la siguiente direccion: Marcelo A. Cornachioni Alvarez Thomas 248 (B1832DNF) Lomas de Zamora Buenos Aires, Argentina E-mail: dxline @ arnet.com.ar (Marcelo Cornachioni, Lista Conexion Digital via @tividade DX via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 9960, Voice of Armenia. 1946-2005 5 June, news in English. A selection of light jazz at 1954 until ID and closedown of English program at 1959:45. ID as "Public Radio of Armenia, the Voice of Armenia. Gave email address but not the postal address. Fair (Rich D`Angelo, PA, Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. SEA VOLMET FROM BRISBANE: From July 2004 SEA Volmet transmissions are licensed to operate from the former Telstra Maritime Station at Ningi. AXQ429, 6676kHz and AXQ421, 11387 kHz broadcast aviation weather information on the hour and half hour (AEST). Station now identifies as `AUSTRALIAN VOLMET`. The transmit power is listed as 6 Kilowatts (Allen Fountain, Utility DX, July Australian DX News via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. ARMÔNICAS DE EMISSORAS DE ONDAS MÉDIAS [the first two are not harmonics of the frequencies cited; are there actually relays on 830 and 860 respectively? --- gh] 1660 2306 0051 B, R. Globo Rio de Janeiro RJ, programa Quintal da Globo (QRG de origem, 1220) 34333 1720 23/06 0058 B, R. União, Céu Azul - PR, "saindo do ar sem comunicação" (QRG de origem, 1510) 35333 1754 23/06 0108 B, R. Sociedade, Oliveira - MG," saindo do ar" (QRG de origem, 1170) 44444 [sesquiharmonic!!! Almost -gh] 1840 23/06 0038 B, R. Cultura, Linhares - ES, programa religioso. (QRG de origem, 920) 35333 1920 22/06 0755 B, R. Santa Cruz, Pará de Minas - MG, música Zezé de Camargo e Luciano, (QRG de origem, 640 [x 3]) 44444 2060 21/06 2352 ? R. América, (unID) música e locução em espanhol 23232 [2 x 1030?] 2120 21/06 0000 ? R. (unID) programa religioso e músicas em espanhol 23232 [2 x 1060?] 2140 23/06 2116 B, R. Record, Campos - RJ, programa da IURD (QRG de origem, 1070) 34333 2160 22/06 0024 B R. (unID) programa da IPDA 33333 [2 x 1080?] 2300 22/06 1024 B, R. Três Rios, Três Rios - RJ, comentários sobre a morte de Leonel Brizola. 34333 [2 x 1150] 2460 22/06 0045 B, R. Novo Tempo, Governador Valadares - MG, programa evangélico (QRG de origem, 1230) 44444 2580 22/06 0050 B, R. Novo tempo, São José do Rio Preto - SP, programa evangélico (QRG de origem, 1290) 33333 2790 22/06 0058 B, R. Sul Fluminense, Barra Mansa - RJ, programa "Tribuna Livre" (QRG de origem, 1390) 33333 [=2780!] 3140 22/06 0740 B, R. Cidade, Corinto - MG, locutor da o telefone 3751-2001 para contato com a emissora! (QRG de origem, 1570) 34232 Local das escutas: Zona Rural de Itatiaiuçu - MG Receptor: Yaesu FRG - 100; Antenas: Beverage 100 metros e super KAZ (Wilson Rodrigues, Itaúna MG, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. To World of Radio --- Dear Sir, Greetings from Bangladesh. Here is the DX news for your programme. It is the great news for the listeners that CRI Bengali service is going to extend their programme format. Since coming 15 July 2004 CRI Bengali service is going to air one hour programme instead of half hour programme. The programme will air 1300-1400 UTC. And this programme will rebroadcast next day 0200- 0300 UTC. But CRI has not even informed their new frequency. Yours Sincerely (Md. Salah Uddin Dolar, President, Global Radio Fan Club, Vill. + P.O. Chaumahani, P.S. Motihar, Rajshahi-6000, Bangladesh, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CRI's new frequencies according to monitoring May 16-June 28: 7250 1300-1357 English, ex in Russian 7250 1400-1457 Chinese, ex in Russian, co-ch Radio Vatican Italian from 1430 7250 1500-1557 Russian, co-ch Radio Vatican Italian 7250 1600-1657 English, co-ch Radio Vatican French/English/Slovene/Croatian 7295 1900-1957 English, co-ch RRI Serbian 1930-1956 7295 2000-2057 English, co-ch RAI Arabic/Portuguese/Spanish/Arabic 2025-2155 7295 2100-2157 English, co-ch Radio Tirana Albanian 2030-2155 9430 1900-2057 Chinese, ex in English 9430 2100-2157 English (DELETED 2200-2257 En) 9440 1500-1557 Russian 9440 1600-1657 English 9610* 1400-1557 English, ex in AM 9790 1900-1957 Cantonese, co-ch RFI French 9795 1200-1657 English, co-ch VOR German from 1500 11520 1530-1557 English DELETED 11670 1200-1257 Russian 11670 1600-1657 English 11670 1700-1757 English, co-ch RAI Italian 11670 1800-1857 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch RFI Russian 11670 1900-1957 Romanian 11810* 1300-1357 English, ex in AM, co-ch Radio Jordan Arabic in AM 11850 1200-1457 Russian 11940 1600-1657 English 11940 1700-1757 English, co-ch RRI French 11940 1800-1857 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch RRI English 11940 1900-1957 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch RRI German (DELETED 2000-2057 En) 12015 1900-2057 Chinese, ex in English 12080 1700-2057 English, co-ch VOA Portuguese/French/Hausa 12080 2100-2057 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch VOA French till 2130 13640 1500-1557 English 13640 1600-1657 English, co-ch VOT Spanish from 1630 13640 1700-1757 English, co-ch VOT German from 1730 13640 1800-1857 Chinese, co-ch VOT German till 1825 13730 1600-1657 English, co-ch ORF-1 in German, ex 1600-1727 13760 2000-2057 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch VOK French (DELETED 1800-1957 En) 13830 1700-1857 English, DELETED 15150 1700-1757 French , ex in English, co-ch VOI Spanish 15150 1800-1857 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch VOI German 17490 0400-1657 English 17510* 1600-1957 English 17650 0400-0557 French , ex in English 17650 0600-0757 Chinese, ex in English 17650 0800-0957 French , ex in English, co-ch Radio Japan NHK Japanese 17650 1000-1157 Chinese, ex in English 17650 1200-1357 French , ex in English, co-ch DW French till 1300 17650 1400-1557 Chinese, ex in English, co-ch WHRA English from 1500 17650 1600-1657 French , ex in English, co-ch WHRA English * DRM transmission (Observer, Bulgaria, June 29 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Granma é o jornal oficial do governo cubano que é editado, inclusive, em português. É uma palavra inglesa que, em espanhol, significa abuela. Era o nome do iate em que Fidel Castro e 81 combatentes viajaram de Tuxpan, no México, até Cuba, para iniciar a luta revolucionária que culminou com o triunfo de 1º de janeiro de 1959, segundo informações de Lourdes Lòpez, do Departamento de Correspondência da Rádio Havana Cuba, em mensagem enviada a Caio Lopes, do DXCB. Alguns exemplares do Granma são sempre enviados aos que escrevem para a RHC (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 28 via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. WHERE IS COMMANDO SOLO? FROM "LA NUEVA CUBA". MONDAY, 06/28/04 http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-04-06-2816.htm Tester's Take: Where Is Commando Solo? By NBC 6 Reporter Hank Tester, NBC 6 via José F. Sánchez, Research Dept., La Nueva Cuba, June 28, 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MIAMI -- "The weather is great, so why aren't they flying the plane?" asked one of my sources in the Cuban exile community. "The plane" is a C-130 operated by the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. My source is not the only one asking. In fact, the question about the plane comes up often when I am working stories in Little Havana. When the crowd in front of the Versailles Restaurant on Calle Ocho starts talking about President George W. Bush's get-tough policy on Cuba, someone always asks, "¿Dónde está Commando Solo?" Commando Solo is the nickname for six four-engine C-130 transport planes packed with radio and television transmitters. They have seen service in Southeast Asia, Panamá, Grenada, Haïti, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. Their mission is to broadcast radio and television programs and propaganda to populations who are limited to viewing and listening to their government-controlled media. The cost of each aircraft is $90 million. On May 20, 2003 one of the aircraft flew near Cuba transmitting a message to the Cuban people from President Bush. But why should we fly the plane at all? Fidel Castro's government jams the signals of Radio & TV Martí. Cuban exiles have pushed the Office of Cuba Broadcasting to punch through the jamming. TV & Radio Martí's critics have charged that the operation is a waste of taxpayer's money. Exiles, however, see it differently. "Make it work," they say. One exile, José Basulto, loaded his Brothers to the Rescue Cessna with TV gear and sent pictures and sound into the island. The exile's say if Basulto can do it, why can't the U.S. government do the same with the Commando Solo operation?" Late this spring the Bush administration announced sweeping changes in policy towards Fidel Castro's Cuba. Critics charged the recommendations made by the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba was nothing more than pandering to the Cuban exile community, a group Bush needs to keep in his camp to ensure a election victory in November. There had been rumblings among the exiles that Bush, like most presidents since the 1960s, had talked tough but never did much about Cuba. The new Bush Policy restricted travel to the island, put a squeeze on the funds and goods exiles could send to relatives, and making use of the Helms-Burton law, forced at least one hotel ownership group to walk away from their properties on the Island. It was, however, the promise to deploy the Commando Solo aircraft that captured the hard-line anti-Castro Exiles interest. For once folks on the island would "get the truth." The problem is that months after it was announced, Command Solo has not flown. Trying to find out why is difficult. The Office of Cuba Broadcasting says to call the State Department. The State Department says to call the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Calls to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, who fly the C-130's, are met with friendly conversation, indicating that they do not know much about the potential mission. "We have heard about it but we are not tasked, so there is not much I can say," one public information officer said. Sources tell me that the delay is due to an argument between lawyers at the Department of State. The issue is whether use of Commando Solo in Cuba could violate international law. Security is another concern. Any U.S. military aircraft approaching the Cuban coast certainly will be in the cross hairs of Castro's radar. But would Castro dare hassle with a C-130? He did after all personally order the shoot down of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in 1996. There's no question the C-130 would have to be escorted by U.S. fighter planes. That brings up the issue of expense. I was told by one source close to Radio & TV Martí that the cost for each Commando Solo flight hovers around $500,000. Others dispute that number but say flying is expensive and if the project is to be successful, the airplanes have to fly every day for consistency. Is there perhaps a simpler explanation? Maybe the politicos advising the Bush campaign are saying to hold off on the flights till later in the election year. Flying closer to the election for better effect might be the real story. President Bush is positioning himself as the one chief executive who has aggressively picked up the anti-Castro mantle, not with words but with action. However, to date the C-130s from the Pennsylvania Air Guard have not been called to transmit Radio & TV Martí. Meanwhile, the exiles continue to ask, "¿Dónde está Commando Solo?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hank Tester is a general assignment reporter for NBC 6. He often writes for the NBC 6 Web site and appears mornings on WFFG and WGMX- FM, Marathon, Fla. 73's (via Oscar de Céspedes, June 28; also via Ulis Fleming, dxldyg, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. World Music Radio`s website http://www.wmr.dk is rather uninformative. No program schedule for one thing; perhaps that means there are no programs! Just random music. The listen link did not work, and I had to go to the history page to find this on June 29: ``Currently 5815 kHz is running at half power (around 6000 Watts) and on 15810 kHz the power is 500 W. Besides shortwave, WMR is also available worldwide via the Internet, and will soon be available locally in Eastern Jutland, Denmark on FM 104.2 MHz`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. ERITREAN OPPOSITION RADIO ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL BROADCAST TIME | Text of report by Eritrean opposition web site Eritrea1.org on 28 June Dear listeners, Voice of Liberty [Eritrean opposition radio] will start transmitting additional programmes in Tigrinya and Arabic on Wednesdays from 30 June 2004. In the first half of its one-hour transmission, the radio will be broadcasting news, views and analysis in Tigrinya while the second half will be allotted for news, views and a programme on the background of our detained citizens [former government officials] in Arabic. The new programmes will be transmitted on Wednesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. Eritrean time [1700-1800 gmt] on 12120 kHz in the 25 metre band. Source: Eritrea1.org web site in Tigrinya 28 Jun 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4780, R. Coatán, 26 June 0103-0115, Talk by M with several mentions of programa. Background music about 0106. Music bridge, then different M at 0107 with possible ID, but was too fast to copy. Mentions of "5 de ano" [sic], Ramón, Francisco, Coatán, and Guatemala. More music bridges and talk with ID at 0113 and 0114. Fair strength but very noisy. Was hoping this would be R. Satélite. It must be gone, as there haven't been any reports of it for a long time. Sweeper has moved up and this frequency in the clear now. 73's (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3385, RRI Kupang (Presumed), 1253 Little QRM from East New Britain co-channel. 1320 No QRM, and Indo music and Indonesian talk. 1457 Ending music "Love Ambon" and RRI ID and signed off. Fair 12/6 (Nobuo Takeno, Yamagata, Japan, NRD-535D with 10m, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Very interesting --- was thought to be inactive (Craig Seager, ADXN ed., ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL. Q. What HF SSB frequencies would a commercial aircraft pilot use in an emergency when he is out of VHF range? (Dale Unger, Baltimore, MD, Ask Bob, Getting Started, July MONITORING TIMES via DXLD) A. Over land in the U.S., only VHF channels are used. But over the vast ocean waters, depending upon the nature of the emergency, he might first elect to contact a long-distance operational control (LDOC) station monitoring aircraft in that particular air route. If urgent, he may wish to try a ``Mayday`` and ``Pan`` distress call on one of the internationally-delegated marine channels like 2182 kHz (within 300 miles or so), 4125, 6215, 8291, 12290 or 16420 kHz to communicate with ships and coastal stations. He may be asked to switch to a Coast Guard emergency frequency like 5696 or 8984 kHz for rescue coördination. Upon impact, an automatic distress beacon buoy is deployed on 121.5 MHz with a swept tone for radio direction finding (RDF) (Bob Grove, W8JHD, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I am writing to inform you that WRN's English service to Europe has changed its satellite frequency to: Eurobird 1, 28.5º East, Transponder D7S, 11.585 GHz, Horizontal, Symbol Rate 27.500 Mbaud, FEC 2/3, MPEG2 DVB audio stream. Select WRN Europe from audio menu. WRN is still available via Sky Digital on Channel 872. WRN Europe is also available via digital satellite for Europe on: Eutelsat HOT BIRD 6, 13º East, Transponder 94, 12.597 GHz, Vertical, Symbol Rate 27.500 Mbaud, FEC 3/4, MPEG2 DVB audio stream. Select WRN English from audio menu. All the best, (Edwina Jarvis, Account Manager, WRN, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. One of the two classical music stations orphaned by the WGN G5/7 digital move, WCPE is continuing to serve its C-band listeners by moving to G5/15 on July 1. They're using the same 5.58/6.12 frequencies they had on G5/7. A detailed description is the lead item on their web site http://www.wcpe.org I hope the former listeners of WFMT will show their appreciation by supporting WCPE in the future. I understand they took quite a financial hit to maintain a classical music presence on C-band (Gene Whittle, central Texas rec.video.satellite.tvro:146274 via Mike Cooper, June 29, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. ELVIS-ONLY STATION ALL RIGHT BY FANS 29/06/2004. ABC News Online Last Update: Tuesday, June 29, 2004. 6:20pm (AEST) http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200406/s1143108.htm A US satellite radio company is to create a special channel that will broadcast Elvis Presley's music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The commercial-free Elvis Radio will debut on July 2 with a live broadcast from Memphis, Tennessee. Thousands of Elvis fans are expected to gather in the city over the Fourth of July holiday weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the king's first single, That's All Right. Sirius Satellite Radio believes it can avoid overly repetitive content by tapping the extensive Presley catalogue, including hit singles, B-sides, rarities, movie soundtracks and live concert recordings. "I know he'd be beaming with pride at having his very own station," Elvis's widow, Priscilla Presley, said. The channel is being launched in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), the company which handles the Presley estate. "Elvis Presley was a true pioneer, a man of many firsts in our world," EPE president Jack Soden said. "It seems natural for Elvis to be the first artist to have a satellite radio station exclusively devoted to his work." Satellite radio is still in its infancy, with only 2 million subscribers in a country of 175 million broadcast listeners. -- AFP (c) 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** IRAQ. AID FOR IRAQI AMATEURS --- The hams in Iraq need help in establishing ham radio in their country and for ham radio to survive after June 30th [sic] 2004 when the CPA hands over to the local authorities. It would be helpful if people could do what they can to support the Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs at this sensitive time. This could be in the form of a letter of support for the future of the hobby in Iraq from your national radio society or educational material to help run ham radio classes or perhaps you could send them ham radio publicity material. The chairman of the Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs is Diya, YI1DZ, yi1dz @ hotmail.com or write: Diya Nassir, UN-WFP, Canal Hotel, Baghdad, Iraq (Ian Abel, G3ZHI, Letters to the Editor, July MONITORING TIMES via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN. POPTASTIC NEWS FOR ISLAND'S IMAGE By William Hall June 29 2004 http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373334125 The Isle of Man, a rain-swept island in the Irish Sea with about 70,000 inhabitants, has long envied Luxembourg, stuck in the middle of Europe. While both compete in tourism and as offshore financial centres, Luxembourg has had one big advantage - Radio Luxembourg. Founded in 1933, it grew to be Europe's most successful commercial radio station in the 1950s by broadcasting night-time pop music to a predominantly young English-speaking audience. It was overtaken by "pirate" offshore commercial radio stations serving the UK, such as Radio Caroline, but it did more than anything to raise Luxembourg's international profile to a whole generation of British "babyboomers". The Isle of Man has been trying for more than 40 years to get its own international radio station. Manx Radio, founded in 1964, was the UK's first commercial radio station. But it serves a local audience, and the UK government repeatedly blocked attempts to establish a powerful international commercial radio station on the Isle of Man because it would be unfair competition for the country's three national commercial radio stations - Classic FM, Virgin and Talksport. However, a challenge in the European courts in the early 1990s changed the ground rules and the Isle of Man government awarded a 10-year licence to Isle of Man International Broadcasting in 1999 for a new commercial, long-wave radio station serving the UK and Republic of Ireland. After several planning objections, which resulted in the transmitter having to be moved a few miles offshore, the project finally got the go-ahead earlier this year. Last week, IMIB announced plans to raise £13m for what will be the country's fourth national commercial radio station. It will have a staff of 40 and a new type of "crossed-field antenna" that is a fraction of the size of the 1,000 ft masts normally needed for a similarly powerful long-wave radio transmitter. IMIB's target audience will be adults aged 25 to 55 with a heavy emphasis on women who have a reasonably high level of disposable income. It has recruited 1960s and 1970s pop stars, such as Gene Pitney and Rick Wakeman, to host shows that will compete with Radio 2, the most popular of the BBC's radio channels. Paul Rusling, a former Radio Caroline disc jockey and IMIB's chief executive, says the new station will need an audience of 2.5m to break even and is hoping eventually to reach 4m. By contrast, the latest Rajar ratings show that Radio 2 has a 12.9m audience, Classic FM 6.5m, Virgin 2.5m, and Talksport 2.1m. Richard Corkhill, the Isle of Man's chief minister who remembers when Radio Caroline was moored a few miles offshore from his home, is a big fan of the island's new radio station, which has been on the drawing board for 10 years. "A lot of people thought Luxembourg was a radio station. We do not want people to think our island is just a radio station," says Mr Corkhill. But he is confident it will raise the international profile of an island with a triple A credit rating that will shortly scrap corporation tax to boost an increasingly diversified economy set to grow at 5.5 per cent a year. "We are a self-governing crown dependency, and we are keen to make sure that we are not forgotten," says Mr Corkhill. Mr Rusling promises to do his best. While the new station will not be broadcasting a regular diet of Isle of Man news, local announcers will be encouraged to mention the island's good points, including the weather, unless, of course, it is pouring with rain and the island is shrouded in its usual Irish sea mist (via Mike Terry, June 29, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Maltese and Libyan ministers discuss Voice of the Mediterranean --- It seems that the issue of the Voice of the Mediterranean, the Maltese-based international broadcaster that closed down some months ago, is not completely dead. Press reports from Malta say that the station was one of the items on the agenda of a two-day meeting held by the Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion in Tripoli. Amongst others, the Minister met with the Libyan leader's son, Mohammed Gaddafi. # posted by Andy @ 08:42 UT (Media Network blog June 28 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. Even if SCT has modified the authorizations for the three Tijuana area stations noted in the CGC Communicator, quoted in DXLD, FCC has yet to agree that they are consistent with the bilateral agreement and acceptable. And in fact, such agreement may not be forthcoming. BTW, Commissioner Michael Copps could not make the FCC town meeting in Albuquerque last week (altho Adelstein did), it was said, because he was tied up in Washington dealing with Mexican interference issues (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Much more about this: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release June 25, 2004 2004/716 MEDIA NOTE --- U.S. – Mexico Telecommunication Agreements The United States welcomed senior Mexican telecommunication officials to Washington, June 23-24, for meetings of the U.S.–Mexico High Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications. The United States and Mexico resolved a substantial AM radio interference problem that had adversely affected millions of Americans. As a result, the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation required four AM radio stations in the Mexican state of Baja California to reduce power or otherwise bring their operations into compliance with bilateral agreements governing AM broadcasts along our common border. This has brought relief to the U.S. broadcasting industry and some 29 million listeners who were affected by the interference. For its part, the United States has pledged to review its own radio licenses to ensure that U.S. stations do not cause harmful interference inside Mexico. Remarking on the U.S.-Mexican accord, the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications & Information Policy, Ambassador David Gross, said: "Our success in resolving the radio interference dispute reflects good will and hard work on both sides of the border. In particularly, the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation and Federal Communications Commission worked tirelessly and imaginatively to craft pragmatic solutions that have eliminated serious interference from three Mexican stations, and headed off interference from a fourth that was about to come on the air. In addition to superb staff work from the Federal Communications Commission, Chairman Michael Powell, Commissioner Michael Copps, and Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy personally and constructively engaged their Mexican counterparts so that the broader U.S.-Mexican telecommunications relationship is now on a much stronger footing." The United States and Mexico also adopted a new Emergency Action Plan to eliminate radio interference in public-safety communications systems in the border area. Cooperation in advance of this meeting has already allowed firefighters battling brush fires in California to secure temporary augmentation of critical radio spectrum from Mexico. The United States and Mexico also discussed satellite issues; broadband infrastructure and competition; ultra high frequency spectrum and new technologies; community connectivity indicators (teledensity and Internet penetration); as well as digital television. The United States welcomes the successful outcome of the High Level consultative Commission on Telecommunications meeting, enhancing our already broad bilateral relationship with Mexico (USDOS press via DXLD) SIXTH MEETING OF THE UNITED STATES - MEXICO HIGH LEVEL CONSULTATIVE COMMISSION ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS Washington, DC, June 23 and 24, 2004 JOINT DECLARATION The delegation of the United States headed by Ambassador David Gross, United States Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State, accompanied by Mr. Michael Powell, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission and Mr. Michael D. Gallagher, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, and the delegation of Mexico headed by Mr. Jorge Alvarez Hoth, Under Secretary of Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Transportation, accompanied by Mr. Jorge Arredondo Martinez, Chairman of the Federal Telecommunications Commission, having met in the city of Washington, DC, on June 23 and 24, 2004 to hold the Sixth Meeting of the United States-Mexico High Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications (HLCC); declare that: We recognize that the exchange of views and perspectives regarding topics of common interest on broadcasting and telecommunications are necessary for the support and mutual advancement of the peoples on both sides of the border; We also recognize that, along the common border, we need to coordinate sharing of the radio frequency spectrum in an equitable way in order to ensure the efficient development and the adequate functioning of diverse radiocommunication systems that operate on both sides of the common border; We reaffirm our desire to coordinate our work in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and, when in the interests of both Parties, to present joint positions in the ITU Meeting of Council and in the Conferences and Assemblies of the ITU sectors. Similarly, we reaffirm our desire to collaborate on the preparatory work of the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) for the meetings of the ITU. We reaffirm that we will push for the adoption of appropriate community connectivity indicators in support of ITU member countries in appropriate forums; Taking into account the analysis of the following topics: Satellites - Coordination of the Fixed Satellite Service networks in the positions 109.2 W, 113 W, 114.9 W and 116.8 W, and the coordination of the networks of the Broadcast Satellite Service at 77 W; Broadcasting - Coexistence of TV Channel 6 and FM broadcast stations; low power television stations (LPTV) and terrestrial digital audio broadcasting; Spectrum policy - New allocation of the 700 MHz frequency band; and Technological development - Broadband infrastructure and competition; We acknowledge the efforts that were jointly made in finding solutions to the broadcasting coordination and interference matters, and both Administrations confirm their commitment to the terms and conditions contained in existing broadcasting agreements. In addition, we are interested in jointly exploring the updating of existing broadcasting agreements, for the purpose of responding to operational needs and technological advances. We proclaim our desire and common commitment to continue the dialog under the HLCC in order to promote cooperation, coordination and solution of problems that may arise in the operation of broadcasting and telecommunication services along the common border. We adopt the following documents: The Directory of Bilateral Issues 2004-2006, which consists of the following sections: satellites, broadcasting, radiocommunication, international affairs and other telecommunications matters. The Directory contains the topics of common interest that will be analyzed by the staff of the Bilateral Working Group, which will report advances and completions annually to the HLCC; and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Use of Radio Frequencies in Case of Emergencies, which MOU was signed and entered into force in December 1998. The Action Plan describes the tasking each government will carry out in case of emergencies in order to eliminate harmful interference to the emergency frequencies protected under the MOU. Under the Action Plan, both governments expressed their intention to continue coordinating the compatible use of frequencies and to continue providing interference protection stipulated in the MOU. We further adopt the general principle that the HLCC should meet once per year, and in case that a face-to-face meeting cannot be held, that a video conference will be arranged as a timely alternative; We instruct the staff of the Bilateral Working Group in charge of administering the matters of the bilateral agenda to hold at least one meeting per year to review the full bilateral agenda, on dates that they find mutually acceptable. Bilateral Task Groups, such as the one on broadcasting issues, may meet without addressing the full bilateral agenda as often as necessary on mutually acceptable dates. The Bilateral Working Group is to inform the HLCC annually of advances in its work; We agree to present a report on activities regarding the work of the HLCC to the United States - Mexico Binational Commission that will meet at the end of this year; and Finally we agree that in order to follow-up with our agenda and to expeditiously deal with any difficult situations that may arise, and in the spirit of strengthening bilateral relations, we hold the Seventh Meeting of the HLCC in Mexico during 2005. Signed in Washington, DC, the 24th day of June 2004. ______________________________________ Mr. Jorge Álvarez Hoth Ambassador David A. Gross Under Secretary of Communications United States Coordinator for Ministry of Communications and International Communications and Transportation of Mexico Information Policy United States Department of State ______________________________________ Mr. Jorge Arredondo Martínez Ms. Kathleen Q. Abernathy Chairman of the Federal Commissioner, Federal Telecommunications Communications Commission ______________________________________ Mr. Michael D. Gallagher Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator National Telecommunications and Information Administration (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Radio Universidad [San Luís Potosí], 6045, verified with a no data verification letter received in 32 days from v/s L.C.C. Ma. Leticia Zavala Pérez, Coordinadora General de Radio Universidad indicating the power was 250 watts into an inverted antenna. The letter notes that in addition to shortwave, the station also operates on 88.5 FM and 1460 medium wave. Although the verie signer said there was a present with the reply, there was a hole in the envelope so I presume the pen "slipped out" in transit (Rich D`Angelo, PA, July Australian DX News via DXLD) ** MEXICO. New URL for Televisa schedules --- Televisa has once again changed the URL of their network schedules. Rather than continue updating the schedule URL on my web pages, I'm going to link to the Televisa home page. I'm sure everybody can figure out where to go from there for the schedules. In the meantime, here is the link: http://www.esmas.com/televisahome/ Mexico/Latin America TV ID tips and TV DX photographs: http://members.tripod.com/~nladxer/TMTVDXPindex.html (Danny (Shreveport, LA) Oglethorpe, June 28, WTFDA via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. Sunday 20th June saw John Schache and myself depart for Limekilns for our annual daytime winter solstice visit. A bitter day weather-wise, and snow had been falling around the local area that morning as well as the previous night. We have a warm ray in the modestly apportioned listening room, but even after a couple of hours the inside temperature had only reached 10 deg. C. The equivalent time last year (and the year before) we were able to sit outside in the sun and fresh air, but though they breed us tough in these parts (grunts he whilst puffing out his chest and displaying a suitably masculine sneer), even we have our limits. Luckily the signals didn't freeze en route, though, and a bit of useful long path African reception was to be enjoyed. 6060, Almost certainly the station here in vernaculars dominating the Brazilian at 0612 20/6. At 0625 it was fading with Brazil starting to dominate. While no ID was heard, this fits the pattern of the afternoon's reception of LP Africans (John Schache, Limekilns DX- pedition near Bathurst NSW, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Tentative, talk in vernaculars 0610, sounded like a devotional program. Definitely sounded African and so can`t imagine what else it could be. Very rare fish indeed via long path mode, as is all southern Africa into SE Australia, 20/6 (Craig Seager, Limekilns, ibid.) More: SAO TOME, ZAMBIA ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Euro 2004 semi-final Wednesday 30th June There will be another special transmission from Radio Netherlands on Wednesday 30th June at 1800-2157 UT with Dutch commentary on the semi- final between the Netherlands and Portugal. Here is the schedule including transmitter sites: 6035 kHz to SW Europe (Flevo 500 kW 191 degrees) 7380 kHz to Central Europe (Moscow 250 kW 260 degrees) 9485 kHz to SE Europe and eastern Mediterranean (Flevo 500 kW 123 degrees) 9700 kHz to SW Europe/NW Africa (Flevo 500 kW 205 degrees) 13665 kHz to Far East/East Asia (Petropavlovsk-Kamachatskiy 250 kW 247 degrees) 13845 kHz to Spain/NW Africa, Africa, Middle East, S & SE Asia, Pacific (Wertachtal 3 x 250 kW, 225/165/105 degrees) 17735 kHz to eastern North America (Bonaire 250 kW 350 degrees) 21580 kHz to South America (Bonaire 250 kW 170 degrees) # posted by Andy @ 09:48 UT June 29 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Ah, this time he gives sites; previous discussion indicates this concerns silly football games. Seriously, if Netherlands win, the country`s status will be diminished, for I will know the Dutch are putting far too much effort into things that absolutely do not matter. Same goes, of course, for any other ball champion country. So don`t play too hard, if you know what`s good for you (gh, DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR [and non]. Paul Moth, who hasn't been heard on CBC since they stopped broadcasting the BCN, has a blog: http://paulmoth.blogspot.com/ I heard about it on the mailing list for "The Great Eastern," where everyone's looking forward to Moth's imminent return to the rest of Canada. Warning: Moth discusses his bowel problems (William Denton : Toronto, Canada : http://www.miskatonic.org/ : Caveat lector. alt.radio.networks.cbc:19704 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** NORWAY. Bernt Erfjord passes away at age 42 Bernt Erfjord, long time editor of DX-News, fell victim to cancer on June 26, 2004 at the local hospital in Kristiansand, Norway. He leaves behind a wife, Anita, and three daughters. Bernt has been a central and highly respected resource in various positions for the DX-Listeners' Club over the last 20 years. His contribution to DXLC and the publication of the club's magazine has been truly outstanding. Bernt became a DXer in the late 1970'ies and made many friends both in Norway and internationally. For those who wish to send their condolescence to the family, write an email to be @ dxlc.com before July 6. We will convey the messages at an appropriate time. You may leave messages intended for DXLC at the same email address until the end of August (from dxlc.com via MWC via DXLD) Andy Sennitt adds: This news was indeed a shock, and we have sent a short message of condolence on behalf of Media Network. # posted by Andy @ 18:02 UT June 29 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Bernt was a regular listener and contributor to Media Network, especially with developments surrounding shortwave and mediumwave projects in Norway. I interviewed him several times at his "day job" in Norway's NRK (pubcaster). Very sad news indeed and condolences to his wife and daughters. The community has lost a great friend (Jonathan Marks, 06.29.04 - 4:50 am, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. CITADEL Alternative KSYY (105.3 THE SPY)/OKLAHOMA CITY played the new CURE CD in its entirety FRIDAY (6/18) and then flipped to Regional Mexican as "105.3 KSYY." The KSYY staff will remain with CITADEL in other capacities (http://www.allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** PERU. My unID Peruvian on 5949.78 kHz [4-098] turned out to be Radio Bethel. The station is sometimes relaying "CPN Radio". It´s very difficult to get an ID, hours with nonstop religious music or preaching without ID not even on half/full hour. 5949.78, Radio Bethel, Arequipa (Perú) 93kb 1130 UT 29/6 2004. Short recording just 20 sec. with clear ID. Recordings and comments at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. HOLA GLENN! TE MANDO UN LOG REALIZADO EL VIERNES... [June 25] FRECUENCIA - QRA - QTH - QTR (UTC) - SINPO - IDIOMA 3172 R. Municipal, Marcawana, 1124, 44433, S 3234.8 R. Luz y Sonido, Huánuco, 1126, 44424, S 3329.5 R. Ondas del Huallagas, Huallaga, 1128, 44433, S 4170.4 R. Ilucán, Ilucán, 1135, 34323, S, (armónico) [mezcla OC -OM] 4386.5 R. Imperio, Chiclayo, 0345, 44444, S 4386.5 R. Imperio, Chiclayo, 1140, 43423, S 4428.6 R. Bambamarca, Bambamarca, 1142, 44423 S 4746.8 R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, 1200, 55323, S 4774.9 R. Tarma, Tarma, 1202, 44423, S 4790.0 R. Atlántida, Iquitos, 1205, 44313, S 4835.4 R. Marañón, Tarapoto, 1207, 34413, S 4855.9 R. La Hora, Cuzco, 1209, 34423, S 4954.9 Radiodifusora Cultural Amauta, Huanta, 1211, 54423, S 4974.7 R. del Pacífico, Lima, 0347, 44423, S 5014.6 R. Altura, Cerro de Pasco, 1212, 44423, S 5019.9 R. Horizonte, Chachapoyas, 1214, 33323, S 5024.9 R. Quillabamba, Quillabamba, 1216, 33323, S 5039.1 R. Libertad, Junín, 1218, 44423, S 5160.2 La Voz de Bolívar, Bolívar, 1220, 44432, S 5470.7 R. San Nicolás, Rodríguez de Mendoza, 1222, 44423, S 5677.9 R. Ilucán, Ilucán, 1225, 44433, S 5939.2 R. Melodía, Arequipa, 0341, 43323, S 5939.2 R. Melodía, Arequipa, 1228, 33213 S 6020.3 R. Victoria, Lima, 1230, 44222, S 6114.8 R. Unión, Lima, 1232, 44423, S 6173.8 R. Tawantinsuyo, Cuzco, 1234, 44423, S 6188.0 R. Oriente, Yurimaguas, 1236, 44223, S 6249.2 Voz de Andahuaylas, 1238, 33212, S 6819.4 Voz de las Huarinjas, Huancabamba, 1240, 44423, S 6956.9 Voz del Campesino, Huarmaca, 1242, 43323, S S= Spanish (ALFREDO CAÑOTE, CHACLACAYO, PERU, 26.6.2004, ICOM IC-R71A, Antenna Radio Shack 20-181. ===== DXSPACEMASTER, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. LETTER FROM POLAND --- Perhaps Alistair Cooke didn`t invent the concept (or did he?), but his Letter from America was both a long running and anticipated commentary on events in the United Sates. Reception of R. Polonia in North America has been spotty at best, if not impossible most days. However, first via the CBC Overnight programming block, then via the internet (WRN), I have become a somewhat regular listener to this interesting station. It`s really too bad that R. Polonia is not well heard in this part of the world [on SW]. The programmiing is top-notch. One delightful segment is called `` Letter from Poland``. The host has a great sense of humour and irony and is a memorable listen. Here is a sample from the Radio Polonia website: ``Wyborowa Wins an Oscar``... Another wonderful segment is Multimedia: (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) News, chat and interviews for those passionate about radio, hosted by Sawek Szefs and Marek Lasota. The cutting edge of broadcast technologies, including Sirius satellite car radio and MBN that allows you to listen in on your mobile phone in the States. Tue 1830, 2100, Thu 1330, Fri 1010, Sat 0440. I`m constantly being torn apart between the aura of romance in good old hum-buzz-crackling and fading of traditional SW transmitting and the infinite possibilities of ultra modern and impeccable radio on- line. My interest in these spheres started in the end Seventies while in the army. My assignments dealt with satellite communications, but thanks to my ham operator colleagues I managed a brief encounter with amateur bands. Now, in Multimedia, I capitalize on this as well as the expertise of Marek Lasota, deputy director of IAR --- the Polish Radio`s News & Information Agency (R. Polonia website via Waterer, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. Additional frequency 11840 for Voice of Russia: 1500-1530 Albanian \\ 15290 13740 12060 7300 1548; 1530-1700 Serbian \\ 15290 12060 7300 1548 1700-1800 Italian \\ 12000 9470 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 29 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Most DXers check their clocks and/or tuning with WWV/WWVH on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz. Here are the others I logged around 0120 UT 6/18/04: CHU-Canada on 3330, 7335 & 14670 kHz; YVTO (with WWV) on 5.0 MHz; and RWM-Moscow on 4996 (S2), 9996 (S3), 14996 (only S1). They use CW mode so for the best copy use your BFO and tune to about 9995. I think RWM has a CW ID at about the top of the hour (Wells Perkins, New Jersey, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME. 4960, VOA-São Tomé. Very vague traces of signal in the noise but Craig caught the strains of Yankee Doodle at sign-off at 0530 20/6. Given the power of this, it seems strange that it has not been regularly heard via long path before (John Schache, Limekilns DX- pedition near Bathurst NSW, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Vague something here 0515, improved enough to decipher ``Yankee Doodle`` prior to 0530*. Hausa listed and perhaps a better chance 0530+ during the week, when has French, 20/6 (Craig Seager, Limekilns, ibid.) Maybe they use a high-angle antenna for close-in coverage, reducing far-out coverage (gh) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. CLANDESTINE from IRAQ to SAUDI ARABIA --- The NY Times reported last Friday that US officials provided details of an internal Iraqi intelligence report that they had obtained in Iraq. It is from the mid 90's and states that Iraq agreed to rebroadcast anti- Saudi propaganda as part of cooperating with a number of anti-Saudi groups, including Al-Qa`eda. Iraq had a number of anti-Sa`udi programs; it would be interesting to know which one this was (Hans Johnson, WY, Jun 29, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Clandestineradio.com lists 4 anti-Sa`udi programs in the 1990s; see http://www.clandestineradio.com/intel/intelinact.php?id=159 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND [non]. To clarify the points you raised: The upcoming broadcast will be 8 - 10 pm Eastern on Wednesday which is 00 - 02 UT on Thursday. I'll put some pipes in just for you! I recently visited Milan and talked to Alfredo, who runs IRRS. I did ask if I could visit the transmitter site, but he said that wasn't possible. As far as I know, though, all of his transmitters are in Italy, although I'm aware of the speculation that at least the 100 kW transmitter is in Rumania. Knowing Alfredo and his business, I feel that's unlikely, because it wouldn't make economic sense. But I haven't actually visited the transmitter site for myself, so I could be wrong. Hope you get a chance to tune in to 7415 on Wednesday night. 73 (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, radio six international, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [and non]. Last night, I noted Overcomer Ministry on 5105 kHz. First heard around 0630 with a strong signal, ID at 0828, and still there at 1040 but it was fading fast by that time. Not being a regular watcher of this pest station, I was surprised to see it operating here. Found it was over WBCQ. By the way, the "Good" Brother Stair is quite a character, it seems. Did a bit of a search on him today. The Overcomer website itself tells precious little about the man himself. In fact, when you click on the "About" link, you get a blank page!! And there is no photo of the man anywhere on the site! However, fascinating reading can be had at the following sites: Bro 1 http://www.isitso.org/guide/stair.html Bro 2 http://www.clrc.net/brostair.html [CLRC is Chrisitan [sic] Legal Reformation Club --- wacky in its own way ``The Nordic Awakening`` anti-miscegenation unlike B.S. --- gh] Bro 3 http://www.christianmediaresearch.com/stair-01.html Bro 4 Plus a hairy photo!!! http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=36 Enjoy and laugh along at the "good" Bro! It's amazing to think that people actually throw money at this cult... errr, sorry... ministry! (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Melbourne, Australia, June 29, EDXP via DXLD) See also USA – WBCQ. It`s really astounding that any responsible broadcaster would put this guy on the air at any price, once they have read the above material (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service language schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: English 0300-0345, Juba-Arabic 0345-0430, Arabic 0430-0515. Wednesdays English 0300-0330, Juba-Arabic 0330-0400, Arabic 0400-0430, Neur 0430-0515. 0515-0600 is Dinka Mondays, Zande Tuesdays, Muro Wednesdays, Bari Thursdays, Shilluk Fridays. Schedule is 0300-0500 11665, 0500-0600 15325 andthe programme is repeated 1500-1800 on 17660 (EDC schedule via Sergey Kolesov, Ukraine, July World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** TAIWAN [and non]. Frequency changes for Radio Taiwan International: 1800-1900 German NF 9565 (44544), ex 9955 1900-2000 Chinese NF 9565 (42332) + Chinese Music jammer, ex 9955 \\ 15600 (44444) 2000-2100 French NF 9635 (45544), ex 9955 \\ 15130 (34443), 18930 (44544) (Observer, Bulgaria, June 29 via DXLD) I suppose at least 18930 is via WYFR (gh) ** U A E. Dubai: I have checked the station`s listed English times fairly regularly since Brian Alexander`s report, as has Brian, but now only hear Arabic music programmes (Mike Barraclough, England, July World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U K. Listen to a telling of the birth of radio from a 1934 record: http://www.normanfield.fsnet.co.uk/marconiphone.htm Cheers, (Al Quaglieri, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: THE ROMANCE OF WIRELESS (OR RADIO) ON 78 RPM! Recorded around January 1934 (not a very good time for selling expensive Radio-Gramophones, records (or indeed anything else!) this record was given away with Marconi radiograms. On the other side were some selections of popular light classics and song. The intrepid reader on this record obviously relishes his job, and the prose - which was rather flowery and pretentious even for 1934 - brings the scene to life in a vivid way! Or at least it does to me! I love the phrase 'watery wilderness' for instance! Incidentally, the record does turn up fairly frequently. Even I've had about 4 copies of it down the years. Whereas the book referred to on the record, namely 'A City Of Sound' seems to be quite rare as I've never seen a copy. Have you? I’d love to know! Besides, Ola Andersted from Sweden thinks the narrator is Ralph Richardson, many years before he became Sir Ralph Richardson! What do you think? Anyhow, are you seated comfortably? Good! Then we’ll begin… [.rm link lasting 3:21] (via Quaglieri, DXLD) ** U K. BBC NOTES: THE PROMS --- The 110th BBC promenade Concerts series begins on July 16 and continues until September 11. This unique summer music festival is renowned for its accessibility, in terms of program, price and availability. BBC World Service coverage of the Proms includes the first and last nights, and more concerts will be presented in-between a various times of the day and night. In addition to the several selected WS broadcasts, every Proms concert (over 70 of them!) will be broadcast by BBC radio 3. The good news for international fans is that all of these will be streamed over the internet from the Radio 3 web site. Many also will be repeated there each afternoon at 2, London time (1300 UT), and some will be archived for one week on the Proms web site. Consult http://bbc.co.uk/proms/radiotv/ for full broadcast info. The official website for The Proms is http://bbc.co.uk/proms (John Figliozzi, Program Highlights, Shortwave Guide, July MONITORING TIMES via DXLD) ** U K. Parliamentary report on BBC Monitoring --- The annual report of the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee has just been published. The full text is at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/reports/intelligence/pdf/annualir0304.pdf Paragraphs 61-64 relate to BBC Monitoring (Chris Greenway, Kenya, BBCM, June 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also table of contents on pdf pages 6-7; just before the BBCM section is some interesting reading about GCHQ. Viz. From pdf pages 23-24: BBC Monitoring 61. The intelligence community draws on a wide range of open sources, but a particularly useful one is the coverage of the world`s media by BBC Monitoring. In partnership with its US counterpart – the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) – it covers about 150 countries and 100 languages. Together, they track more than 3,000 international media outlets. BBC Monitoring produces, on average, 1,000 reports a day for its customers, including government departments and the Agencies. 62. The Committee visited Caversham Park to see the range and depth of topics, subjects and areas that it covers. Currently the £26 million annual cost of running BBC Monitoring is funded by £22 million from the four main stakeholders (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), MoD, Cabinet Office and the BBC World Service) and £4 million from other sources, including commercial organisations. We were told by BBC Monitoring that it was providing significantly greater reporting of material relevant to customer needs, particularly on terrorism, to the satisfaction of its customers. However, we also learnt that the stakeholders` funding had been frozen since 2002, despite the extra demands being put on it and the availability of significant additional resources devoted to counter-terrorism elsewhere in government. [in bold:] BBC Monitoring provides a valuable service both to government departments and to the Agencies. It has adapted well to the need to report on the growing number of terrorism-related media sources. 63. The FCO is reviewing its allocation of funding to BBC Monitoring, with a view to cutting it significantly. We wrote to the Foreign Secretary to highlight the importance of the BBC Monitoring/FBIS coverage of the world, and the damage to this relationship that any reduction in funding would cause. The Foreign Secretary, in his reply to us, stated that a decision had yet to be taken and that he was aware of the consequences. Committee members also initiated a Westminster Hall debate on BBC Monitoring and we wrote to the Prime Minister with our concerns. 64. The Prime Minister told us that he recognised the value and quality of the service that BBC Monitoring provides. However, he told us that while the FCO would be retaining BBC Monitoring`s reporting on high priority areas, it was seeking to reduce coverage elsewhere and that the other stakeholders were unable to compensate for this reduction. With respect to funding, agreement had now been reached that BBC Monitoring funding would be maintained at its current level until the end of 2005–06, by which time a strategic review would have been completed. This would align customer requirements better with available resources and agree a new funding regime for the future. The Prime Minister stated that the review would fully involve US partners and that a final decision on BBC Monitoring funding levels would not be taken until the review finally reported. [in bold:] We welcome the decision, taken since we raised this issue, to maintain BBC Monitoring’s funding at its current level until the end of 2005-06. We believe that the overall level of funding should reflect the value of BBC Monitoring to the Government, the Agencies, and US relationships as a whole, and we will continue to take an interest in this matter (via DXLD) ** U K [non]. GERMANY: Frequency change for BVBN to ME via JUL 100 kW / 115 deg: 1515-1800 Sun in English; 1545-1615 Mon-Fri in English; 1545-1800 Sat in English 1615-1630 Tue/Thu in Hebrew; 1630-1700 Tue/Thu in English; 1645-1715 Tue Russian 1700-1800 Wed/Fri in English all on NF 15715, ex 15680 to avoid RFA Chinese (Observer, Bulgaria, June 29 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. RADIO WORLD - Sunday 27 June 2004 Gerry Kercher This year we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Western Europe from the occupation by Nazi Germany. Thanks to the British and American troops in the west, and the Russians in the east, our continent was freed of the infamous SS, Gestapo and other units of Hitler's occupation forces. Gerald Kercher, known as Gerry by his many friends in the shortwave listeners' world took part in the liberation of Europe. When the United States declared war on Japan and Germany, Gerry was 18 years old and became a pilot in his country's air force. I've known Gerry for many years and I'm now going to let you listen to an interview I had with the veteran pilot earlier this year. Gerry celebrated his 80th birthday this month, so this is the appropriate moment to let him tell us about the time he became involved in radio listening. Surely, radio was more important in those days than it is now. [illustrated] SOUND Gerry Kercher (listen to programme via audio link on this page) Radio World (broadband) http://www.rvi.be/wm/rvi/rw_HI.asx Radio World (narrowband) http://www.rvi.be/wm/rvi/rm_LO.asx Gerry Kercher. Happy birthday Gerry and many happy returns of the day. FRANS VOSSEN (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. LIBERALS WANT MORE ANTIDOTE FOR LIMBAUGH ON AMERICAN FORCES RADIO By SUZANNE GAMBOA The Associated Press 6/28/04 7:00 PM http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0787_BC_PentagonRadio&&news&newsflash-washington WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers used to wrangling over troop levels and weapons systems find themselves in a dispute over whether military personnel abroad should be given more of a liberal antidote to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. Liberals are upset that the Pentagon's American Forces Radio and Television Service is airing the first hour of Limbaugh's show, five days a week, on one of the 13 radio channels it offers. "Liberals, moderates and independents contribute to funding for American Forces Radio through payment of their taxes, just like conservatives do," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who slipped a provision this month into a $447 billion defense bill to counter Limbaugh's presence on the Pentagon's airwaves. Harkin's sense-of-the Senate resolution asks the secretary of defense to ensure that the former Armed Forces Radio presents in its programing "all sides of important public questions." He complained that American Forces Radio offers no commentary "that would even begin to balance the extreme right-wing views that Rush Limbaugh routinely expresses on his program." Conservatives are determined to get Harkin's measure removed from the bill when lawmakers return in July and start working on merging House and Senate versions of the legislation into one package. "This amendment is absurd, and we respectfully ask you to oversee its removal," Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, said in a letter, released Monday, to California Rep. Duncan Hunter, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson said American Services [sic] Radio has plenty of programing to counter Limbaugh, including the talk show of Jim Hightower, a liberal populist and former Texas agriculture commissioner. Hightower's 90-second spots are aired on two Armed Forces Radio channels, six times a day on one, twice a day on the other. Larry Sichter, an American Forces spokesman, said the service's radio balance "is in the totality of the programing." He said American Forces Radio tries to give military personnel a taste of what they would be hearing on the radio if they were back home by picking programs popular in the United States. ------ On the Net: American Forces Radio and Television Service: http://www.afrts.osd.mil/ Rep. Sam Johnson: http://www.samjohnson.house.gov Sen. Tom Harkin: http://harkin.senate.gov/ (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. HOUSE FUNDING FOR FY2005 Dateline: Washington, 06/29/04. AFGE Local 1812 has learned that the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee has approved a budget for the BBG of $610,300,000. This is $41,000,000 above that requested and $18,733,000 above the FY2004 actual budget. The Voice of America is to receive $160,790,000. That is an increase of $4,786,000 above what was requested. The Committee recommendation provides for expansions and reformatting in Urdu broadcasts and Persian broadcasts. It also includes $19,614,000 (the full request) for the News Division. The Committee recommendation also includes $27,629,000 for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (which is the full amount requested). ***** MANAGEMENT WANTS EMPLOYEES TO STINK & STARVE --- AGENCY STILL DEMANDS EMPLOYEES GIVE UP PRIVACY RIGHTS IN ORDER TO TAKE SICK LEAVE (For updates on the Contract Negotiations see the Negotiations page) CONTRACT Dateline: Washington, 06/24/04. Management wants employees to stink and starve. The Union proposed that in the case of emergency employees being forced to stay at work, that they be allowed to bathe and eat. Management refuses to find ways to meet these basic human needs. Management wants to reserve its option to order you to break the law. Judge for yourself. What is wrong with the Union's proposal: Article 24 Section 13 (c). Should a state of emergency be declared by any local jurisdiction, e.g., road closures, curfews, etc., the Agency shall not require that any bargaining unit employee violate any federal, state, county, or municipal law(s), or regulation(s), in that regard. ***** Dateline: Washington, 06/24/04. In the case of Emergency employees, management is still insisting that they will provide only cots and blankets. The Union proposed that management provide lodging that would be conducive to sleeping, bathing facilities, as well as ensure that adequate food supplies are available in the case of emergencies that would require employees to stay in the building. With the threat of terrorism, there has been talk of a lock down for the building. While the Union insists that management should plan for this possibility, the management team offered only cots and blankets. Dateline: Washington, 06/23/04. The management bargaining team led by Mary Rasmussen is still insisting that management has the right to force employees to reveal "the nature of the incapacity" if an employee uses sick leave. In addition the management team insists that management has the right to request a medical certificate even if an employee calls in for emergency sick leave thus setting up an impossible requirement. Obviously, in almost every case, it would be impossible for an employee to have a medical certificate before they have seen the physician. It is also ridiculous to believe that an employee should go to their medical practioner for a one day event such as a 24 hour flu. Clearly management wants to intimidate employees from using their sick leave. Revealingly, Rasmussen stated that the Federal Impasses Panel would side with management and demanded that the Union team either agree with management's proposal or just accept the language of the current Contract. The current Contract language requires that a Medical Certificate specify the nature of the incapacitation. From the start of negotiations, time and time again, the management team has refused to compromise and has attempted to force the negotiations to Impasse (AFGE Local 1812 via DXLD) ** U S A. Brother Stair Leaves WBCQ --- Tuesday, June 29, 2004 From: Annotated WBCQ Program Guide Anomalies and Recent Observations Allan tells me that Brother Stair will be leaving WBCQ after Wednesday, June 30, opening up a lot of airtime on all four services. The specific blocks that will be available on July 1 are: 7415 - 6AM-4PM ET daily 5105 - 6AM-4PM ET daily 5105 - 5PM-6AM ET daily (except for Sunday evenings) 9330 - 8AM-4PM ET daily 17495 - 2PM-5PM ET Monday-Friday 17495 - 8AM-6PM ET Saturday-Sunday Also found out that the EVM Jewish Radio Network will be cutting down to one day a week, Wednesdays 8-9 PM ET, effective immediately. (via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroups) The daytime usage of 5, 7 and 9 MHz only started a couple months ago. Not exactly ideal propagationally, especially summerly. Whatever became of WBCQ`s plan to add 11660? See also SOUTH CAROLINA [and non] (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. MCCAIN & LEAHY BILL ON LOW POWER FM http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r108:2:./temp/~r108gCUyU0:: STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - June 04, 2004) [Page: S6481] GPO's PDF --- By Mr. MCCAIN (for himself and Mr. LEAHY): S. 2505. A bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low power FM service; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Low Power Radio Act of 2004. This bill would allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to license Low Power FM stations on third adjacent channels to full power stations without limitations and eliminate the requirement that the FCC perform further testing on the economic impact of Low Power FM radio. Additionally, the bill seeks to protect stations that provide radio reading services, which some have suggested are more susceptible to interference than other stations because they are carried on a subcarrier frequency. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senator Leahy who is a co- sponsor of the bill. I thank him for his support. This bill would also right a serious wrong. Four years ago, Congress wrongly delayed the full implementation of a new community based radio service called ``Low Power FM'' due to broadcasters' grossly exaggerated claims of interference. The FCC recently found, based on data from an independent engineering study, that the broadcasters' claims of interference are groundless. As required, the FCC sent a report to Congress in February describing the study's results and suggesting legislative actions to further the growth of Low Power FM. This bill would implement these recommendations. In January 2000, the FCC launched Low Power FM radio service to ``enhance locally focused community-oriented radio broadcasting.'' Low Power FM stations are just that -- low power radio stations on the FM band that generally reach an audience within a 3.5 mile radius of the station's transmitter. In rural areas, this signal may not reach many people, but it provides rural citizens with another media outlet --- another voice in the market. In urban areas, this signal may reach hundreds of thousands of people and provide not just local content, but very specific neighborhood news and information. Localism is increasingly important in today's changing media landscape. Rampant ownership consolidation has taken place in the radio industry since passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Since that time, many Americans have complained that the large media conglomerates fail to serve local communities' interests and seem to use their local station license as a conduit to air national programming. Low Power FM was introduced, in part, to respond to such complaints. Low Power FM is an affordable broadcasting option for many community organizations because a full power radio station license is extremely expensive and broadcast spectrum is very scarce. In 2003, the average cost to acquire a commercial radio station was more than $2.5 million dollars. Between May 1999 and May 2000, the Commission received over 3,400 applications for Low Power FM stations from non-commercial educational entities and community organizations. However, before the Commission could act on many of the applications for this new community service, broadcasters frightened legislators into halting the full implementation of Low Power FM. Broadcasters masqueraded their true concerns about competition from a real local radio broadcaster in thinly veiled claims of interference. Due to the broadcasters' subterfuge, Congress added language to a 2000 appropriations bill requiring the FCC to hire an independent engineering firm to further study broadcasters' claims of interference. Well, the results are in! I am not happy to report that after spending almost two years and over two million dollars, the independent study revealed what the FCC and community groups had said all along: LPFM will do no harm to other broadcasters. The study has stripped the broadcasters of their veiled claims by concluding that Low Power FM stations on third adjacent channels would cause virtually no interference to other broadcast stations. The broadcasters masquerade has now cost American taxpayers over two million dollars. This was two million dollars taken from the FCC's budget that could have been used to further study efficient spectrum use to promote public safety needs, process license applications faster, hire more high quality engineers for the FCC and much more. Perhaps, we should send a bill to the National Association of Broadcasters. Nevertheless, that is the past, and it is time to focus on the future. That brings us to the future of Low Power FM. The FCC, as required by the appropriations language, has reported the study's findings to Congress and recommends full implementation of Low Power FM. This bill simply follows the FCC's recommendation: begin licensing Low Power FM stations on third adjacent channels to full power stations without limitations. Additionally, the bill seeks to protect full power stations that provide radio reading services. It is estimated that about 1.1 million people in the U.S. are blind, and it is important to ensure this helpful radio reading service remains interference free. The enactment of this bill will immediately make available a number of Low Power FM frequencies. By some estimates, Congress' legislation delaying the full implementation, which mostly affected metropolitan areas, led to the elimination of half the Low Power FM applications filed during 2000. For example, Congress' action eliminated the LPFM slot in Fresno applied for by El Comité de los Pobres. The group had hoped to address the dearth of local programming for the Latino community by airing bilingual coverage of local issues. New Orleans' Music Business Institute's application was eliminated as well. The Music Business Institute teaches young people how to get into the music business. The Institute had planned to use the station to help start the musical careers of local artists, and to educate listeners about the city's jazz and blues musical heritage. Let's get these valuable stations on air. There are some wonderful LPFM stations that are up and running. A recent article published in The Nation called these stations, ``beacons of grassroots democracy.'' The article discussed WRFR in Rockland, Maine: ``Shunning the canned programming approach of Rockland's two Clear Channel stations, WRFR offers an array of local talent, tastes and interests, and was recently named Maine station of the year by a state music association. Although country music, a Maine favorite, is heavily represented, hardly any WRFR deejay restricts himself to a single era, genre or Top-40 play list.'' Started by a local city council member who was concerned about the lack of local media outlets in his town, today, WFRF [sic] has over half the city listening. This is what scares broadcasters about LPFM: competition. In 2000, the Southern Development Foundation established a Low Power FM station in Opelousas, Louisiana, which sponsors agriculture programs, leases land to farmers, raises money for scholarships for needy kids and helps citizens learn to read. The station director told a local community newsletter: ``You've got local radio stations that are owned by larger companies. There should be some programming concerning the music that is from here, and the people from here. But there's not.'' I ask the public and commercial broadcasters to come clean and join us in promoting LPFM. More good radio brings about more radio listening and that's good for all broadcasters. Therefore, in the interests of would-be new broadcasters, existing broadcasters, but most of all, the listening public, I urge the enactment of the Low Power Radio Act of 2004. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD. There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows: S. 2505 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to increased ownership consolidation in the radio industry. (2) At a hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, on June 4, 2003, all 5 members of the Federal Communications Commission testified that there has been, in at least some local radio markets, too much consolidation. (3) A commitment to localism -- local operations, local research, local management, locally originated programming, local artists, and local news and events -- would bolster radio listening. (4) Local communities have sought to launch radio stations to meet their local needs. However, due to the scarce amount of spectrum available and the high cost of buying and running a large station, many local communities are unable to establish a radio station. (5) In 2003, the average cost to acquire a commercial radio station was more than $2.5 million dollars. (6) In January, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission authorized a new, affordable community radio service called ``low power FM'' or ``LPFM'' to ``enhance locally focused community-oriented radio broadcasting''. (7) Through the creation of LPFM, the Commission sought to ``create opportunities for new voices on the air waves and to allow local groups, including schools, churches and other community-based organizations, to provide programming responsive to local community needs and interests''. (8) The Commission made clear that the creation of LPFM would not compromise the integrity of the FM radio band by stating, ``We are committed to creating a low power FM radio service only if it does not cause unacceptable interference to existing radio service.''. (9) Small rural broadcasters were particularly concerned about a lengthy and costly interference complaint process. Therefore, in September, 2000, the Commission created a simple process to address interference complaints regarding LPFM stations on an expedited basis. (10) In December, 2000, Congress delayed the full implementation of LPFM until an independent engineering study was completed and reviewed. This delay was due to some broadcasters' concerns that LPFM service would cause interference in the FM band. (11) The delay prevented millions of Americans from having a locally operated, community based radio station in their neighborhood. (12) Approximately 300 LPFM stations were allowed to proceed despite the congressional action. These stations are currently on the air and are run by local government agencies, groups promoting arts and education to immigrant and indigenous peoples, artists, schools, religious organizations, environmental groups, organizations promoting literacy, and many other civically-oriented organizations. (13) After 2 years and the expenditure of $2,193,343 in taxpayer dollars to conduct this study, the broadcasters' concerns were demonstrated to be unsubstantiated. SEC. 2. REPEAL OF PRIOR LAW. Section 632 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, (Pub. Law 106-553; 114 Stat. 2762A-111) is repealed. SEC. 3. MINIMUM DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS. The Federal Communications Commission shall modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between (1) low-power FM stations; and (2) full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster stations. SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF RADIO READING SERVICES. The Federal Communications Commission shall retain its rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power non- commercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference. * [Begin Insert] Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am pleased today to join Senator MCCAIN in introducing important legislation to increase the number of frequencies available for low power radio stations in America. Low power stations serve their communities with broadcasting that reflects local needs and local preferences. In this way, low power FM offers a valuable counterpoint to nationwide media consolidation. For this reason, I have been a strong supporter of low power FM for many years now. In fact, I recently urged FCC Chairman Powell to expedite licensing for new low power stations. Unfortunately, for many years now, the number of low power FM stations the FCC could license has been limited by unrealistic and unnecessary rules requiring these small stations to find available frequencies far from any full power broadcaster. Interference must be avoided if we are to make use of the airwaves. The current rules, however, go beyond what is necessary to protect full power stations from interference, and instead protect them from competition. The focus of today's legislation is the so-called ``third-adjacent rule,'' which requires that a low power station not broadcast within three frequency intervals of a full power station. For example, if a full power station were broadcasting at 101.1, the first-adjacent frequencies would be 99.9 and 101.3 and those would be unavailable for broadcasting. The second-adjacent frequencies would be 99.7 and 101.5 and they too would be off-limits. Finally, the third-adjacent frequencies would be 99.5 and 101.7, and under the current rule, those frequencies would also be unavailable. Thus, the existence of just one full power station effectively keeps low power radio from broadcasting anywhere between 99.5 and 101.7. It is easy to see how a radio dial can quickly become off-limits for any low power broadcaster. A recent study by the FCC concludes that this third-adjacent rule is not necessary to protect full power broadcasters from unreasonable interference. Our new bill simply implements those findings and conclusions. It eliminates the third-adjacent rule, and allows the FCC to license low power stations in accordance with its own studies and findings about potential interference from these stations. Of course, the need for low power FM radio must be balanced against other important uses of nearby frequencies. I have worked hard to protect reading services for the blind, and this bill protects those services by retaining the third-adjacent rule where such services would be affected. In addition, this bill protects commercial broadcasters of all sizes from actual interference by leaving intact the FCC's expedited interference claim review procedures. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this important bill forward, to strengthen local broadcasting [end insert] (Congressional Record via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. I've been at the National Emergency Training Center in MD (20 miles from Frederick, 2 miles from Camp David, 14 miles from Site R) for 2 days and 3 nights now and haven't heard a thing from the WD2XXM IBOC test station on 1670. I expected it to only be active during the day. Anyone know what kind of hours they are operating? Is it just random? (Patrick Griffith, June 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) Hi Patrick: Their transmissions on 1670 are random. I have tried numerous times have have only heard them thrice (Bill Harms, Elkridge, MD, R8B, Homebrew K9AY, ibid.) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC, Lusaka. Heard via LP at 0525 20/6 with program in vernaculars. Initially poor strength but improved somewhat later (John Schache, Limekilns DX-pedition near Bathurst NSW, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Vernaculars 0524, fair. We had heard this one on our two previous Limekilns solstice trips, when on 6265, but still considered a rarity via long path, 20/6 (Craig Seager, Limekilns, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 2495, unID South Asian/Indian-sounding music, quite regular but frequency always badly QRMed at this QTH. Stuffed if I know what this is. 1100 16/6 (Jorgen Nordqvist, Forest Lake QLD, Radio-Shack DX-394 with 30 metres long wire, Australian DX News via DXLD) Wasn`t there a mixing product between two much higher frequencies reported here? Yes, a simple google search 2495 site:worldofradio.com reminds me of 4-011, Tunisia, 9720 minus 7225. Unfortunately, that would not be propagating on 2495 at midday all the way to Queensland; but it could be something similar from the darkside (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5050, June 25 04:04, 44423, Russian (ALFREDO CAÑOTE, CHACLACAYO, PERU, ICOM IC-R71A, Antenna Radio Shack 20-181. ===== DXSPACEMASTER, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWRB? 5050 was not on the air UT Tue June 29 at 0403 check, tho 5085 was; however, UT June 30, 5050 stayed on past 0400 in evangelical English, not \\ 5085 (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 9979 24/06 0045 SSB/USB Cm EE 44554 (MVB Marcelo Vilela Bedene, Curitiba (PR), Brasil, Transglobe TT / Sony 7600GR, Antena quadrifilar 15m c/ acoplador, ILG como base de identificação; @tividade DX via DXLD) Must be new AFRTS, Iceland?, but elsewhere reported on 9980 instead; do they vary, or do you? (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ LET'S DUMP 'DX' AND KILL THE 'QSL' FROM OUR VOCABULARY Even radio stations now say we're strange Reflections on reading of a DXer who's been told 'you have a strange hobby' by the receptionist at a Sydney (Australia) AM radio station - when sending a reception report and asking for a QSL. We've heard it from our spouses, and best friends, but now even radio stations have joined the crowd who think we're weird. She added: 'Yes, you heard us' on a compliments slip. Nice one. Everyone knows a radio station can be heard these days - what's the point in having the minimalist decor that rates a spread in lifestyle magazines, the 4WD black thunder wagon, the cool T-shirt and free drinks from the best bars in town otherwise. So, getting a request to tell someone - in writing - that you were actually broadcasting is like, well, it's like admitting maybe you really have no idea what happens between the DJ's mouth, the computer and that big tower thing on the other side of town. 'Omigod, this weird guy wrote to us, and like, said, please tell me you were really broadcasting. I mean, what is he. We're a radio station, we're in the ratings, the morning crew screams at you from the back of every second bus on the freeway and the creative guys are over in Cannes getting golden globes or whatever for that car dealer commercial - you know, the one who loaned us the Lexus for the weekend... anyway...and now this guy says he wants to know if he heard us.......I mean, like, where's he from.' DXing is out of the time capsule Over 70 years ago, the NZ Radio Call-Book of 1932 wrote: 'A growing hobby among radio listeners is that known as dxing, which is the logging of a large number of distant stations. A log book is usually kept, wherein is entered the particulars of these stations, the time they are heard and the conditions. It is usual, in the pursuit of this hobby, to write to the stations heard, telling them what is heard and asking them for a verification card.' It's amazing, that with all the changes in radio since then, the hobby of 'dxing' (note: no capitals) as described above has remained almost completely unchanged. Little wonder that radio stations in 2004 have little or no idea what the hobby is about, and little wonder that young people see the hobby as 'strange' and old fashioned. It's almost as if the hobby came out of a time capsule. Concept of 'distance' has changed in 75 years In the 1920's, a 'distant' station could mean another town 100 miles (or 100 km) away. Today, that's just a transmitter site on the other side of a single large metro region. The concept of distance has changed in the past 75 years. So, why do we persist in using an old amateur radio code when it has no relevance to 99.9% of those involved in broadcasting in 2004, and even less relevance to other radio listeners. We're radio listeners I just can't see any benefit in using this 'DX' expression - except in a limited context of radio heritage and its traditions. We listen to the radio - much like most other members of society since the 1920's. So, we're radio listeners. We're the radio audience. We have an interest in radio - technical, or music, or marketing, or news or whatever. We may even feature in the ratings. We sometimes write, call or email radio stations - just like many other radio listeners - because we have an opinion, or a viewpoint or want to share some information or get an answer to a question. Like ' why do you play the ads so loud?' Some collect things from radio stations Some of us collect things relating to radio stations - 'proof' that we heard a broadcast, or stickers, or posters or whatever. Radio stations in 2004 continue to respond to listeners - with giveaways, promotions, car stickers, caps, T-shirts or even collectors cards of station personalities, and, yes, even with 'proof' we heard them - which is great for those of us who like to collect such things. One station I once wrote to had a reputation for featuring naked women in their advertising and promotions. I asked them to send me one - they responded they had a use for all their women, so could only send me a picture instead. I still feel ripped off. They understand this form of audience interaction - even if it comes from a radio listener in another town, city or country - and generally they still respond favorably. What they sure don't understand is 'DX' or 'QSL' or some other weird piece of technical sounding jargon, especially if some listener is stupid enough to send a SINPO reading in 2004 - even to a shortwave broadcaster. Dump 'DX', kill the QSL So, let's dump 'DX' from our vocabulary. Stop calling ourselves 'DXers'. Drop these old fashioned codes like 'QSL' or 'SINPO' when we communicate with radio broadcasters - and with other radio listeners who may grow to share our passion for collecting things from radio stations. From our magazines, and our 'face' to the world let's drop the jargon - the 'QRM', the 'EE', the 'OM' the 'YL' and all the other hangovers from early last century. Remove the barriers to understanding and participation. We're in radio - let's communicate in plain English (or whatever our national language may be) instead of something even a NASA astronaut struggles with. Let's be what we've always been - radio listeners - just like others in our communities. How we go about being radio listeners is up to each of us as individuals - from passive listening to some kind of active involvement. Remove the 'distance' between ourselves, radio stations, and other listeners It's time to remove the 'DX' - the distance - between ourselves as radio listeners, and the radio broadcasters to whom we listen. Maybe then, we'll collect more of the things we like from broadcasters - maybe if I'd been in the town of the station who used the naked women in their promotions, I'd have got more than the picture. More importantly, maybe other radio listeners will find what we do isn't strange at all, but perfectly normal. I do have a T-shirt which says 'DXers do it better in the dark' but that's beside the point. After all, they're already radio listeners themselves so we have a lot in common. If we remove the distance between ourselves - as listeners - maybe our clubs and magazines will become more relevant to others in 2004 - and the new generation can tell us the difference between trance, house, heavy metal, rap, hip-hop, trash and thrash. Helpful for writing LPFM stations. 'Radio' is still a magic word for youngsters Radio broadcasters and the rest of the world have moved on from the 1920's - it's time our hobby did the same. There are thousands of teenagers and others out there for whom 'radio' is still a magic word - they're busy training to be DJs, technicians, journos or involved in promotions and sales - on big stations and small stations or starting their own - and millions of listeners. It's good to know we have radio listening in common. It's also good to see scantily dressed women still feature in station promotions - although never in my hometown - distance remains a problem. Maybe that's what receptionists are really for - to receive reception reports and feature in station promotions (David Ricquish, Wellington, New Zealand, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Modest suggestion. July MONITORING TIMES reproduces the cover of a Japanese ham radio magazine featuring squiggles, the Roman letters `DX` and LOTS of cleavage. Emulating that could perk up MT`s newsstand sales (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES / PROPAGATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++ CENTRAL STATES VHF CONFERENCE, MISSISSAUGA, JULY 22-24 North America`s première annual VHF ham radio event is being held this year in the Toronto area on July 22-24 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre in Mississauga. This is only the second time in the forty year history of this event that it`s being held in Canada. [Sure, why should it be in a State, or Central, or about VHF only??? - -- gh] This event attracts hundreds of VHF ham radio enthusiasts from across the continent. Technical papers are presented ont he various modes of radio propagation on the VHF, UHF and microwaves bands. Wand to find out what the real ``gain figures`` are on that antenna? Bring it to the conference! FM and TV DXers will also find this of interest. For further info, visit http://www.csvhfs.org or contact Peter VE3AX at ve3ax @ csvhfs.org (Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, QRZ? -- Ham Radio Corner, June ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ###