[BC] Actual news from Dallas

[Barry Mishkind]

Hi Tom,

Sorry we missed seeing you in Dallas.

At 05:59 AM 9/23/2006, Tom Taggart wrote
>FAA rulemaking:  Apparently the FAA not only blindsided the industry 
>with this proposal but also the FCC and the NTIA.  If you remember, 
>this proposal would require approval from the FAA to any CHANGES to 
>antennae (not just the tower) operating from the FM band up to 
>light.  NAB staff concensus is that it is dead.

         For once, it seems public pressure got it there.

>Translators: Fred Morton asked the two commissioners at the FCC 
>breakfast (Adeltstein and McDowell) Thursday what they are going to 
>do with the backlog.  Received blank stares back.  I had heard from 
>our FCC counsel of possible action by first of the year whereby they 
>would just return all the MX apps and start over.  Me thinks nothing 
>is going to happen for several years.

         Hurry up and wait.

>AM IBOC (IBOC rules in general)--supposedly held up because of 
>public interest requirements on the new FM secondary channels.  Two 
>possible real stories: 1: Democrats on and off commission want 
>return of strong public interest requirements in general (so much 
>news an hour, so many minutes of public affiars, public execution of 
>Rush....) and are holding IBOC permanet rules hostage.
>
>Second possible real story: Commisison hoping it dies natural death 
>so that they don't have to deal with AM interference issues.

         Kind of an interesting take, Tom.
         thanks for sharing.