National

FCC Adopts New EAS Cybersecurity Rules

Leave a comment

[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

Leave a comment

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.

Local News

Remembering Ron Eden

Family members announced on Facebook that Ronald Eden, former Chief Engineer at KGTV, passed away on July 9, 2026. He worked at KGTV from 1972 until 2007, helping the station through its transitions to a digital newsroom and, later, to digital transmission. He left the station due to crippling health problems, and his family reported that he died of complications of a stroke he suffered earlier this year. He was 74.

I worked in his department for a short time in 1990 under his supervision. We admired his friendly, calm, and confident demeanor. He mentored many of KGTV’s engineers.

National

SiriusXM Discontinuing Weekly EAS Tests

According to the Washington, DC EAS mailing list, SiriusXM has discontinued its Regular Weekly EAS Test (RWT). The SiriusXM free promotional “barker” channel 01 has been a satellite-based Primary Entry Point (PEP) for remote radio transmission sites that may have difficulty receiving broadcast PEP stations. PEPs relay national emergency messages and NPT tests. According to William Fawcett of Virginia, SiriusXM will continue to broadcast Regular Monthly Tests that should be logged by the same remote radio stations that may have few options for relaying national tests, though only the NPTs are required to be logged. Fawcett says that Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (SDARS) are specifically exempted from transmitting RWTs. 

Society of Broadcast Engineers