Articles in Radio World and ARRL websites last week each quote internal FCC memos saying the Enforcement Bureau is set to reduce its field staff by half and close two-thirds of its field offices, including the one in San Diego. In the memo, EB Chief Travis LeBlanc and FCC Managing Director Jon Wilkins said the Bureau needed to take “a fresh look” at its 20-year-old operating model in light of technology changes and tighter budgets.
Under the plan, in the southwest, the Los Angeles field office would remain open, and Phoenix would have detection equipment in place but San Diego’s office would permanently close.
Part of the staff reduction plan would include creating a “Tiger Team” of agents “flexible enough to support other high-priority initiatives.” Under the plan, all field agents would have engineering backgrounds “to support the primary focus on RF spectrum enforcement.”
Apparently management would not be immune from the cuts, with director positions shrinking from 21 to 5, and administrative support positions from 10 down to 3.
Dr. Richard Chernock, chief science officer at Triveni Digital, will present ATSC 3.0 on Thursday, February 19 at 11:00 AM PST. This SBE webinar will provide an overview of the status of the ATSC 3.0 activity from a technical point of view as well as the anticipated time schedule. Continue reading SBE Webinar to Cover Broadcast ATSC 3.0→
June Gonzalez, long-time San Diego office FCC agent, is retiring at the end of the month. She’s been with the FCC since they administered First Class Radiotelephone license tests.
Congratulations to new member Joshua Hager for passing his Certified Broadcast Technician (CBT) exam as part of a school course.
KPBS producer/operator Roberta Griego recently joined Chapter 36.
Chapter 36 will meet for an informal, no-host, no agenda lunch at Filippi’s Italian Restaurant this month. Join us for shop talk and good food 12 noon Wednesday, December 17 at Filippi’s, 5353 Kearny Villa Road in San Diego at CA-163 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa.
A proposed $86,400 fine to Midessa Television reminds us that all Broadcast Auxiliary Service microwave links need to be covered with an FCC authorization and that all terms of that authorization need to be correct.
