It started late Thursday with an FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on various rules that would mandate how broadcasters serve their communities. If you are now, or have ever worked in Radio or TV, you know this is trouble. The NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) sent out 'suggestions' to the '8,300 free, local radio television stations and broadcast networks' they represent on what they might include in their comments to the FCC...
What the NAB suggests is for stations to (1) Detail descriptions of their efforts to assess the needs of their communities (when I was program director of WRKO, I was sent to the FBI to conduct an ascertainment interview and felt a bit uncomfortable wearing my 70s-style full-length beard and quasi-hippie clothes for the interview. I'm surprised I wasn't booked or whatever the FBI does to suspicious looking people); (2) How the FCC's proposals will negatively affect their station and (3) Why these new rules will not improve their already excellent local service record (the NAB is being overly generous with number #3)...
These are the areas that the FCC is most interested in: (1) Renewal Processing Guidelines, (2) Ascertainment/Advisory Boards, (3) Remote Station Operations, (4) Main Studio Location and (5) Voice Tracking/National Playlists...
Late Friday, the NAB issued a statement through Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton about 'concerns' with the scale and scope of the new proposed FCC rules. What's a poor terrestrial radio station to do? Get your shovels out...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1918] Time after time: For the first time in U.S. history, Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. Clocks are moved ahead one hour at 2 a.m...
- 1923] They shoot horses, don't they?: The first U.S. dance marathon is won by Alma Cummings who sets a new world record of 27 hours in New York City. Gig Young finishes second...
- 1931] Luck of the Irish runs out: 43-year old Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and seven others are killed in a plane crash in Kansas as the legendary coach was headed to Hollywood to make a football movie...
- 1940] Can Shea be far behind?: LaGuardia Airport officially opens...
- 1943] Another opening, another show: Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" opens on Broadway. Although Howard Keel played the lead on Broadway, Gordon MacRae played that role on the big screen with Shirley Jones as his wife...
- 1975] Going out a winner: John Wooden coaches his last game, a 92-85 UCLA win over Kentucky which gives the Bruins their 10th National Title under 'The Wizard of Westwood'. Wooden was recently released from a hospital and would love to see another title for the Bruins, a good possibility...
- 1976] Pulling the plug twice: The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Anne Quinlan could be disconnected from her respirator. Quinlan remains comatose until 1985 when she passes away...2005] Terri Schiavo dies at a hospice in Florida, 13 days after her feeding tube is removed in a right-to-die dispute that reached the courts, Congress and the White House...
- 1986] 'Happy Trails': O'Kelly Isley, who I had the pleasure of knowing, dies of a heart attack at 48. No one could "Shout" like the Isley Brothers...1998] Former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug dies from heart disease at 77...
- 1992] Premiered on this date: "Dateline NBC"...
- 1995] Tejano tragedy: 33-year old Tejano singing idol Selena is shot to death by Yolanda Saldivar, president of Selena's fan club. The shooting takes place outside a Corpus Christi motel room...
Music Memories:
- 1958] Released on this date: "Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry...
- 1975] Number One on this date: "Lovin' You" - Minnie Riperton. The song was produced by Stevie Wonder. I never met a lovelier person than Minnie who at one time sang backup for Stevie and led the group Rotary Connection. Minnie's daughter Maya Rudolph is a SNL cast member...
Commentary:
From Norm N. Nite: "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's newest exhibit: 'Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks' will open on Saturday, April 26th in the Ahmet M. Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall. The exhibit will celebrate baseball as a pop-culture phenomenon through displays of sheet music, sports memorabilia, records and film." Thanks Norm and perfect timing as the rest of the teams that haven't opened the new baseball season, do so today...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rhea Perlman (60), Al Gore (60), Gabe Kaplan (63), Christopher Walken (65), Herb Alpert (73), Shirley Jones (74), Richard Chamberlain (74), Gordie Howe (80) and William Daniels (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until the Final Four, 7 days until the NCAA Championship Game, 19 days until Passover and 33 days until the Kentucky Derby...
