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| Bill Requiring AM Radio in Cars Rolls Forward |
| Bipartisan Consensus Emerges that AM Band Constitutes an Irreplaceable Safety Net |
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| WASHINGTON, DC – The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted Wednesday September 17th to move the “AM In Every Vehicle Act” one step closer to full House approval. The vote was 50 yea and only 1 nay. Under the legislation, automakers would be required to provide AM receivers in all cars or potentially face fines. The bill’s popularity “demonstrates a deep understanding that AM radio remains an essential lifeline for emergency alerts, local news and community connection,” according to National Association of Broadcasters’ President Curtis LeGeyt. High profile groups including the National Emergency Management Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Native Public Media, AARP, and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters are voicing their support as well. The Senate’s version of the bill (S. 315) cleared committee already and its list of supporters is 61. The decision on whether and when to bring it up for a vote remains with Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), not one of the backers of the bill. The House version of the bill (H. R. 979) currently has the support of 297 members—well above the 218 threshold required. The proposed legislation continues to grow in bipartisan support with lawmakers back from their districts after meetings with constituents. Since September 1, new reps onboard include Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Nicholas Begich (R-AK), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Robert Onder (R-MO), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Russ Fulcher (R-IN), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Barry Moore (R-AL), Herbert Conaway (D-NJ), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), George Latimer (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Morgan Griffith (R-VA). You can show your support to lawmakers here. |
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| Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota | ||
| Radio: at Home on the Range | ||
| South Dakota Governor Rhoden Will Ride in the 60th Buffalo Roundup and Greet Bison Faithful On-Air | ||
| CUSTER, SD – Information Station Specialists will be lighting up a portable EventCast Radio System at the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup on September 26th. State officials are providing the service to better inform the stampede of attendees that crowd into the Southwest South Dakota each September for the Western classic. Imagine 25,000 visitors navigating a web of two-lane roads to a pair of parking lots on the prairie, all to view the spectacle that begins at dawn and is done by dinnertime.
Over the years the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup has produced some pretty gnarly traffic jams, but this year the State is hoping EventCast can provide a means of herding two-legged attendees in and out safely. If you are thinking the Roundup may be the first ever Buffalo-Broadcast alliance, not the case. The National Bison Range in Western Montana was an early adopter of Information Radio in the 1970’s, giving visitors bison facts and tips as they drove a “wildlife loop.” And today at Minneopa State Park in Minnesota, the state DNR manages a conservation bison herd interpreted for visitors on 1610 AM. See SD's Buffalo Roundup webpage. |
| Synching the Entire Deal |
| Virginia Church Holds Procession Event to Music and Announcements Synchronized to Smartphones |
| WINCHESTER, VA – How can we broadcast a recorded program to smartphones without the delays and echos inherent in the streaming process? The answer is a newly available SynchLINQ Service that makes what had been impossible – possible. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Winchester, Virginia, recently held a procession (pictured below) featuring music and programming via the new system – to great success. Participants and viewers pulled up the synched audio on their smartphones via free apps to enhance the experience without latency. |
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| Says the Church’s technology and communications coordinator Daniel Rocha . . . |
| “It was an absolute success. The music went off without a hitch and I was continuously told how much better the program sounded this year! We will absolutely be using this program going forward!” "...Eucharistic Processions on the Feast of Corpus Christi have taken place in some form for over 750 years.... This is a truly significant day in our Church Calendar and something that we as a parish constantly attempt to elevate.... Our current route winds from our parish to the Old-Town walking mall, with a final stop at the Parish owned Cemetery, (Around 3 miles). ...we will commonly have a crowd of up to 1000 people in attendance. "Given the length and geography of this procession, it is essential for us to keep the event running as smoothly as possible.... Having reflective music that plays uninterrupted, assists with maintaining a prayerful environment and mood. This was the first time that our music was clearly heard across the entire procession from the front to the back. "In previous years we have tried several different solutions and none of them have come close to being usable.... When we switched to SynchLINQ, there were no interruptions, disconnects or issues with syncing. We heard from so many people how much better the music was this year! The setup couldn’t have been easier and getting the app and event into the hands of our parishioners was a breeze. There is no doubt that SynchLINQ is the program that absolutely fits our needs and will be used for every one of our processions in the coming years! Thank you to the team at theRADIOsource.com for helping us to truly elevate this event." |
Consider SynchLINQ if you have cellular coverage over the event area and
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 "Boston Pirates" Lose BigBOSTON, MA – The Pirates are in Pittsburgh, right? It depends on what you mean. “Radio pirates,” individuals who broadcast at high power without an FCC license, have been popping up on the AM dial in the Boston area for decades. Recently, the FCC has found a fresh faced skallywag operating illegally on two AM frequencies – 1620 and 1640 – and issued him a weighty fine of $60,000. The FCC states that the operator’s unauthorized broadcasts “significantly increased the likelihood of interference to lawfully operating stations.” The signal on AM 1620 was located by FCC direction finders in Mattapan, MA, while the 1640 AM was found operating in Brockton, MA – both broadcasting a program originating from “Radio Energy Boston.” Will the operator be required to walk the plank? No, but he does have a 30-day notice to pay up. As an inducement, the Commission could impose an additional fine of $122,661 for every day of illegal broadcasting. Since this pirate has been on the air since 2022, $60,000 might suddently appear a mere pittance. |
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Email
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