Changelog

As part of the ongoing Site Makeover Project (SMP) to improve the FCCdata.org experience, we have taken this three-day holiday weekend to make some substantial changes to the site.

FCCdata is built on "modules".  We are in the process of changing one module at a time.  The modules we are working with this weekend include those associated with FCC broadcast facility data for FM, AM, TV and HF.  During the transition of modules, some portions of the system will appear in their pre-SMP version while transitioned modules will appear with the new post-SMP style. 

New SMP modules were released on 11/13/22 at 3PM ET.

This holiday weekend from November 10 through 13, 2022, REC will be performing scheduled maintenance throughout our systems which will mainly impact FCCdata and the J1 mobile app.  

REC has installed functionality that will perform a scan of all broadcast stations to check for RadioDNS connectivity.  This information will be used for driving the new logo functionality on the FCCdata US dialscape service as well as the new service provider toybox application.

Due to the delays getting FEMA approval for production access to IPAWS-OPEN, we have moved our EAS/alerting functionality originally scheduled for v3.1 to v3.2 and we have moved up the flagship v3.2 project (RadioDNS) to v3.1.

RadioDNS Support

RadioDNS allows compatible receivers to be able to tune in to a broadcast station's live stream once they leave the listening area.  RadioDNS also permits stations to have logos and basic station metadata such as station name, description and website links display on compatible consumer receivers. 

The REC Toybox is a group of tools that are intended to help broadcasters and hobbyists to enhance the radio experience. 

REC has added two new tools to the Toybox:

RadioDNS Connectivity Check

This tool is a stand-alone version of the connectivity check we will be offering in myLPFM v3.1 as well as the methods used on FCCdata in order to display RadioDNS information.  

REC has released a reimaged version of the dialscape page for FCC records.  The dialscape is the page that is accessed when a city and state are entered into FCCdata or on mobile browsers, when the "Stations near me" link is clicked.  

The new presentation uses larger fonts and larger areas to be able to click or tap to obtain individial station information.  

The new page also displays RadioDNS station names and logos for participating stations as well as ownership information for FM, AM and TV facilities.

ISSUE

Warning messages and no valid data for KFIS.  Also reported on other stations owned by Salem.

ROOT CAUSE

SI file has one service.  FCCdata did not handle it right.  

RESOLUTION

Modified code that parses <service> section to handle situations where only one service is encountered. 

TOK 11-1 04:23AM ET.

Tested other Salem stations.  All seem to test OK.

Incorporated the RDS (Radio Data Service) Program Identification (PI) Code database operated by NAB-PILOT.  This database will be updated daily (during the morning load) with all assigned PI codes including the one-off codes for 3-letter call FM stations and FM translators therefore allowing these facilities to now be displayed.

ISSUE

With the newly implemented RadioDNS functionality, stations owned by Beasley are returning warning messages and no RadioDNS information.

ROOT CAUSE

The SI file for the Beasley stations does not include any services, only a service provider.  The system expects to see services in the SI file.

http://myquu.name:8080/radiodns/spi/3.1/SI.xml

REC support of RadioDNS on FCCdata.org

FCCdata now supports RadioDNS.  RadioDNS is an open source system that provides metadata and logos for radio stations intended to be used with connected cars and other compatible devices.  For clients using RadioDNS, such as FCCdata, this involves having to make domain name server (DNS) calls to retrieve an XML file which includes the station's basic information as well as links to logo graphics. 

Overview

Every morning at 02:30 RECOT (same time as Mountain Standard/Arizona time), REC conducts a full download and update of the FCC's CDBS and LMS raw data and runs various programs to support the data.  Some of these programs are memory intensive and can cause the system to substantially slow down during those update periods.  This issue is further frustrated when other automated operations, such as eLMS updates take place during the program run, especially on days when the FCC grants renewal applications.  

Earlier this year, we noticed that the REC interface to FCC Electronic Documents (recnet.com/edocs) stopped working.  This service was connected to an FCC operated API.  That FCC API failed.  We allowed some time for the FCC to fix the issue, they never did. It appears that they discontinued the API.

A fix was put into place where when an EDOCS item is selected in the REC system, it will now redirect to the FCC's public page that provides information similar to what we were delivering through this page.  

REC has suspended all new user registrations on the Voluntary Public Inspection File (VPIF) system.  

All station administration functions for VPIF will be transitioned to the myLPFM Station Management System. 

LPFM stations currently using VPIF can continue to use the system as they normally have at this time.

LPFM stations not on VPIF are encouraged to go to mylpfm.com and apply for a free password there.

The @DelmarvaEAS Twitter account has in the past, operated as a public service of REC.  It originally was driven based on the emails received from REC's DASDEC.  The service was discontinued in mid-2021.

Using the new REC OPEN/IPAWS interface, we have restored the Twitter service to include EAS and non-EAS (National Weather Service) data.

The Twitter page can be found at:
https://twitter.com/delmarvaEAS