National

Cybersecurity Rule Webinar Available

On September 1, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), in conjunction with the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA), held a webinar to give an overview of the FCC’s new rules regarding broadcast station cybersecurity. Representatives of Digital Alert Systems and Sage Alerting participated.

The new rules include requirements for 15-character passwords, firewalls, network segmentation, and prompt installation of security patches and updates. Determining how to implement the new safeguards may be complex and costly for some stations. They go into effect on September 29, 2026. 

Here is the LINK to the RECORDED WEBINAR for you to watch at your convenience. 

Local News

iHeart and Crawford Swap Translators

In an unusual move, iHeartMedia transferred its K277DH 103.3 MHz translator atop Mt. Soledad to Crawford Broadcasting. In return, Crawford ceded its K264BO 100.7 translator on Lookout Mountain near Denver to iHeart. The FCC approved the swap last week.

The K277DH translator had been transmitting the signal of KLSD 1360 AM, but was restricted to an east-west directional signal. The co-channel K277DG 103.3 FM translator serving Crawford’s KNSN 1240 AM signal near National City is limited to 15 watts ERP directional toward the south. KNSN is a satellite broadcast of KBRT 740 Costa Mesa. The new arrangement could allow Crawford to rearrange its 103.3 signal to better serve its San Diego listeners.

In Denver, K264BO repeated KLZ 560. iHeart named KHOW 630 as its primary station for the translator. Its other AM properties in Denver have active FM translators.

National

FCC Adopts New EAS Cybersecurity Rules

[From SBE National] The FCC released new rules intended to increase security against cyberattacks on broadcast program streams. Broadcasters must comply with the new FCC rules by September 29, 2026. The new rules establish three requirements designed to increase cybersecurity, and will apply to any device in the signal chain that is connected to the internet, which includes EAS, automation systems, processors, STL, RDS encoders, and transmitters:

  • specified password hygiene measures;
  • prompt testing and installation of security patches and upgrades; and
  • limiting remote access via network firewalls or “comparable network segmentation.”

The FCC order states that default passwords for devices must be changed before any use that broadcasts to the public. Passwords used must employ a minimum of 15 characters, must not use dictionary words, and must not be reused for other accounts, equipment, applications, and services that the station uses. Passwords must also be changed whenever a station “has reason to believe that the password has been compromised.”

Local News

KGB-FM and KHTS on New 52nd Street Site Master Antenna

[Update] iHeartMedia has signed on its FM transmitters at the 52nd Street Vertical Bridge-owned transmitter site. The 8-bay, 1/2-wave spaced array has been energized with KHTS 93.3 and KGB-FM 101.5, including their HD sidebands that had been turned off while on the lower auxiliary antenna. Crews are working to add KWFN 97.3 and KLNV 106.5, as well as auxiliary use for KMYI 94.1 and KIOZ 105.3.

New 52nd St. Site Master FM Antenna. Photo by Bill Lipis

The same 52nd Street tower will host KLSD 1360 and KSDO 1130 AM.

The old KOGO transmitter site in Emerald Hills is slated for housing development, so the transmitters there need to be moved to the single-tower Vertical Bridge-owned site, originally occupied by KGB-AM 1360, on 52nd Street, about a mile to the northwest.

KLSD is operating on an STA at the historic KOGO tower site, and KSDO is operating at 52nd Street using a vertical drop wire.

KOGO 600 moved to multiplex with KGB-AM 760 near Santee in 2024.

For now, KLNV continues to operate from the old KOGO tower. KWFN has an aux site at Mt. San Miguel.

Local News

KSDW Moving to Temecula

On July 23, the FCC approved a Minor Modification application for KSDW (FM) 88.9 to move from Palomar Mountain to Pueska Mountain, just south of Temecula.

The station has actually been operating from Mt. Woodson on STAs since 2023 after the Pauma Indian Tribe revoked its permission to broadcast from its reservation site on Palomar.

The station was sold in January 2026 to K-Love by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, operators of KWVE 107.9 San Clemente. KSDW now runs a “Nueva Vida” Spanish Christian format service from K-Love. That format is served in the San Diego region by KKLJ 100.1 Julian.

The station will operate at 1.4 kW from the northern slope of Pueska Mountain near I-15, facing Temecula and Murrieta to the north.

Society of Broadcast Engineers