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 Joe Piscopo (2014 Recipient of Howard L. Green Humanitarian of the Year Award) and me! Photo: Gary Gellman/Gellman Images |
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 | Photo: Gary Gellman/Gellman Images
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 Here is Charlie Sislen, (Moderator) Erica Farber, Mary Beth Garber, Radha Subramanyam, and Jeff Warshaw at our Opening Super Session.
Photo: Gary Gellman/Gellman Images
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Contact Us >> | |
New Jersey Broadcasters Assoc
348 Applegarth Road
Monroe Twp, New Jersey 08831
njba@njba.com
www.njba.com |
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What Does Sprint's Unlimited Data Plan Say about NextRadio?
Tom Taylor NOW reports that "Mark Ramsey believes radio hasn't paid enough attention to the latest strategy of Sprint, its lone wireless partner (so far) in the NextRadio/FM chip initiative. Sprint last month announced it was matching the unlimited-data plans innovated by T-Mobile, and researcher Ramsey says that "means that Sprint has calculated that they have more to gain by making what consumers want - unlimited data - more affordable than by emphasizing consumers' ability to route around data caps" with an activated FM chip." NJBA President Paul Rotella disagrees with Ramsey's conclusions. There is no question that NextRadio is an important innovation in radio technology and its evolution will take place over some time. It is enormously successful already and the NJBA believes that the two technologies are both wanted by consumers. "This all or nothing approach to understanding consumer demands is sophomoric," says Rotella, "Radio has endured as consumers' best and most reliable friend for almost a century, and even after the constant barrage of "new" technologies in the last few decades, radio always emerges as the public's favorite medium." Rotella says: "I am amazed at how so many purported "experts" have been so eager to ring the death knell for radio, and even after a century of growth, they just keep on ringing that old bell every chance they get, like a noisy, unenlightened and boorish gong. Why don't they understand that the sophisticated consumer enjoys choice and that does not mean one is chosen to the exclusion of another. Both are demanded and both are necessary, and both are used by consumers." Rotella went on to say that he believes that many of those shouting for the demise of radio are not intellectually honest and many are merely advancing an agenda that is ultimately jealous of the popularity and resiliency of broadcast radio. "Short term unlimited data plan gimmicks highlight that data plan costs are very important to consumers, and that unlimited offers are unsustainable. Data costs get bigger every day and that is a gigantic issue in radio's favor!" For Rotella, "NextRadio is an exciting component to radio's overall ubiquitous reach that compliments broadcast and will continue to grow along side other platforms." Rotella added: Time will tell, but I'll bet on broadcast every time!"
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PMCM TV PMCM TV believes that the efforts of CBS, Meredith and Ion to get it to stop using 3.10 as its virtual channel designation are erroneous, and that the FCC compounded the error by acceding to their wishes. Former NJBA Chairman Bob McAllan says: This is unfair and ultimately hurts the citizens of the Garden State, who have traditionally been underserved in TV coverage, and have been without the benefit of a full power VHF commercial TV station of their own, as required by law." The complainants all found the PMCM's use of 3.10 to be an infringement on their prior claims to similar designations. Meredith's Hartford and CBS's New York stations are licensed to use virtual Channel 3.1; Ion's New York station is on actual and virtual Channel 31. The NJBA has strongly supported WJLP and hopes to see the New Jersey station on the air. The matter of a stay is now before the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
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"Major Policy Fight" Between White House and FCC?
The Washington Post contrasts the President's statement this week about regulating broadband providers like utilities with what Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler told "officials from major web companies including Google, Yahoo and Etsy" - that Wheeler favors a more nuanced solution. He supposedly told the reps that "what you want is what everyone wants: an open Internet that doesn't affect your business. What I've got to figure out is how to split the baby," Solomon-like. Wheeler supposedly reminded the meeting that "I am an independent agency," which doesn't take orders from the White House. In fact, the Post story here suggests that Obama issued his pure-net neutrality statement partly to apply pressure on Wheeler. Meanwhile, AT&T wedges itself into the debate by announcing that it won't pursue further investments on high-speed broadband in 100 markets until the business environment is clear. Reuters says that's "the first business move by an Internet service provider in response to" the President's lobbying effort. There could be more, from Comcast, Verizon, etc. (Hat Tip Tom Taylor NOW.)
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DHS Drafting Plans for Self Repairing Networks as Hacks Mount
The Department of Homeland Security is working with industry to automate cyber defenses inside the government, which will ensure operations continue during and after hack attacks, DHS officials said Wednesday. Enterprise Automated Security Environment, or EASE, could give rise to something like a self-repairing network, Philip Quade, chief operating officer of National Security Agency's information assurance directorate, told Nextgov last week. Hacks are inevitable, many security professionals say. Resiliency is the key to preventing the attackers from finding sensitive information or disrupting activities, they add. Agencies, for now, still struggle to quickly recover from potential hacks. In recent weeks, the White House, U.S. Postal Service and National Weather Service suffered data breaches that temporarily forced them to shut down communications. The Homeland Security effort is in the very early stages and would supplement the agency's ongoing $6 billion network surveillance program. That initiative, called "continuous diagnostics and mitigation," focuses on real-time monitoring of all federal networks for threats. The department recently announced it intends to proactively scan civilian agency networks for vulnerabilities and intrusions. "EASE is an evolving concept aimed at further automating the detection and prevention of cyber intrusions against federal government networks by creating a suite of technologies to augment existing methods," Lee said. Homeland Security officials stressed that EASE is not yet an entity, system or program, but rather an idea. And they said it won't replace any existing cyber programs. (Hat Tip Aliya Sternstein and NextGov.)
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Auto Ad Spending is Seen Growing into 2015
Just-released data project total car industry advertising in 2014 will have its slowest growth since the recession. Kantar Media estimates auto advertising will increase just 1%, to $16.25 billion. An analysis also shows radio's best opportunity may be TV's "traffic jam" of ads. (Hat Tip Inside Radio.)
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Forecast Brings Two NJBA Pals Together Again
Respected author, journalist, and radio personality and NJBA pal Rita Cosby will conduct an onstage interview with iconic publisher and business leader Steve Forbes next week at Forecast 2015, November 19, 2014 at the Harvard Club in New York. Radio Ink Publisher Eric Rhoads said, "This is Steve Forbes' second visit to Forecast. His last visit was memorable, and this visit comes at a time when everyone is curious about how the economy will shake out. Steve is the most well-connected man in the economic world and will share some powerful insights. It's not to be missed. We're honored to have such a business icon with us this year." Rhoads continues, "Rita is one of the hottest and fastest-rising journalists today. She is known for her no-nonsense, no-fluff interviewing skills and her ability to cut to the important information people want to hear. This will be a moment to remember as she digs deeply into Steve Forbes' mind." Steve Forbes was the recipient of the NJBA's Howard L. Green Humanitarian of the Year award in 2012.
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