REC has received word that Bill Baran, amateur call sign N2FNH had passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2011. Baran had a regular segment on the on-air amateur radio bulletin service "This Week in Amateur Radio" and the broadcast version "This Week in Amateur Radio International" called "The Random Access Thought". These short segments included subject matter that was loosely related to amateur radio and featured sound effects and sound bites that added a lighter touch to what are normally very serious amateur radio bulletins. TWIAR and TWIAR International were featured on former REC audio services W0KIE West and Hardcore XTRA.

While REC policy regarding "pirate radio" is to take a position of being sympathetic but not endorsing the engagement of unlicensed broadcasting, we are deeply concerned though about the reasons leading up to this specific forfeiture. If this forfeiture is permitted to stand, it will set a bad precedence against webcasters.

We take issue with the statement made in the Forfeiture Order that was written by Rebecca Dortch, Western Regional Director, Enforcement Bureau:

Currently under consideration in the Senate is S. 978. This is legislation that is directed to prevent the unauthorized streaming of copyrighted works. The primary targets of this legislation are underground streaming services that offer US television network programming and sports to a global audience for a fee. Normally, this type of network programming that we enjoy on services like Hulu are not available outside the United States due to licensing agreements and market exclusivity in these foreign markets.

REC Networks is anticipating a move of network infrastructure from REC West in Arizona to REC East in Maryland.

As a result, we anticipate an interrupted service period in the two week period between November 5 and November 20, 2011. We do not anticipate that the interruption will take the entire period.

During the interrupted service period:
- REC Broadcast Services (cdbs.recnet.com) will be offline.
- FMFIND.info will be offline.
- Individual consultation will not be available.
- J1 Radio will be operating in basic mode. (Scheduled programs, travel, weather and earthquake early warning will not be available)
- J1 Radio live playlist (Twitter) services will not be available.

Citing financial issues, Network of Glory, licensee of 5 NCEs in AR, GA, NE, OK and TN had requested a waiver from the FCC to broadcast commercial advertisements on the station.

In their request, they justify their waiver by claiming that they serve rural and underserved areas and that due to the "present economic climate in the United States" that has "placed a dire financial strain on many private and government funding agencies".

Their request asked for the following:
(1) Commercial advertisements would only be operated at the top of the hour,
(2) Commercial advertisements would not interrupt regular station programming, and
(3) any commercial announcements and their scheduling will be retained in the station's public inspection files for review and scrutiny.