DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-109, July 17, 2004 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING 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 1238: Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0400 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [OK Sat 2000] Sun 0630 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1000 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 1100 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1500 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1900 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2000 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1237] Mon 0430 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Mon 0900 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Mon 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 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 1238 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1238h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1238h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1238.html WORLD OF RADIO 1238 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1238.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1238.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1238 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_07-14-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_07-14-04.mp3 [WBCQ itself is downloading instead of taking a phone feed, so quality of the mp3 files should be improved, we hope from now on] DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN RADIO ANNIVERSARY - VLG LYNDHURST Another nostalgic callsign during the Lyndhurst radio era in Australia was VLG, a callsign that was in use by both the ABC Home Service on shortwave as well as by Radio Australia in its external services to Asia & the Pacific. The Lyndhurst radio station, as was mentioned here in Wavescan a few months back, traces its earliest beginnings to the year 1928 when a small locally made transmitter was installed in a galvanized iron shed on the top of a small hill in rolling grazing country near Lyndhurst, east of Melbourne in Victoria. A more substantial building was constructed in 1935, For a period of 14 years, the VLR transmitter was the sole occupant at Lyndhurst until a new 10 kW unit was installed. The inauguration date for this new shortwave unit was June 21, 1941, just a little over 63 years ago. In the original planning, this new 10 kW transmitter was intended to be a replacement unit for the original and lower powered VLR. However, because of the pressing needs of World War 2, both transmitters were needed for national and international coverage. Back in mid 1941 when the new transmitter was taken into regular service, it was operated on air under the same callsign as the first original unit, VLR. For a period of a little over a month, it was noted on air in Australia, New Zealand and the United States with a relay of programming from "Australia Calling", Radio Australia. This unit, constructed by STC-Australia, was heard initially on 11880 kHz as VLR3 and on 15230 kHz as VLR4. The usage of these callsigns was rather confusing due to the fact that the other VLR was also on the air with the same programming, and also because the other unit had also been identified previously as VLR3 & VLR4, though on different channels. Because of this confusion, the new transmitter was re-identified on air a month later under a new callsign, VLG, beginning on August 24, 1941. At this stage, VLR3 became VLG5 and VLR4 became VLG6. It was on the air part time for both organizations, the ABC Home Service and "Australia Calling". In the late 1950s, a new transmitter building was constructed over the old building and three new transmitters at 10 kW each were installed. These units had been manufactured by RCA in the United States for use in American navy vessels. It is probable that the original 10 kW STC transmitter with the callsign VLG was removed from service in 1958, and the VLG broadcast service was now carried by any of the three available units. It was on June 1, 1951, that the numeric designators were changed so that the number following the callsign indicated the frequency band. Thus, for example, VLG7 on 15160 kHz became instead VLG15. In 1961, Radio Australia dropped the on air usage of callsigns, though the ABC still announced them in their programming. Some ten years later, the ABC discontinued the usage of the VLG service and they used just two shortwave units on air, VLR & VLH. In 1966 a total of eight new shortwave transmitters were installed at Lyndhurst and the usage of the three battleship units was phased out. It was on June 12, 1987, that the last ABC broadcast was heard from Lyndhurst, though Radio Australia had closed out the usage of this relay station a few months earlier. The broadcast callsign VLG was in use in the era just after World War 1 by two coastal steamers in New Zealand, the "Maunganui" (MAUN-ga-NOO-ee) and the "Mangaia" (man-GUY- a), and it was in use as a broadcast service from Lyndhurst for a period of 47 years. Many QSL cards were issued over the years to verify the reception of the VLG services from Radio Australia and the ABC. From the ABC, the original QSL card was a simplified text card in black print. Radio Australia issued four different cards for the specific callsign VLG, and these were:- The famous kangaroo card in orange The large circular map with Melboune as the center of the world The well known yellow & blue map card; and Another map card with the Kookaburra (COOK-a-BUR-ra) superimposed. (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan July 11 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** CANADA. THE CRTC DECIDES NOT TO RENEW THE LICENCE OF CHOI-FM QUÉBEC CRTC News release July 13th, 2004 OTTAWA-GATINEAU - In a decision issued today, the Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) denies the application by Genex Communications Inc. (Genex) for the renewal of the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CHOI-FM Québec. In a separate public notice also issued today, the Commission announces a call for applications for broadcasting licences to carry on a new French-language FM station in Québec. Offences and Complaints Since Genex Communications Inc. acquired CHOI-FM in 1997, the programming of CHOI-FM has been the subject of numerous complaints with respect to the conduct of the hosts and the spoken word content that is aired, including offensive comments, personal attacks and harassment. In today's decision, the Commission found that on numerous occasions, Genex had failed to comply with the Radio Regulations 1986 (the Regulations) as well as CHOI-FM's Code of Ethics, adherence to which is required by one of its conditions of licence. The Commission noted that Genex's programming did not meet the objectives of the broadcasting policy for Canada set out in the Broadcasting Act (the Act). The Commission considered that offensive comments made by the hosts over the station's airwaves tended or were likely to expose individuals or groups of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of mental disability, race, ethnic origin, religion, colour or sex. The Commission also considered, among other things, that the station's hosts were relentless in their use of the public airwaves to insult and ridicule people. Licence Renewal in 2002 In 2002, in view of numerous offences committed by Genex, the Commission decided to renew CHOI-FM's licence for only two years, far short of the maximum seven-year term allowed under the Act. It made CHOI-FM's licence subject to several conditions of licence to prevent such offences from recurring. The Commission warned Genex that if it committed further breaches, the Commission might call it to a public hearing to show cause why it should not issue a mandatory order or apply any of its enforcement measures, including the suspension or revocation of CHOI-FM's licence. After receiving a large number of complaints and observing new apparent failures to comply regarding the spoken word content broadcast by the station, the Commission decided to call Genex to a public hearing in Québec City in February 2004. At this hearing, Genex was to show cause why the Commission should not issue a mandatory order, or suspend or refuse to renew CHOI-FM's licence. The Behaviour of Genex When questioned at the hearing about the most serious complaints, the licensee, in virtually all cases, denied that a problem existed and expressed its disagreement with the apparent failures to comply identified prior to the hearing. The Commission noted that the spoken word content, that was the subject of the complaints received, did not reflect isolated incidents, but appeared to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the licensee that continued and even grew worse, over the course of two consecutive licence terms despite clear, unequivocal warnings from the Commission, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC - the broadcasting industry's self-regulating body) and even, on occasion, its own advisory committee. The Commission's Conclusions The Commission's comprehensive review of the facts led it to call into question the credibility of Genex and its controlling shareholder, sole director and chief executive officer, Mr. Patrice Demers, regarding Genex's ability to understand and exercise its responsibilities under the Act as the holder of a broadcasting licence. The seriousness and frequency of the violations noted, the fact that they were not first violations, the licensee's general attitude of denial, and the stall tactics that the licensee used in dealing with complaints throughout the current licence term have persuaded the Commission that Genex does not accept its regulatory obligations and is not committed to meeting them. Non-renewal of Licence The Commission has reviewed the various measures it could adopt to ensure that broadcasting licensees meet their obligations where it finds that they are in repeated non-compliance. Those measures range from a short-term licence renewal, to the issuance of a mandatory order, to the suspension, revocation or non-renewal of the licence. The latter measures are rarely used, and in the Commission's view, should generally be confined to cases where it is satisfied that none of the other available measures would be effective. In view of the inflexible behaviour demonstrated by Genex, its lack of acceptance of its responsibilities and the lack of any demonstrated commitment to rectify the situation, the Commission cannot reasonably conclude that Genex will comply with the Act, the Regulations and its Code of Ethics if its licence is renewed. Consequently, the Commission has denied Genex's application to renew CHOI-FM's licence. In keeping with its mandate, the Commission must ensure the integrity of the licensing process and the public's right to programming that complies with the Act and the Regulations. It cannot permit the broadcast of abusive comments that contravene the Regulations, or programming that does not reflect the broadcasting policy set out in the Act. Furthermore, the Commission cannot allow anyone to use the public airwaves to pursue his or her own agenda without regard for the rights of others. Broadcasting by CHOI-FM must therefore cease by 31 August 2004. Call for Applications for a New Radio Licence in Québec The Commission has issued today a call for applications, inviting interested persons to submit an application to operate a new French- language radio programming undertaking in Québec City that will serve to maintain the diversity of radio service in the Québec region and, at the same time, comply with the Act and the regulations made thereunder. Applications should be submitted by 11 October 2004 at the latest. This invitation is extended to any person interested in operating a broadcasting undertaking who can demonstrate the ability to fully assume the responsibilities of the licensee of a broadcasting undertaking that makes use of a public frequency, including full compliance with the provisions of the Act and the regulatory requirements. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. Reference documents: Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-271 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/whatsnew.htm Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-49 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/whatsnew.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-189 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-189.htm Decision CRTC 97-86 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/1997/DB97-86.htm - 30 - Media Relations: MediaRelations@crtc.gc.ca, Tel: (819) 997-9403, Fax: (819) 997-4245 General Inquiries: Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218 Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), eMail: info @ crtc.gc.ca TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782 --- Newsrelease To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to newsrelease@crtc.gc.ca and type in the word unsubscribe and only that word in the subject box (via Ben Dawson, DXLD) ** CANADA. CHUM LIMITED ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF ITS APPLICATION FOR SUBSCRIPTION DIGITAL RADIO LICENCE CHUM Limited is pleased to announce details of its application to the CRTC for a broadcasting licence for a national multi-channel subscription radio programming service called CHUM Subscription Radio Canada (CSRC). CSRC will use a series of land-based transmitters to provide 50 growing to 100 channels of unique content for a monthly fee of $9.95. http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/July2004/12/c2407.html (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) CHUM SEEKS LICENCE FOR SUBSCRIPTION RADIO SYSTEM --- NETWORK WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE UP TO 100 CHANNELS - FROM CANADIAN PRESS CHUM Ltd. has applied for a federal licence to offer a 50- to 100- channel subscription radio service that would charge a monthly fee of $9.95, the broadcasting company announced today. The proposed digital radio service, called CHUM Subscription Radio Canada, would initially launch in Vancouver, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal and by the end of its first licence term would be available in 25 markets, covering 60 per cent of the country's population. The service would use a series of land-based transmitters to provide an initial 50 — later growing to 100 — channels that would feature a mix of programming "developed by and for Canadian audiences, where Canadian artists feature prominently," CHUM said. The channels would include contemporary and niche music formats, francophone, multilingual and ethnic programming and content from around the world and would comply with required Canadian-content levels. CHUM Ltd. (TSX: CHM.B), is one of Canada's biggest broadcasters, with 30 radio stations, eight local television stations and 18 speciality TV channels. Because subscription radio is a new concept for the Canadian market, hearings by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission this fall will consider a broad range of issues, including Canadian content requirements and what number of providers would be appropriate. Two other groups have filed rival applications to provide the service. They will be considered together beginning Nov. 1. One of the groups, Canadian Satellite Radio, is a partnership between former Toronto Raptors owner John Bitove Jr. and Washington-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings, which is already operating subscription- based satellite radio south of the border. Also hoping to get a crack at the new service is the CBC, in partnership with XM's U.S. rival Sirius (Toronto Star via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. CUBA/EE.UU -- INTERFIEREN A RADIO MARTÍ SANTA CLARA, 15 de julio (Cubanacan Press / http://www.cubanet.org ) - Sintonizar en horario diurno a Radio Martí en la región central de Cuba es prácticamente imposible debido a una nueva forma de interferencia que entró en funcionamiento desde los primeros días del mes de julio con el objetivo que la estación de radio no sea escuchada por los ciudadanos cubanos. La medida de la nomenclatura cubana se produce en momentos en que se anuncia el aumento de la potencia de la emisora con auxilio de un avión militar, el que también debe transmitir las ondas de TV Martí hacia la isla cautiva. La nueva señal electroacústica es homógenea en intensidad y timbre para todas las bandas de onda corta por donde transmite la señal Radio Martí, y aunque entorpece la sintonía de la emisora en horario diurno, algunas frecuencias de la noche también han sido interrumpidas, por lo que se presume que está en fase de pruebas. Este esfuerzo de Radio Cuba da continuidad a la interrupción, desde el 21 de mayo pasado, de la frecuencia 670 am, correspondiente a La Poderosa, señal que hasta entonces tenía una elevada aceptación por los habitantes de las provincias centrales del archipiélago. La Poderosa fue tapada por un potente transmisor de Radio Rebelde, planta que satura el dial AM de cualquier radio en el país. Hace algún tiempo otro transmisor de Radio Rebelde taponeó de igual forma la señal de Radio Mambí "La Grande", modus operandi que se había empleado hace años para silenciar las transmisiones de Radio Martí por la onda de Amplitud Modulada. Hasta el momento los programas de Radio Martí eran escuchados con gran esfuerzo, a pesar de la interferencia, ante la posibilidad de causar severos daños auditivos para sus oyentes, debido al constante tucuctucú. Ahora la sintonía es imposible debido a la fortaleza de la nueva señal radioelectrónica incluso hasta para los más expertos o habituales oyentes de la señal amiga porque un HUM ininterrumpido que hace imposible discernir las palabras de los locutores o comentaristas. Consultado al respecto un ingeniero en electrónica, comentó a Cubanacan Press que aunque se esté utilizando el sistema chino para entorpecer la señal de Radio Martí, este sistema debe de violar normas internacionales en la utilización de la onda corta, porque seguramente en algún lugar del mundo debe escucharse la misma interferencia (from http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y04/jul04/16a5.htm July 16 via Conexión Digital via DXLD) Some new kind of jamming against R. Martí on SW? Very vague, and mixed in with jamming Miami 670 and 710 stations (gh, DXLD) ** ICELAND. On a recent trip to Iceland, I observed a large antenna farm at Grindavik (coastal town near the SW corner of Iceland), several miles south of Keflavik, the location of the int'l airport and the US Air Force/NATO base. The farm included sticks, dipoles & curtains. There was nothing to indicate whether it was Rikisutvarpid or AFRTS. I'd guess it's the later, although a shared facility wouldn't seem unreasonable (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet July 17 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. MEDIA IN IRAQ - UPDATED 16 JULY 2004 by BBC MONITORING --- OVERVIEW --- excerpts; the entire report, including a lengthy press section, is at http://www.w4uvh.net/mediraq.txt As Iraq's interim government took over on 28 June, there were plans for Coalition-run radio and TV to evolve into a national public broadcaster, although no timetable had been made public. A growing number of private TV and radio stations have transformed the broadcasting scene as they compete for audiences. But Iraqis are also asking whether greater state control could threaten the media freedom which they won with the fall of Saddam Husayn. Fifteen months of unregulated media growth have seen dozens of local private TV and radio stations springing up all over Iraq. Most are run as local mouthpieces of political factions. But a few commercial channels aspire to be successful national broadcasters. They include Al-Sharqiya TV, which describes itself as the first private national channel not tied to any political, ethnic or sectarian group. It promises programmes with a local flavour, as well as political comedy, a novelty in Iraq after 35 years of state- directed news under Saddam Husayn's rule. Radio Dijla (Tigris), Iraq's first independent talk radio station, has become required listening for officials in Baghdad, as ordinary Iraqis bombard the station's live chat shows with phone calls to air their grievances and aspirations. Over the coming months, the TV and radio channels run by the Coalition Provisional Authority will be incorporated into a new publicly funded broadcaster. The Iraq Communications and Media Commission, set up in March 2004, will act as an independent regulator for broadcasting and telecoms, and will be able to collect media licensing fees. But analysts note with regret that very little of the 18 billion dollars promised by the US Congress for Iraq's reconstruction has been earmarked for revamping the broadcasting infrastructure. The majority of Iraqis appreciate the mushrooming of radio and TV available to them after decades of state control. And they are proud to have what's been described as one of the most free media environments in the Arab world. Iraqi journalists and the world's media watchdogs, meanwhile, are united in hoping that the new administration will not use the pretext of preserving national unity and preventing sectarian strife as an excuse to crack down on the media. NEW SATELLITE TV CHANNELS IN IRAQ SINCE 19 MAY 2004 Arabic News Broadcast - A new pan-Arab satellite TV channel, United Kingdom-based Arabic News Broadcast (ANB), has beamed test TV programmes from 1700-2000 gmt on the Hotbird 4, Eutelsat W1 and Nilesat satellites. The channel is reported to have four regional bureaus in the Middle East and is believed to be uplinked from Beirut. ANB is a venture launched by a group of businessmen from different parts of the Arab world and has "the single goal of conquering the Iraqi market", according to the Transnational Broadcasting Studies (TBS) journal (spring-summer 2004). NEW TERRESTRIAL TV IN IRAQ SINCE 19 MAY 2004 Al-Mashriq TV - The Baghdad independent daily newspaper Al-Mashriq on 19 June published an advertisement on the start of test broadcasts by Al-Mashriq Television. The advertisement said: "Al-Mashriq, the television of Iraq and Iraqis, has started terrestrial test broadcasts on UHF Channel 54." ATB TV in Kirkuk - Local TV channel ATB began test broadcasts in Kirkuk in June 2004, initially for eight hours a day. The channel is affiliated with the Kurdistan Communist Party. NEW RADIO IN IRAQ SINCE 19 MAY 2004 Radio Dijla Radio Dijla (Tigris Radio), which transmits from Baghdad on 89.5 MHz FM, identifies itself as "Radio Dijla from Baghdad, the first independent Iraqi radio". The commercial station, which is the first independent talk radio station in Iraq, was founded by Dr Ahmad al-Rikabi, a former London bureau chief of US-funded Radio Free Iraq. The station carries a mix of programming including live phone-in programmes during which callers express their opinions on issue of concern to the Iraqi people and society; interviews; programmes on social issues; and Arab and Iraqi pop songs and entertainment programmes. "Telephone FM" is a new radio programme produced in Berlin by young Iraqis based in Germany and targeting a youth audience inside Iraq. From 10 July, the 90-minute "Telephone FM" programmes will be broadcast five afternoons a week by the Baghdad-based private station Hot FM, which is on 104.1 MHz. As well as reports and interviews conducted mostly by telephone and then compiled in Berlin, Telephone FM will air a mix of Arabic and mainstream Western music. The project is sponsored by the German Foreign Ministry, which has provided 102,000 dollars in aid. Internet radio from Baghdad now online Streamtime, a network of media activists assisting local media in Iraq, on 14 July organized the first live streaming radio transmission from Baghdad, Radio Netherlands' Media Network web site reported. Salam Khedher, who has returned from Switzerland to start an independent and alternative radio station in Baghdad called Radio Nas (which will start regular broadcasting soon), presented the two-hour programme from a private house with internet connection in the capital. Streamtime will produce further programmes from Baghdad on Sundays and Wednesdays, starting between 0900 and 1000 gmt. The programme can be listened to or downloaded from the following sites: http://www.streamtime.org http://kriegste.vh.guad.de/theorie/audio/wet_040714.mp info: irakdesk @ xminy.nl and radiob04-list @ yahoogroups.com Local radio in Kurdish area of Sinjar - The Voice of Snunu local radio station was launched in Sinjar on 2 June 2004, the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper Khabat reported on 30 June. As well as programmes in Kurdish, it also broadcasts an hour-long programme in Arabic twice a day. POST-WAR BROADCAST MEDIA RADIO --- BBC Monitoring can confirm hearing the following broadcasters as of July 2004: FM BAND IN BAGHDAD (MHz) 88.0 - Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, in Arabic and French 88.5 - MBC 89.0 - BBC World Service in Arabic 89.5 - Radio Dijla (Tigris) 90.1 - Iranian Voice of the Mujahidin 92.3 - American Forces Network, in English (different stream to 107.7 MHz ) 93.5 - Radio France Internationale, in French 94.8 - Iraqi Media Network (IMN)-Radio Diyala 97.1 - Continuous US pop music, no announcements 97.4 - As 97.1 MHz 97.7 - As 97.1 MHz 98.3 - Republic of Iraq Radio (in parallel with 1026 kHz) 100.4 - US Radio Sawa 102.4 - Radio Free Iraq (RFE/RL) in Arabic/VoA in English 104.1 - Hot FM, in English and Arabic 107.7 - AFN-Iraq ("Freedom Radio") in English MAIN AM STATIONS INTENDED FOR IRAQ (kHz) 603 - Republic of Iraq Radio (partially parallel with 1026 kHz/98.3 MHz) 720 - Voice of the Mujahidin 756 - Information Radio 909 - Radio Nahrain 1026 - Republic of Iraq Radio (in parallel with 98.3 MHz) 1071 - Republic of Iraq Radio (partially parallel with 1026 kHz/98.3 MHz) 1152 - Dar al-Salam Radio (Iraqi Islamic Party) 1179 - Voice of Iraq 1206 - Voice of the People of Kurdistan, in Arabic and Kurdish 1305 - Radio Al-Mustaqbal 1566 - Continuous Arabic music (ex-Radio Land of the Two Rivers), via Kuwait 1575 - Continuous Western pop (ex-Radio Al-Mustaqbal), via Kuwait 1593 - Radio Free Iraq in Arabic + VOA in English, Kurdish, Persian, via Kuwait Republic of Iraq Radio is the successor to Iraqi Media Network-Radio Baghdad, which was operated by the Coalition Provisional Authority. It is observed in Baghdad with up to three separate programme streams over one FM and three mediumwave transmitters, though at certain times two or more transmitters may be in parallel carrying the same programming. All identify simply as Republic of Iraq Radio, with no further announcements to identify the specific programme service. All four Republic of Iraq Radio frequencies in the Baghdad area - 603, 1026, 1071 kHz, 98.3 MHz - are observed with news in English at 1100- 1105 gmt, within an English programme otherwise comprised of nonstop Western pop music at 1032-1120 gmt. Shamin Rassam, an Iraqi-American, directs IMN's FM radio outlet as well as news bulletins on the mediumwave station, according to the Washington Post. Radio Diyala - A station identifying in Arabic as "Iraqi Media Network, Radio Diyala" is observed in Baghdad on 94.8 MHz. Diyala is a governate neighbouring Baghdad, of which Baqubah, approximately 60 km north-east of Baghdad, is the capital. Radio Dijla - Iraq's first independent talk radio station, Radio Dijla (Tigris Radio), which transmits from Baghdad on 89.5 MHz FM, identifies itself as "Radio Dijla from Baghdad, the first independent Iraqi radio". The commercial station, which is the first independent talk radio station in Iraq, was founded by Dr Ahmad al-Rikabi, a former London bureau chief of US-funded Radio Free Iraq. After the Coalition war against Iraq in 2003, Rikabi helped to set up Coalition-run radio and TV stations in his role as head of the Iraqi Media Network. The station carries a mix of programming including live phone-in programmes during which callers express their opinions on issue of concern to the Iraqi people and society; interviews; programmes on social issues; and Arab and Iraqi pop songs and entertainment programmes. During phone-in programmes, the announcers say: "Our opinion does not count, but what always counts is your opinion." Radio Dijla has a web site under construction at http://www.radiodijla.com According to a feature article in the London newspaper The Guardian on 10 June 2004, the station broadcasts in the local Iraqi dialect and not classical Arabic, and operates from "a modest family house somewhere in a western Baghdad suburb". It receives up to 18,000 calls a day, although it can only answer a fraction of that number. "It has become Baghdad's favourite," the Guardian reported, noting: "Radio Dijla has also become required listening for the country's new authorities." The Guardian quoted Rikabi as saying: "This is a new concept for Iraq, and the Arab world, and fills a yawning gap... We've quickly become a part of people's lives. It shows the desperate need of ordinary Iraqis to share and communicate their pains and joys. I thought I had a good idea, but I never expected this amount of interest so soon. We are already No 1 in Baghdad." The US publication Newsday on 13 June noted that Radio Dijla is Baghdad's only private, commercial radio station not sponsored by a political or religious group or outsiders like the US or British governments. "We have the BBC on FM and they talk about the UN all day long. People talk to us about sewage outside their homes," Newsday quoted Ahmad al-Rikabi as saying. The Newsday article added: "Al-Rikabi, 34, a member of a wealthy Shi'i family, is trying to stay under the radar of radicals who may not like the station's brew of Arabic pop music and constant kvetching [whinging] from Baghdadis. Just in case, a submachine gun lies on the floor of his office and he keeps a handgun handy." Radio Dijla is not the first talk radio station in Iraq, Newsday noted, recalling that before the war, Uday Husayn, Saddam's son, ran Al-Shabab Radio, which allowed callers to talk about love and poetry, although anti-government talk was forbidden. Radio Nahrain Since the end of March 2003, Radio Nahrain, also known as Twin Rivers Radio, has been transmitting on FM on 100.4 and 94.6 MHz from a location south of Basra. It has also been monitored on 96.0 MHz and 909 kHz mediumwave. The station is operated by British forces, but was due to be taken over at some stage by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Voice of Iraq - This radio station, which launched in Baghdad in summer 2003, has a web site at http://www.voiraq.com The web site states that the station broadcasts for 12 hours a day, from 0800-2000 local time (0500-1700 gmt), on 1179 kHz. It says that the station "covers an area with 12 million Iraqi inhabitants". Material on the site is entirely in Arabic. The site adds, among other things: "The Voice of Iraq, which transmits from Baghdad on 1179 kHz, is the first independent radio in Iraq's history. It started transmitting on 15 July 2003 after a month of testing. The founders of the radio wanted the station to be a distinguished media organ in terms of both accuracy and objectivity, broadcasting all news reports and analysing developments in a serious, impartial, professional and unbiased manner. "The Voice of Iraq presents a wide variety of intellectual talks, field investigations, panel discussions and many programmes on various subjects. "The radio is eager to safeguard unity and amity among the Iraqi people following decades of attempts to foment sectarianism and practise murder and oppression against the majority of the Iraqi people and the rest of Iraq's citizens. "The editorial policy of the Voice of Iraq takes great care of the Iraqi people's national unity, encouraging close relations among the various ethnic groups - Arabs, Kurds and Turkomans - who must have equal rights without any form of prejudice. "The Voice of Iraq is also eager to strengthen relations with neighbouring states and peoples and promote them in a way that would eradicate the harm that the defunct regime's aggression against these states had caused." The following e-mail addresses are also given: admin@voiraq.com, director@voiraq.com, and webmaster@voiraq.com. English-language programmes have been observed daily since October 2003 at 1200-1300 gmt. Al-Salam TV and Radio from Baghdad - The following report headlined "This is Al-Salam television and radio from Al-Kazimiyah city" was published by the Iraqi National Accord newspaper Baghdad on 14 February 2004: "After the fall of the former regime and the end of the phase of propaganda media and obscuring the voice of others, Al-Salam Television and Radio station was established in Al-Kazimiyah City, in Baghdad, to broadcast programmes that call for love and harmony among the people of Iraq. "This station also provides people with useful media and reflects the wishes of the people from all ethnic, religious and sectarian affiliation within the framework of democracy and freedom of expression, which they were deprived of under the former regime, without favouritism or taking the side of any sect or religion, and without circulating this or that ideology. "Radio transmission starts from 1000 [0700 gmt] until 1600 on the FM frequency 92.035 MHz. The station has a variety of programmes that include religious programmes, news, prayers. The station hosts well- known figures that have influence in society. "The television station has started its daily test transmission on Channel 5 from 1600 until 2000. "This station has an elite range of well-known media figures, including announcer Amal al-Mudarris, director Ali al-Ansari, writer Sabah Ruhaymah, and announcer Samirah Jiyad." Dar Al-Salam Radio - Dar al-Salam Radio broadcasts from Baghdad and identifies itself as the radio of the Iraqi Islamic Party. The station was first monitored on 24 March 2004 on 1152 kHz. Initial broadcasts have focused on the activities of Iraqi Islamic Party leader Mushin Abd al-Hamid and Islamic issues. In its initial broadcasts, Dar al-Salam radio has highlighted the importance of Islam in Iraqi society. The station also aired religious songs. "Telephone FM" is a new radio programme produced in the German capital Berlin by young Iraqis and targeting a youth audience inside Iraq. From 10 July, the 90-minute "Telephone FM" programmes will be broadcast five afternoons a week by the Baghdad-based private station Hot FM, which is on 104.1 MHz. As well as reports and interviews conducted by telephone for the most part and then compiled in Berlin, Telephone FM will air a mix of Arabic and mainstream Western music. The project is sponsored by the German Foreign Ministry, which has provided 102,000 dollars in aid. IQ4 Radio Iraq - In Baghdad, a previously unidentified FM radio station on 104.1 MHz playing continuous Arabic and Western pop music was observed on 16 August 2003 with the following announcement in English: "This is IQ4 Radio Iraq, Iraq's first independent music station, 104.1 FM". On 11 July 2004 it was observed to have changed its name to Hot FM. Karbala - Karbala FM Radio has been set up in Karbala Governorate, the Iraqi National Congress (INC) weekly newspaper Al-Mu'tamar reported on 15 November 2003. The radio broadcasts on 99.1 MHz FM. It will be on the air for seven hours a day, from 1300 (1100 gmt) to 1700 and from 1900 to 2200. Nasiriyah - Kull al-Iraq (All Of Iraq) radio was due to begin broadcasting in March 2004 from Nasiriyah on 610 kHz mediumwave, the Iraqi National Accord newspaper Baghdad reported on 24 February. The radio "will be independent and will not represent any movement, party, political or religious trend". Initially it will be heard only in Nasiriyah and Basra governorates, and later it plans to extend its coverage area nationwide. Dangi Komal-Kirkuk radio broadcasts on 1341 kHz in Kurdish, Arabic and Turkish to Kirkuk on behalf of the Kurdistan Islamic Group. The Worker-Communist Party of Iraq's "Radio Bopeshawa" is reportedly back on the air. The Internet site of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq http://www.wpiraq.org reports that Ila al-Amam (Forward) Radio [usually rendered as Radio Bopeshawa, meaning "Forward"], voice of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq, broadcasts for one hour a day on shortwave from 1100 gmt (half an hour in Arabic and half an hour in Kurdish), to the areas of Arbil, Kirkuk and Mosul. The same programme is repeated between 0500-0600 gmt the next day. Identifies on air as "Voice of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq". [WTFK?] US American Forces Radio American Forces Network radio has been observed on 107.7 MHz in Baghdad with local programming starting at 0305 gmt, following an AP [Associated Press] Network news bulletin. Identification within the programme was "Freedom Radio" and "Freedom Radio 107.7." AFN Radio on 92.3 MHz carried a separate programme stream. TV BAND IN BAGHDAD (sound frequencies in MHz) VHF Channel 7 - 194.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television UHF Channel 22 - 484.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television Channel 37 - 604.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television Channel 42 - 644.75 - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Radio (in parallel with radio transmission on 4025 kHz) INTERNATIONAL MEDIA Major international radio and television stations, such as pan-Arab satellite television stations, the BBC Arabic and World service radio, the Paris-based Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, US Radio Sawa and US- sponsored Radio Free Iraq are available in Iraq. BBC World Service is now 24 hours a day in Arabic on FM in Baghdad and Basra. The FM frequencies are 89.0 MHz in Baghdad and 90.0 MHz in Basra in Arabic. BBC World Service in English can be heard on FM in Basra on 88.0 MHz. Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East is on FM on 88.0 MHz in Baghdad for 24 hours a day. Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East can also be heard in Basra on 88.8 MHz and in Mosul on 88.0 MHz. Radio France Internationale started a relay of its French-language programme on 93.5 MHz in Baghdad on 16 February. Radio Sawa is on FM in Baghdad (100.4 MHz), Arbil (100.5 MHz) and Sulaymaniyah (88.0 MHz), as well as on 1548 kHz MW. Source: BBC Monitoring research 16 Jul 04 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. IRAQ SATELLITE CHANNEL WAS HELPED BY G-O-P DONOR The Detroit Free Press has disclosed that the man who helped get Saddam Hussein's Iraq Satellite Channel into North and South America is a major donor to the Republican Party. The paper says that Asaad Kalasho was behind the complex business deals that resulted in a contract between the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and Information and a Detroit company called United International Communication Network. Kalasho identified himself as president of United International Communication Network in his communications with Iraqi officials. He was listed as the sole representative of the company in the contract. Kalasho is a well-known radio talk show host on WNZK-AM (690). He insists that he didn't make any money from the Iraqi deal. Read the full story in the Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/news/metro/deal16_20040716.htm # posted by Andy @ 10:24 UT July 16 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RADIO UNIVERSIDAD: 47 AÑOS EN LA CULTURA MEJICO/13-JUL-2004. --- Aún no egresaba la primera generación de profesionistas de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, cuando el 21 de mayo de 1957 el Departamento de Radiodifusión de la Dirección General de Telecomunicaciones, otorgó el permiso para iniciar sus transmisiones al aire a Radio Universidad. . . El documento, firmado por el licenciado Ignacio Ramírez Caraza y dirigido a la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, fue recibido por el rector Luis Raul Flores Sánchez, promotor de la idea de crear una radio cultural para beneficio de la comunidad estudiantil. El proyecto contó con la colaboración de Óscar Flores Sánchez, hermano del rector, quien en ese tiempo se desempeñaba como Senador, y cuyas gestiones permitieron acelerar los trámites. Radio Universidad nació con la misma frecuencia que hoy mantiene en el 1310 AM del cuadrante de onda larga, trabajando en sus inicios con 1000 watts diurnos y 250 watts nocturnos. Además transmitia en banda corta a 7 mil metros de amplitud (sic), bajo la señal XERUU-6140 y posteriormente se logró el permiso ante la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes para transmitir por Frecuencia Modulada a través del 105.3 del cuadrante... Pionera en Educación a Distancia Una de las facetas poco divulgadas de Radio Universidad, eran sus programas conocidos como "Radio Escuelas" que se transmitían a través de la onda corta a pueblos y rancherías sin escuelas. El formato fue similar al utilizado hoy en la telesecundaria. Una maestra dirigía la clase desde la cabina de la estación, mientras que en los pueblos había personal especializado dirigiendo la sesión a través del aparato de radio. Este programa se llamó "Radioescuela Elemental" y era transmitido de lunes a viernes a las 9:00 y a las 13:00 horas por la onda corta (XERUU), y permaneció al aire durante las décadas de los sesentas y los setentas. Por desgracia, tras el cierre y vuelta al aire de la estación, aparentemente se olvidó o desdeñó el permiso de onda corta y dejó de explotarse. Más tarde, la onda corta fue utilizada exclusivamente por radioaficionados, aunque en la actualidad permanecen como clásicas estaciones de onda corta, muy pocas compañías como la BBC de Londres, Radio Habana, La Voz de Estados Unidos de América, así como otra argentina y una más canadiense (sic... uff..ed.)... http://www.frontenet.com/cgi-bin/ppal.cfm?num=51364, (via Conexión Digital July 17 via DXLD) This long article on the history of R. Universidad, Chihua2, on 1310 and 105.3 mentions its former operation on SW 6140 as XERUU with `radio schools`; unfortunately the link doesn`t work, maybe incomplete, even with the final comma removed, and no search on the site (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. MEJICO/SE HIZO GRANDOTE, SE HACE CHIQUITO http://www.etcetera.com.mx/pag19ne45.asp En 1983, cuando sus orígenes, el IMER tenia como objetivo crecer. En 2004 la prioridad es reducir su tamaño. Durante más de tres lustros, el IMER buscó instalar radiodifusoras por diferentes vías: solicitud de permisos a la SCT, acuerdos con gobiernos estatales para hacerse cargo de frecuencias permisionadas a estos y negociaciones con empresas privadas para obtener cesión de derechos sobre concesiones. Hoy, con una millonaria asesoria de la firma estadounidense Mercer Management Consulting, la dirección del IMER ha determinado no conservar estaciones que, en su opinión, carecen de futuro o no puede sostener por falta de recursos. Segón el investigador Gabriel Sosa Plata (Zocaló, num. 52, junio 2004), el IMER contrató, sin licitación, los servicios de esa empresa consultora para que le diseñara una estrategia de manejo gerencial a un costo de siete millones y medio de pesos (Mercer Management trabajó del 5 al 31 de diciembre de 2003, para llevarse el esplendido pago). Tres menos La primera estación que el IMER decidió no conservar fue Radio México Internacional (XERMX, banda de onda corta), que le pertenecía desde 1983. La directora del organismo, Dolores Béistegui, reconoció haber entregado a los gobiernos de Colima y Campeche, respectivamente, las estaciones de amplitud modulada XEBCO (1210 kilohertz) y XETEB (920 kilohertz) para que estos las operen (El Financiero, 15/VI/04). En el primer caso, el IMER devolvió al gobierno de Colima esa emisora, pues la frecuencia fue permisionada a este en 1984. En el segundo caso, cedió el uso de la frecuencia al gobierno de Campeche porque el permiso para operarla pertenece al IMER, según consta en los registros de la SCT. Por cierto, el permiso de la XETEB venció el 4 de abril de 2004. ¿Lo habrá renovado el IMER o lo habrá cedido al gobierno campechano? Hasta mayo de este año, el IMER manejaba 20 frecuencias. Con las tres sustraídas queda con 17. Rapido crecimiento En 1983, el IMER comenzó sus operaciones con cinco estaciones, pero llegó a 20 en 1988. En 1983 tenía a XEB, XERPM, XEMP en AM, XHOF en FM y XERMX, de onda corta, todas en el DF. El director del instituto era Teodoro Renteria Arroyave. A partir de 1984, inició su expansión; así se añadieron al grupo las siguientes emisoras: XELAC, de Michoacán; XEQK AM y XEQK onda corta, en el DF (1984); XEBCO, en Colima (oficialmente inaugurada en 1986); XHUAN FM, en Tijuana (entró en operación en 1986 y se inauguró oficialmente en 1987); XECHZ y XEIMT, en Chiapas (ambas comenzaron a operar en 1988); XEFQ, de Sonora (1985); XHTLAX FM, en Tlaxcala (emisora que se adscribió al IMER en 1986, pero en 1989 regresó al control del gobierno tlaxcalteca, titular del permiso para operar); XERA y XECAH, en Chiapas, ambas permisionadas al gobierno estatal (1985); XERF, de Coahuila (1986); XHUAR FM, en Chihuahua (1986); XHIMER FM, en el DF (1984), y XHSCO FM, en Oaxaca, emisora permisionada a Pemex, pero operada por el IMER mediante convenio desde 1987. De esta manera, la red del IMER llegó a 20 estaciones. Recortar, la prioridad Durante la gestión de Gerardo Estrada (1989 a 1991) se añadieron dos emisoras al IMER, pero se perdieron tres, por lo que la cifra quedó en 19. Las estaciones sumadas fueron: XETEB, en Campeche y XHYUC FM, de Yucatán. Las restadas fueron: XHTLAX FM, que fue reclamada por el gobierno de Tlaxcala, su permisionario. Y, en el mimo caso la XERA, de Chiapas. Asimismo, la estación de onda corta XEQK dejó de transmitir. En 2000, bajó la administración de Carlos Lara Sumano, salió al aire XHIMR, Horizonte 108, en el DF, con lo que se completó la red de 20 emisoras. Como puede verse, la tendencia había sido hacia el crecimiento, aunque siempre se habló de estrechez económica y rezago tecnológico. Lo que llama la atención del IMER actual es que la prioridad no sea lo radiofónico, sino la preocupación por "recortar" o, como dice su directora, la "racionalización en busca de economías que le permitan generar mayores recursos". (Fernando Mejía Barquera, July 16, via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. ELVIS BOOSTER, P-U TEACHER RANDLE DIES 7/13/04 By Jeff Mullin Senior Writer http://www.enidnews.com/story.php?story_id=61571 Disc jockey, attorney, concert promoter, record producer, author - Bill Randle was all these things and more. But from 1983 to 1988, students at Phillips University knew him by another title - teacher. Randle, once called the top DJ in America by Time magazine and the man credited with helping launch Elvis Presley's career, died Friday of cancer at 81 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. Bill Botkin, then academic vice president at Phillips University, brought Randle to the school in 1983 in hopes of establishing an American studies program at the small liberal arts college. Randle, a high school dropout, had a doctorate in American studies from Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His doctoral dissertation might just be the longest ever written, some two million words. Randle wound up teaching mass communications at PU, however, at the same time he was pursuing a law degree from Oklahoma City University and doing a radio show on Cleveland's WBBG. During his tenure at Phillips, Randle lived with John and Robin Lemon Sellers in their home near the campus. "It was tremendous," said Sellers, now pastor of Kingfisher's First Christian Church. "He had a lot of very interesting stories. He was a remarkable person to live with." Randle, born in Detroit, opened his own record store at the age of 14. He began his radio career in the late 1940s with appearances on shows like "The Green Hornet," and as a jazz disc jockey. He landed a job in Cleveland on WERE-AM in 1949. In the mid-1950s, he brought Elvis Presley to Cleveland to perform with Pat Boone and Bill Haley and the Comets. A crew from Universal Studios filmed Elvis during one of his Cleveland concerts, and Randle wound up with the film, the only known of the early Elvis. Randle also introduced Elvis on his first national TV appearance on CBS' "Stage Show." Among the artists whose careers Randle was credited with helping launch were Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Rosemary Clooney, Johnnie Ray and Fats Domino. Besides Phillips, he taught at several other schools, including Kent State, the University of Cincinnati and New York's Columbia University. He passed the Ohio bar in 1987 at age 64 and opened a law practice specializing in bankruptcy. The Sellers remained friends with Randle throughout the years and visited him last year right after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. "He had just sold the rights to the book, 'The Selling of Elvis,'" said Sellers. "He was certainly very comfortable with dying. He had no fear whatsoever. "Tom Brokaw wrote about 'The Greatest Generation,' but very few of those people were ordinary people made great by circumstance. He was one of the rare people who really had the qualities of greatness, selflessness and courage that defies ordinary humanity." Randle was preceded in death by his wife, Annalee. He is survived by his daughter, Pat, and one sister, Ruth Edwards, both of Michigan. His last pre-recorded radio show "Big Show," aired Sunday afternoon on WRMR in Cleveland (Enid News & Eagle July 13 via DXLD) ** POLAND. Re: DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-108, Radio Polonia English section: http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/gb/ English Program guide: http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/ramowka.asp?rId=10 English Frequency guide: http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/czestotliwosci.asp?rId=10 Audio on demand: http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/audio.asp?rId=10 Audio on demand programs appear to be those for the ``1800 UT`` hour. For the Multimedia program, click "Tuesday." (via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup, DXLD) ** QATAR. AL-JAZEERA TALK SHOW VIEWS CODE OF ETHICS OF PAN-ARAB SATELLITE TV CHANNELS "We are not imposing our opinion on anybody," says Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV director during a discussion programme by the station dealing with the values of the journalistic profession, accurate reporting and Al-Jazeera's code of ethics as compared with the US journalistic codes of ethics. The programme hosts Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, via satellite from Washington; Easen Jordan, senior CNN news director, via satellite from Atlanta, Georgia; Al-Jazeera Channel Director Waddah Khanfar in the studio; and Norman Solomon, executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, via satellite from San Francisco, California. The 50-minute episode of the "From Washington" talk show is broadcast at 1805 gmt on 24 June and is moderated by Hafiz al-Mirazi in the Doha studio. Opening the programme, Al-Mirazi says: "Earlier this week, Al-Jazeera held its first media symposium under the slogan: 'Media in a changing world, balancing the profession's criteria and cultural multiplicity' and issued the profession's code of ethics, which will be the subject of our discussion. We will compare these criteria with the ones followed in the US media." Al-Jazeera's code of ethics Al-Mirazi begins by speaking about the code of ethics issued by A- Jazeera, saying that "Al-Jazeera is an Arab media service with a global orientation. With its slogan, "differing points of view" [Arabic: al-ra'i wa al-ra'i al-akhar], it acts as a forum for plurality seeking the truth while observing the principles of professionalism within an institutional framework." He reads "the code of ethics" as adopted by Al-Jazeera: "Being a globally-oriented media service, Al-Jazeera shall resolutely adopt the following code of ethics in pursuing the vision and mission it has set for itself: 1. Adhering to the journalistic values of honesty, courage, fairness, balance, independence, credibility and diversity giving no priority to commercial or political considerations over professionalism. 2. Endeavouring to get to the truth and declare it in our dispatches, programmes and news bulletins unequivocally in a manner which leaves no doubt about its validity and accuracy. 3. Treat our audiences with due respect and address every issue or story with due attention to present a clear, factual and accurate picture while giving full consideration to the feelings of victims of crime, war, persecution and disaster, their relatives, our viewers and to individual privacy and public decorum. 4. Welcoming fair and honest media competition without allowing it to adversely affect our standards of performance and thereby "having a scoop" would not become an end in itself. 5. Presenting diverse points of view and opinion without bias and partiality. 6. Recognizing diversity in human societies with all their races, cultures, beliefs, values and intrinsic individualities so as to present an unbiased and faithful reflection of their societies. 7. Acknowledging a mistake when it occurs, promptly correct it and ensure it does not recur. 8. Observe transparency in dealing with the news and its sources while adhering to internationally established practices concerning the rights of these sources. 9. Distinguishing between news material, opinion and analysis to avoid the snares of speculation and propaganda. 10. Standing by colleagues in the profession and give them support when required, particularly in the light of the acts of aggression and harassment to which journalists are subjected at times. Cooperate with Arab and international journalistic unions and associations to defend freedom of the press." "This is not a novel issue" Al-Mirazi then asks Khanfar why Al-Jazeera is issuing the Code of Ethics eight years after Al-Jazeera's establishment. Khanfar says: "This is not a novel issue or a creation of the professionals. Al- Jazeera and its workers have been adopting these principles since the channel's establishment because they all came from deep-rooted and well established media schools. Such principles were present but were not written. What we have done over the past few months, was to sit down and speak to our colleagues in the news room and our correspondents. We held a serious dialogue in the channel which led us to these rules. Why at this particular time? For many reasons. "The first is that the channel has greatly expanded. We now have 70 correspondents and 23 bureaus in five continents. It is not easy to keep continuous oral contacts, as was the case in the past. Now we have this great number of correspondents and journalists who come and go. When you put this code as a law that governs relations among all of us, then each one of us will know the limits of his profession, his rights and so on. I believe it is a very important step which will be part of our intention to return to the original principles and establish frameworks and begin writing the literature of what is now called the Arab media school. "I believe that over the past eight years, an Arab television information school has been established. This is a very important step, enabling us to present material that we might be held accountable for, not only to our colleagues inside Al-Jazeera channel but to our colleagues from among Arab journalists and to our viewers as well. They would then be able to say: You adhered to this point but you did not adhere to that. It is also a means of educating the viewer to enable him to understand our news processes and then keep pace with us in accordance these rules." "We have a new media climate in the Arab world" Al-Mirazi then asks Khanfar why Al-Jazeera did not sign the code of honour of the Arab Radio and Television Federation. He says that it was reported that they told Al-Jazeera that if it wanted to sign the code, then it had to accept the principle that the Arab governments should not criticize one another. Khanfar says: "This is true. This code of honour discussed the situation before the spread of the Arab space channels and free information. The satellite channels used to belong to the government and to exalt the leaders and presidents and so on. Now we have a new media climate in the Arab world. In our code, we always take the viewer into consideration. We have a freedom ceiling to which we have accustomed this viewer over the past few years. Therefore, we tell this viewer: We will not retreat from professionalism; we will not retreat from freedom or our commitment to presenting the best, the most truthful and honest news to you. Therefore this is a new production of a new information literature in the renewable Arab media." Journalism code of honour in the US Al-Mirazi then discusses the history and development of the US Radio- Television News Directors Association in the United States since 1946 and the changes that were introduced to it in 1950, 1966, 1973, 1987 and 2000. He then asks the Association's president Barbara Cochran to talk about the development of this association and its principles. Cochran speaks in English fading into simultaneous translation in Arabic. She explains the association's code of honour and the problems that the journalists faced and the criticism by the public. She also gives her views on the duties of the reporters and their integrity. Al-Mirazi then asks Easen Jordan how CNN deals with the issue of the standards of the profession and the code of honour. Easen, also speaking in English with simultaneous translation, says that his organization always revises its standards and practices and has three separate documents on the codes of the profession and the style. He praises Al-Jazeera for its code of ethics. Norman Solomon, also speaking in English with simultaneous translation, is then asked to speak on the formal ethics of journalism and how they are applied in the United States. He speaks about the various kinds of media in the United States and how some of them turn into "means of propaganda for the government" despite "their claims of being independent". He expresses "regret" that there are "violations of the genuine values of the "journalistic profession". Barbara Cochran then explains how the violations of journalistic values are being tackled in the United States. She points out that the story of Abu-Ghurayb prison abuse was made available to the public because of the US media, especially the CBS's 60-minutes programme, despite the fact that "it was not the US Army's favourite story". "We are not imposing our opinion on anybody" Turning back to Khanfar in the studio, Al-Mirazi asks what is meant by "objective treatment of events". Khanfar says that the code is not intended to be a public relations exercise or "a brochure to give to visitors," and adds: "After drafting this code, we started to draft rules for professional behaviour. This is a sort of guide for our journalists and correspondents worldwide how to implement this code. We then established a section in Al-Jazeera to evaluate the performance on the screen every 24 hours and see how the principles that we defined for ourselves conform to what is being broadcast in terms of news and programmes." He goes on to say: "We are of the view that our viewer has the right to know that what we tell him now is true or not and whether it is from a correspondent in the field. The correspondent is conveying facts and therefore his personal opinion should not be part of this information. The viewer should receive the information devoid from personal opinion. If we want to give an opinion then we must let the viewer know that this is just an opinion that could be right or wrong, that is, it is subject to multiplicity of views. If there is an analysis and we host an analyst, then this analyst will speak his own views. Thus, we will be able to tell the viewer the truth, that we are not imposing our opinion on anybody but are presenting an opinion." Eason Jordan is asked by Al-Mirazi if CNN can play a tape of a hostage in Iraq, for instance or display pictures for Bin Ladin or Al- Zawahiri, He says that each case is studied on its own merits and the CNN does not carry such things live, adding that we must edit everything and "we will not allow ourselves to be just a propaganda tool for Al-Qa'idah". Answering another question, Eason says: "When civilians are killed we show this and display pictures as we acquire them. Probably we do not show them as much as some would want but we try to have enough sense and not exceed the limits of taste. We explain that some people were killed but we do not show the people whose heads were severed." Al-Jazeera should not "beautify the ugly face of the war" On the same issue, Khanfar says: "We discussed an important issue in our conference. The question is: Do you not believe that if we do not broadcast grotesque pictures of the war we will be trying to beautify the ugly face of the war? I say that as a US or Western station, you might perhaps have the chance not to broadest many of such pictures but you cannot do that when you are planted in the Middle East, in the Arab world, in an area where killings, displacements, destruction and bombing are daily occurrences. I do not know how you can convey these facts to the viewers without showing them these pictures. "I agree with Mr Jordan that there are limits. We have regulations on displaying pictures. The mutilated and severed parts of bodies might hurt the sensitivities of the viewers. For instance, we do not play the tapes of decapitation and slaying that are being done repeatedly now. We do not show them at all. We tell the viewers that the operation has been done, that we are certain that we have seen it happen and that we have the tape but we do not display them. We have children and people with sensitive feelings and we cannot show everything. But unfortunately, there is a large number of these events in the Arab media and we cannot hide them. If I hide them then I will be accused of beautifying this destructive war in this region of the world." "Al-Jazeera made a mistake by showing the beheading" Jordan then says that Al-Jazeera made a mistake by showing the beheading of the journalist Daniel Perle and "I believe that Al- Jazeera has now realized its mistake by showing this." He said "CNN would not have shown this and will not do anything of the sort in the future. I do not believe that this would reduce the horror that was associated with the event." He congratulated Al-Jazeera because "it has served its Arab viewers as best it could over the past few months". For his part, Solomon criticized the US media for showing tapes of Bush and other officials "for hours and hours" and failing to show the horrors that the civilians are facing in Iraq and the suffering which these officials "justified." He adds: "This is one case in which CNN lied." He notes that during the war in Afghanistan, the CNN employees were given instructions that "every time there was a reference to the suffering of Afghan civilians because of the US bombardment, the public should be reminded of the suffering that was inflicted on the Americans on 11 September, 2001." Jordan then defends CNN reporting. CNN causes "disturbance for the Israeli government" Towards the conclusion of the show, Khanfar speaks of the difficulties that the correspondent faces in the field but says: "The correspondent must be honest and tell his viewers of the circumstances under which he shot the clips and whether or not he was allowed to show various sites." Asked to give his last contribution to the show concerning the Israeli government's "restrictions" on CNN's reporting from the Gaza Strip, Jordan says that he does not know of any Israeli restrictions on CNN reports but adds that the CNN coverage "causes much tension and disturbance for the Israeli government". Solomon concludes the show by urging the implementation of the code of honour but urges self-censorship. He says that the media should not discriminate between people. Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1805 gmt 15 Jul 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Since July 12 a weak signal has been heard peaking to audibility on 7200 around 0705, and another since July 13 at the same time on 7345. Both have been too weak in local noise to positively ID - until today [July 17] when 7200 was heard again at the same time under, then peaking to good level over, co-channel Bulgaria. It was // 7345 which was at fair strength, and both were carrying Radio Rossii programming in // 13665. They are both assumed to be from Yakutsk but were not heard to carry any opt-out local programming to positively ID. No other stations from that area were audible on 41m - in fact, besides the usual Americans at the top end of the band, only SWDR 7265, two BLR outlets on 7110 (possibly co-channel ALB) and 7145 and a weak Nigeria 7255 were heard at that time. Mode of propagation unknown. The two Russians gradually faded out after 0730, and this was followed by a SID at c0756 which emptied all of the broadcast bands of previously heard stations. RNW 5955 was the first noted back c0805 and followed by DW 6075. I'm not sure if the UK Volmet on 5450 was affected or not. It was noted at usual good strength at 0805. An hour later all bands were open again (Noel R. Green [Blackpool, NW England], Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA. PIRATE. 6307.2, R. Piraña Internacional (tentative), 0915-0937. The past few nights I've been getting their carrier around 0030, during my local sunset. However there is static and voice traffic at that time. This was my first attempt to tune them in during dawn, and the results are much better. Still can't make out an ID, but I can discern the changes from talk to music. There is far less QRM and QRN at this time as well. Those in Florida should have a great shot at this between 0900 and 1000 (George Maroti, NY, July 17, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** THAILAND. RADIO THAILAND TO CENSOR BUDDHIST SERMONS State-run Radio Thailand has formed a committee to censor the weekly Buddhist sermons aired every Sunday, in order to muzzle monks from commenting on political issues. ``Some monks are critical of the government, and the powers that be are not happy with such criticism,`` a station official said. Under the new rules, any reference to the government will be removed. The sermon that triggered the censorship was aired on 20 June. It attacked government leaders for trying to legalise gambling and establish casinos in the Kingdom. Station officials said a political aide phoned the government`s Public Relations Department right after the sermon and ordered censorship for religious programming. They also claimed the government issued an unwritten order for Radio Thailand to stop airing comments from four critical monks. A Buddhist academic, Phra Maha Chow of Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, said the government had erred if it viewed monks as critics. ``Monks try to propagate moral values, and in their sermons they want to point out ways for the government to improve morality,`` he said. Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said the government had become carried away with its power. ``It is nonsense to gag monks. Even military dictators refrain from meddling in religious affairs,`` he said. (Source: The Nation) # posted by Andy @ 18:10 UT July 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Live from Turkey (re: DXLD 4-108) --- On July 13, an Irishman living in the UK was on the line. He said his name was Eamon, but one of the female speakers repeatedly said he must be kidding. Surely he was Christopher Lewis. Before him on the air was Ullmar Qvick, an experienced Swedish DXer active with the Arctic Radio Club during the first half of the 60´s. Neither the Irishman nor the Swede wished to participate in the VOT essay contest because they would be either in Ireland (on holiday) or in Kosovo (for an Albanian language seminar) at the time in September the prize winners otherwise would have to travel to Turkey. The title of the essay contest, given twice in high speed, sounded like "The Contributions of Intercultural Dialogue to the Friendship and Fraternity Between Our Countries". No more than three typed pages please, one of the speakers cautioned. Up to July 13, two days before deadline, only two entries had been received, one of which was deemed ineligible as its author was the winner of the contest last year (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. THE US AND BRITAIN ADOPT DIFFERENT EXTERNAL BROADCASTING STRATEGIES --- Analysis by Andy Sennitt, 15 July 2004 ...The US Broadcasting Board of Governors is also busy setting up deals to get its output on FM stations and networks in key target areas, such as Pakistan. But this hides a significant fact: there is great pressure from the BBG for elements of US international broadcasting to increase audiences. This usually requires FM access, but often requires compromises on content. For example, the FM relays of Aap Ki Dunya in Pakistan include no hard news - especially no news about Pakistan or India-Pakistan relations. That news does continue, but on mediumwave from transmitters outside of Pakistan, shortwave, and satellite outlets. . . http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/int040715.html (Media Network via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Following are Jeff White`s comments in reply to some points Larry Van Horn raised in correspondence regarding the source of noise interference to WRMI 7385 (gh) First, if IRAC does not sign off on these frequencies, then they take a long time not to do it. It is a major pain for us to get permission to use a frequency that has not already been approved by IRAC. Getting FCC approval is quick and easy -- they either say yes or no, sometimes even on a same-day basis if it's an emergency. But if IRAC has not already given the go-ahead for a particular frequency, we have had to wait weeks and longer before they clear it. I remember when WRMI was originally requesting our construction permit, we were told that our site location had been rejected because it was too close to a Coast Guard monitoring station in Homestead, FL. They said we would have to find a new location. I inquired into this further and the FCC gave me the name of someone "at the Pentagon" who had supposedly objected to our requested location. I called this person, and found that neither he nor anyone else had "rejected" the request. They just said that they wanted a provision in our license that would say that if we caused interference to the Coast Guard station, we would have to make whatever antenna or power changes were necessary to avoid it. And what's more, we had requested a waiver enabling us to broadcast with 10 kW instead of the minimum 50 kW, and they said that if we operated at 10 kW, they wouldn't even require the extra provision in the license. (In the end, that was a moot point because the FCC wouldn't go for the waiver for other reasons.) So anyway, I don't doubt that there is miscommunication between the FCC and the IRAC folks at times, but we are told that they always get these frequencies cleared by IRAC. As far as money goes, I don't think the FCC International Bureau sees any of this money directly anyway, and it doesn't make any difference to the salaries they earn. For years, we complained bitterly about the frequency coordination fees, which kept going up to $50 per "frequency-hour" per season. They had four seasons a year, so if a station was on the air 20 hours a day, they would pay $1000 four times each year, for example. But a year or two ago, they finally admitted that there are only two frequency coordination seasons per year, so the fees have been effectively cut in half. They were able to say that they had not reduced the fees (Congress determines these, they say, and they can't reduce them even if they want to), but they could cut the number of seasons back from four to two. I got the impression that they might have actually wanted to help us reduce the fees in this way. Also, whenever there is a problem with interference or jamming or something like that, they never charge us for changing frequencies in the middle of the frequency season. So I think the FCC Intl. Bureau has tried to be very fair with us, and I don't see them as money- hungry. Generally speaking, we request frequencies twice a year, and they almost always approve them if IRAC has already done so, and send them on to the HFCC. Generally, once a station has a schedule approved, the FCC just automatically resubmits that schedule for that station each year (A03 is resubmitted for A04, B03 for B04, etc.) unless the station requests something different. The FCC regulations do not say that US-licensed SW stations cannot broadcast to a domestic audience. What they say is that they cannot broadcast a program service that is designed "exclusively" for an audience located in the continental United States. So we can broadcast to Canada, Mexico, or even Hawaii or Puerto Rico. As a practical matter, they don't seem to permit us to register purely US ITU zones as within our target areas. But everything else is fair game. And as we read the rules, we can broadcast to the U.S., but just not "exclusively." As to your final question, I don't think anyone can prove that there are "dwindling audience numbers" for shortwave. There never have been any reliable audience figures for the medium, which is why it has never been able to become commercialized. Certainly, as you say, many stations have been cutting back their SW transmissions and some going off the air altogether. But these are mainly government-owned stations whose raison d'être in the first place was to counter communist political propaganda during the Cold War. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the virtual disappearance of communism, many of these stations have experienced significant budget cuts from their governments and have therefore been forced to reduce schedules, languages, etc. -- and in some cases cease transmissions altogether. So why are HF broadcasters asking for more spectrum? Two reasons. First, a lot of the former government-owned SWBC facilities have now been privatized (ex. Merlin came out of the BBC) and they are selling airtime in huge amounts to privately-owned broadcasters like religious groups, opposition political groups, etc., and to overseas stations that want SW relays closer to their target areas. Nowadays, every major shortwave broadcaster -- including the government stations -- wants to have a relay facility within a hop or so of their primary target areas. They are using fewer frequencies direct from their countries, and more frequencies from overseas relay stations. So you have a lot more transmissions from privately-owned broadcasters on the air today, and that somewhat compensates for the loss of some of the government station airtime. And the government stations want more relays. The HFCC tells us that they are not seeing any reduction in the overall amount of frequencies registered each season. So this myth of shortwave being a "dying medium" is just a myth so far at least. The other reason that broadcasters are requesting more spectrum space is that they have always felt the HFBC bands were too crowded and they have always needed more spectrum. The in-band segments are still extremely crowded, and in order to be heard without interference it has been necessary for most FCC-licensed stations to use out-of-band frequencies. Thank heaven the FCC International Bureau has recognized that and has given U.S. stations the opportunity to use OOB frequencies on a non-interference basis. The little bit of extra spectrum that was approved at WARC last year was less than half what we (the NASB and I believe the IBB) had originally requested or planned to request, but in the end we saw that it was going to be difficult or impossible to get any more than what we got. And there's actually a third factor as well. Many SW stations, far from thinking that SW is dying, are looking forward to DRM transmissions. A lot of us (including the NASB) are already doing DRM transmissions. So in the short to medium-term at least, we will need more spectrum in order to introduce DRM transmissions on SW while maintaining the traditional analog services at the same time. DRM was only officially launched in June of last year, and already there are something like 500 or 700 hours per day of DRM transmissions from a variety of broadcasters. I hope this gives you some insight into some of these issues from the private U.S. SW broadcasters' perspective anyway. If you have any more questions, just let me know (Jeff White, WRMI, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: Annotated WBCQ Program Guide Anomalies and Recent Observations - July 17 ---- This was added later: Saturday, July 17, 2004 -- An impromptu rebroadcast of yesterday's Allan Weiner Worldwide was on at 4 PM ET on 7415. There will be a special re-broadcast of last Wednesday's EVM Jewish Radio Network show on Sunday, July 18, 2004, at 4 PM ET (2000 UT) on 7415. This show features a call from Allan on the road (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Salem Switches II --- COURT DECISION STRIKES A BLOW AGAINST MEDIA MONOPOLIES --- Media : John Gorman : Wednesday, July 14, 2004 http://www.freetimes.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1736 In God we trust? Camarillo, California-based Salem Communications has purchased WRMR/1420 AM, Cleveland's last remaining big-band station, for a whopping $10 million from Cleveland Classical Radio, which also owns WCLV/104.9 FM. Salem owns 65 radio stations in the U.S. Salem swapped the station's call letters, format and its 1420 frequency to Cleveland Classical Radio three years ago, retaining WRMR's old 850 AM frequency for sports-talk WKNR/850 FM and moving religious WHK to 1220 AM. Now, Salem has returned the WHK call letters to their original frequency as News Talk 1420. The format features ultra-conservative talk show hosts Michael Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt. Bottom feeders already know Gallagher's routine. He's a regular Fox News fill-in host for Sean Hannity, and he's trained to make guest visits on Fox and Friends, Neil Cavuto and Bill O'Reilly. Previously, the format ran on Salem's Parma-licensed WCCD/1000 AM, which switches to its syndicated Word and Praise format until the sale of that station is completed. The day following the WRMR sale announcement, Salem threw a revival meeting for the remaining WKNR staff and announced that it would not convert the station to one of its own brand of religious formats. Staffers were told that contractual obligations to broadcast Ohio State games and a golf promotion with ESPN Radio's morning hosts Mike and Mike were reasons why the format would remain the same. To affirm the sports-talk vow, regional VP ``Herr`` Errol Dengler revealed that Salem will buy one billboard on I-480 to ``unveil`` WKNR's new logo (It's been on its web site for over a week). Dengler must've memory-lapsed on the company's mission statement, which reads in part: ``…our focus is on acquiring a station with a strong signal, in a large market, that based upon internally developed financial projections will deliver an appropriate return on investment. We then reformat the station, market and promote the new format to develop our listenership...`` Salem has the largest ratio of format changes in stations purchased of any chain, including Clear Channel. If Salem's committed to WKNR's sports format, why didn't it bid on the Cleveland Indians broadcasts? The current deal, which was to end in 2005, was renewed without opposition for another six years by Clear Channel. Salem does own one other sports-talk station; the ESPN-networked WZNZ/Jacksonville, which is in a three-way tie for 23rd place with a disgraceful 0.5 market share in a recent Arbitron survey. Though Salem claims it owns a sports-talk station in Seattle, none of the six stations listed for that city on their web sites carry the format. Salem does have a rare format oddity in Seattle with KKMO, its only known conservative Spanish talk and music format. Another Salem syndicated music format, Southern Gospel, is not carried in Cleveland but was briefly syndicated on Akron's Clear Channel-owned WHLO/640. It's evident that once Salem divests WCCD, it will have the two options for WKNR: Move the news-talk format to its most powerful signal, WKNR, and relocate Word and Praise to the weaker-signal WHK or remain a sports-talker through a lease-marketing arrangement (LMA) with Clear Channel. That scheme would allow Clear Channel to take control of the programming and operations of WKNR, create a powerful pairing with WTAM and slash operation and employee costs by using existing Clear Channel managers to program and sell time on that frequency. WKNR has the second-best AM signal in the market after WTAM, and an LMA arrangement would also provide Clear Channel a relatable backup station for play-by-play broadcast conflicts. An LMA permits one radio company to ``rent`` another station owner's frequency. At best, WKNR's present staff was given a stay of execution (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) See also OKLAHOMA ** U S A. KNWX TO BECOME SPANISH-LANGUAGE RADIO STATION --- By BILL VIRGIN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER Saturday, July 17, 2004 Entercom Communications Corp. plans to sell one of its eight Seattle- area radio stations, KNWX-AM (1210), to a Sacramento, Calif., company that will convert it to Spanish-language programming. That will add to the competition in a market that already has two Spanish-language stations and on Monday will be getting a third. Salem Communications, which operates KKMO-AM (1360) as Radio Sol, plans to convert KTFH-AM (1680) to Spanish-language programming, according to David Fitts, who heads Salem's five AM stations in the Seattle market. The other Seattle Spanish language station is KXPA-AM (1540), owned by Multicultural Broadcasting. It airs 23 hours of Spanish-language shows per weekday . . . [MORE] http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/182498_knwx17.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. CROSSED SIGNALS: PARTIES FUME OVER STATION LICENSE -- HAWAIIAN TUNES TO REPLACE FORMER RADIO HOME OF WATSONVILLE HUMAN- RIGHTS GROUP --- By DONNA JONES, Sentinel staff writer, July 13, 2004 http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/July/13/local/stories/01local.htm WATSONVILLE --- Call it a collision of visions. And in the world of low-power FM broadcasting, federal rules have left room for only one in the Watsonville area. For Jeff and Morgan Kost, gaining control of 104.7 FM means the chance to share their love of Hawaiian music with the world, or at least a small slice of it between the northern end of the Pajaro Valley and Monterey. For members of el Comité de Derechos Humanos de Watsonville, or the Watsonville Human Rights Committee, the loss of the one FM frequency available for Watsonville-based broadcasting represents a missed opportunity to revive a short-lived but vital community station, Radio Watsón. "It`s a sad story," said Frank Bardacke, a Watsonville activist with a leftist pedigree rooted in the 1960s Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley. "A group of people came close — the distance between your thumb and forefinger — to an authentic community radio station ... and it slipped through our fingers." But Morgan Kost, a lifelong Santa Cruz County resident, said when KAPU launches, sometime in the next few weeks, the community will benefit from a unique musical format that has ties to cultures across the Pacific Rim. "When you listen to Hawaiian music, it brings a kindness to your heart," she said. Broadcast history El Comité members say their troubles started when they chose to play by the rules. The group was about 4 years old in 1996 when Bardacke`s Berkeley connections linked members with the burgeoning micro-radio movement and Radio Watsón was born. While broadcasting at low power wasn`t strictly legal, an ongoing court case looking at free speech issues muddied the issue, Bardacke said. During its two-year life, the station grew from one program in the morning to several at all hours of the day and night, involving a theater group, bilingual teachers and teens. Programming covered the gamut from Spanish rock to youth soccer. But in 1998, a judge ruled against one of the leaders in the radio movement, and soon the FCC came knocking on Radio Watsón`s door and shut down the fledgling broadcaster. Others who received cease-and-desist orders, like Free Radio Santa Cruz, refused to leave the airwaves and still broadcast today. El Comité members considered civil disobedience, too, but since many of the participants were undocumented workers or young students, the group decided to comply. During the next couple of years, they and others lobbied for changes to rules governing the low-wattage stations. Victory came in 2000, when Congress passed a legislation allowing for micro-broadcasters to obtain licenses. El Comité immediately applied. Island allure Meanwhile, the Kosts were nurturing a love for Hawaiian music, delving into the culture, collecting discs and listening to what little programming there was on other radio stations. The music is rooted in a culture that values family and kindness, Morgan Kost said. It evokes the beauty of the land, the flowers and fish, the cane fields and the people. Through waves of immigration, interest in the music has spread to many countries, she said. And it has strong support in Santa Cruz County, where Hawaiian musicians attract crowds to concerts. "If you are spinning the dial, you`d stop and listen," she said. The Kosts got the idea to start a station of their own while listening to a Salinas-based Hawaiian music program. With their knowledge of the musical form growing, they thought they could host a program of equal or better quality, Morgan Kost said. Then, as the Salinas station cut back on hours for their favorite program, the idea became an imperative. Research led them to low-power FM broadcasting about the time the FCC started accepting applications. But their application was ranked second behind that of el Comité. Then, at the end of 2000, federal rules changed again, prohibiting people who had received cease-and-desist orders from obtaining licenses. El Comité applicants were no longer eligible. But because of the way the bureaucracy worked, their application was still in force, blocking the Kosts. To solve the problem, Bardacke approached the Kosts with the idea of a partnership. The reworked application described a station run by a nonprofit organization of small business owners, teachers, farmworkers and wetlands advocates. The format was to include a mix of educational and public service programming and Hawaiian and Spanish-language music. The FCC approved the application in April 2003. But the license was in the Kosts` name, and the partners never put anything in writing. Soon tensions arose, which both sides described as a clash of styles based on differing backgrounds. The Kosts are business owners who operate a Watsonville-based seeding business. The others come from the nonprofit, community-activist sector. By May, negotiations to share air time broke down. Morgan Kost said she and her husband spent thousands of dollars getting the venture off the ground, and plan to invest thousands more. They`ve also worked countless hours to acquire and install equipment. That gave them the right to call the shots, she said. Though the couple now plans to offer broadcast time to community groups, most of the air time will go to Hawaiian music and no other musical programming will be permitted. "It`s really gotten back to what`s important to us, the permit holders," she said. El Comité members take credit for getting the application approved in the first place, and say they tried to help build the station, but that the Kosts threw up roadblocks. They concede they had less money to put into the project, but would have been willing to fund raise. At this point, they are giving up. "It`s taken a lot of energy and organizing," member Olga Diaz said. "We decided just to let it go." Big picture Diaz`s frustration was still evident, however, when she recently discussed the station. "What`s really at stake here is the use of a public resource," she said. "I don`t have anything against Hawaiian music. ... We can learn from it, but it doesn`t represent the needs and interests of this community." Kost said she isn`t so ready to decide what the community wants and needs. "We don`t want to second-guess the listeners," she said. "(Hawaiian music) can appeal to a lot of people." Bardacke blames federal rules and large mainstream broadcasters like National Public Radio, which have lobbied to block access to additional broadcast channels. El Comité members support federal legislation that would reduce the amount of space left vacant between operating frequencies from three channels to two. That would open more channels for use by low-power stations. NPR`s interest in maintaining the distance between broadcast channels is in protecting radio reading services, which support the visually impaired, from interference, said spokeswoman Jessamyn Sarmiento (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Nostalgia --- Most interesting site with links dealing with the birth of NBC color TV at http://kingoftheroad.net Go past the classic cars to the end! Some nice video clips of ealy NBC color including peacock unfurling in tandem to "this program brought to you in living color." (Bob Cooper in New Zealand, Jul 14, 2004 04:51 PDT, WTFDA via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL DOES FACE INTENSE OPPOSITION, PARTICULARLY FROM THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE By Sam Kennedy, Of The Morning Call [Lehigh Valley PA] http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5internetjul17,0,1838611.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed The use of electrical wires for high-speed Internet access at a downtown Allentown hotel is a milestone not only for PPL Corp., but also for the futuristic technology the Allentown company is pioneering. The Crowne Plaza hotel on Hamilton Street this week unveiled its new broadband over power lines service, or BPL. The hotel is the utility's first paying commercial customer of BPL, and perhaps the biggest commercial customer of the technology nationwide. All 225 guest rooms and public areas in the building have been equipped. It's a business model PPL will soon apply to other hotels and apartment complexes throughout the Lehigh Valley, according to a spokesman for the company. Such plans signal PPL's growing confidence in a potentially revolutionary technology. BPL - or power line communications, as it's also called - holds the promise of becoming the next major Internet pipeline into homes and businesses, and of fulfilling predictions of widespread adoption of high-speed Internet service. It could bring fast Internet service for the first time to many computer users, particularly those in rural locations who now cannot take full advantage of the Web's offerings. At the same time, it could spur competition among existing Internet service providers, such as cable and telephone companies, leading to cheaper prices and better service for all consumers. The technology has come a long way in a relatively short time, according to experts. Steve Hadden, vice president of electric utility consulting firm Plexis Research, located outside of Boston, described the progress in recent years as ''mind-boggling.'' Its long-term viability, however, is still an issue. ''Can you make it work for a low enough cost for the prices you can charge in the market today?'' asked Robert Olsen, a professor of electrical engineering at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. ''That's the real question.'' About a dozen electric utilities nationwide are experimenting with BPL. One, Cinergy Corp. of Cincinnati, Ohio, plans on bringing the service to 55,000 customers by the end of the year. PPL, with five trials in the Lehigh Valley so far, is somewhere at the head of the pack. Yet the company, wary of tipping its hand to competitors and reluctant to draw attention to an unproven technology, is hush-hush on the subject. It hardly publicizes its efforts, offers no indication of when to expect a full-scale, region-wide rollout and never discloses financial details. Such reticence is well-advised, according to analysts. ''We've been down this road so many times,'' David Schanzer, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott in Philadelphia, said, referring to the hype that has so often preceded unprofitable technologies. ''They have learned the hard way.'' BPL does face intense opposition, particularly from the American Radio Relay League, which represents 163,000 shortwave radio, or ham radio, operators. The technology could disrupt shortwave radio as well as the high-frequency transmissions used for national security, emergency response and an array of other applications, according to BPL detractors. The Federal Communication Commission, which regulates the airwaves, has suggested such problems can be resolved by technical solutions - a position shared by PPL. BPL compares well to the alternatives, both in terms of performance and price. It costs about the same as the typical cable modem and DSL from telephone companies, and is about as fast. PPL's first two trials started about a year ago in Whitehall Township and Emmaus, where the service was introduced to customers free while the company worked out kinks in the technology. A third, so-called marketing trial, where the service was offered to residential customers for a base price of about $40 a month, began in Hanover Township, Northampton County, last fall. Two more, in Upper Macungie Township and Bethlehem, followed this spring. Along the way, PPL has experimented with various methods. In earlier efforts, such as in Emmaus, customers connected to the Internet by plugging into a power outlet; the electrical cord doubled as a conduit for the Internet signal. In the latest trials, the Internet signal comes from an antenna attached to a medium-voltage power line outside, which is capable of serving multiple homes in the vicinity. At the Crowne Plaza, a guest connects the computer to the Internet through a modem that is plugged into a power outlet. Data is transmitted over the hotel's electrical wiring to and from an antenna on the roof, which communicates directly with PPL's own fiber optic network (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ###