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# NOVEMBER BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES

Submitted by Vicki Kipp, Secretary

Chapter 24 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers met on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 at WKOW-TV in Madison, Wisconsin. There were 21 members in attendance, 16 of who were certified.

Chairperson, Kevin Ruppert, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Minutes of the October meeting, as published in the November newsletter, were approved as published.

Newsletter Editor, Mike Norton, reported the deadline for the next newsletter as midnight on Friday, December 1, with the folding party the following Wednesday, December 6 at WKOW-TV beginning at 5:30 PM.

Sustaining Membership coordinator, Fred Sperry, announced that Chapter 24 remains at 23 sustaining members. Video Images, CTI, Panasonic, and Belden Wire and Cable recently renewed their membership. Fred welcomed Don Heinzen, a new sales representative with Belden Wire and Cable, a new sustaining member in our Chapter. Don’s background is in data communications. He will be working with clients in Southern Wisconsin.

Program Committee, Denise Maney, announced that the guest speakers for the December 20th meeting will be Dan Maney and Mike Norton. Mike will present on the topic of the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI). Dan will give a demonstration of remote control using the Vertical Interval to transmit data. Meeting attendees will be treated to free pizza and soda. The meeting location is the TOC, in the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Building on the West Beltline Highway.

Certification, Jim Hermanson, reported that one person tested during the exam period that just ended. He announced that the next local exam period will be February 9 – 19, with the application due by December 31, 2000. Jim is working with others to coordinate a CBNT Course and Exam Session. He needs to know how many people would like to participate in this course so he can make plans. If you would be interested in taking the one-day CBNT course and exam, please email or phone Jim Hermanson at WISC-Channel 3.

Frequency Coordinator, Tom Smith, gave a frequency coordination update. Tom expressed the great need for a 7 GHz ENG Band sharing plan. He mentioned that Madison International Speedway (MIS) in Oregon has been gobbling up extra spectrum because almost every racecar on the track has its own transmitter. Frequency coordination on election night was rather slow. Tom did coordinate a wireless microphone for WTMJ from Milwaukee. Coach-Com coordination at the UW-Madison is underway. Tom informed us the 3rd Generation cellular phones (with Internet service) are trying to get the spectrum space currently occupied by Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS.) Other interests are creating significant pressure for spectrum availability. As broadcasters, we must defend our spectrum.

National Liaison, Leonard Charles, mentioned that the SBE had written a letter to FCC Commissioner W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications. The letter expressed the SBE’s concern over the lack of action by the FCC on Rule Making (RM) 9418. A key goal of RM 9418 is to allow digital modulation in all of the TV BAS microwave bands. The FCC’s lack of action on the Rule Making is delaying the roll out of digital television. Charles also informed Chapter 24 that Terry Baun will be giving a five-hour CBNT course followed by the exam as an Ennes program at NAB 2001.

Chairperson Kevin Ruppert would like to form a planning committee on the relocation from the 2 GHz ENG band. He suggests the committee would coordinate the transition with the Milwaukee Market and also the NAB Plan. Kevin has a group of memos regarding this topic. Please let him know if you would like to see the memos or are interested in the committee he is forming.

For Professional Announcements, Steve Zimmerman introduced the group to SBE member and WKOW broadcast engineer Anthony Poleski. Fred Sperry welcomed new member Larry Rusch, an engineer for Wisconsin Public Television at Vilas Hall, back to Chapter 24.

Under the topic of "Tech Tips", Tom Smith asked the group to recommend an inexpensive CAD software for home use. Suggestions included TurboCAD and AutoCAD Light.

Chairperson Kevin Ruppert adjourned the business meeting at 7:21 PM.

The evening’s program was about the Vibrant Newsroom Editing System.

Thanks to Denise Maney for arranging the Dutch Treat Dinner and the program for the November Meeting.