FCC Report 11/30: FCC Advises Stations To Ensure STL & EAS Security
FCC Actions
Following last weekend’s hacking of 97.5 KFNC Mont Belvieu TX’s Barix Box and other recent incidents including at 89.7 WRIQ Charles City VA, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a notice to all stations to ensure the security of their STL link and EAS equipment.
The commission urged all broadcasters, especially those using Barix equipment to:
Install software security patches issued by the equipment manufacturer as soon as they become available, and upgrade equipment firmware and software to the most recent versions recommended by the manufacturer.
Change their devices’ default passwords and replace them with robust alternatives, and regularly change passwords to promote continued security.
Where reasonably feasible, install EAS, Barix, and other equipment interconnected to the broadcast signal processing system behind network firewalls, and utilize VPNs that are configured to limit remote management access to only authorized devices.
Continually monitor EAS equipment and software and review audit logs to detect and report incidents of unauthorized access.
Review the list of recommended best practices to address potential data security vulnerabilities issued by the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council in 2014.
The FCC has rejected Forsythe Broadcasting’s Application For Review seeking to have the license for 1360 WNJC Washington Township NJ restored. The station’s pending license renewal application had been cancelled in May 2024 after the commission discovered through postings on RadioDiscussions.com that WNJC had not operated in over a year. In later communication with the commission, WNJC admitted that it ceased operations around March 2023 after its tower lease was terminated and that it failed to notify the FCC “due to inadvertent errors of counsel.” They stated they has unsuccessfully attempted to find a new transmitter site, but because its community of license is developed and densely populated it is difficult to find a site that could accommodate it and asked the FCC to grant a waiver to allow it to resume operations when “it is technically and economically feasible”.
In the most decision, the FCC says that Forsythe repeated the same arguments and determined, “At every stage of this proceeding, Forsythe has failed to show compelling evidence that the varying circumstances, which it contends caused the Station’s prolonged silence (e.g., the site owner’s refusal to renegotiate the lease of property for Forsythe’s AM array), were out of its control. Also absent is any compelling evidence of Forsythe’s attempts to procure a substitute location for the transmitter site, and separately, any compelling evidence of a direct connection between the COVID-19 pandemic and the Station’s ability to continue operating.”
The commission has released its quarterly station count list ending September 30. Over the past 365 days, 57 AM licenses were lost, the number of commercial FMs dropped by 24, while non-commercial FM jumped up by 353.
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Pirate Actions
A Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting was issued to PNK Inc. for a station operating from tenant of their property in Williamsburg VA. Mi Casa Latin Restaurant was found to be operating a station on 99.5 FM.
Silent Notifications
CRC Broadcasting Company’s 1510 KFNN Mesa AZ (Financial reasons)
CRC Broadcasting Company’s 1580 KQFN Tempe AZ (Financial reasons)
Radio Punjab AM 1310 Inc’s 1310 KMKY Oakland CA (Loss of transmitter site lease)
Rocky Mountain Public Media’s 91.7 KVJZ Breckenridge CO (Catastrophic power line failure)
Southern Stone Broadcasting’s 1370 WLOV Washington GA (Transmitter issue)
Coastal Television’s 95.7 WYCM Attica IN (Transmission line and antenna issue, gave working equipment to co-located sister 96.5 WAZY-FM Lafayetta)
Cutting Edge Broadcasting’s 106.3 WEIB Northampton MA (Financial reasons, went silent in April)
High Plains Radio Network’s 100.7 WDMS Greenville MS (Copper Theft)
High Plains Radio Network’s 1260 WGVM Greenville MS (Copper Theft)
Thomas Media LLC’s 1240 WTON Staunton VA (Loss of tower site)
FM Changes
Horizon Broadcast Group’s 95.7 KRCO-FM Prineville OR applies to move to 105.7
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