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Articles by Ken Benner
Benner On Washington: Recollections of Broadcast Inspections
By Ken Benner TUCSON — The coronavirus-fueled quarantine that my wife Karen and I have been enduring these past few weeks has led us to shred thousands of documents related to our 25 years conducting thousands of radio and television compliance inspections. In the process, we have found enough documentation for hundreds of columns. But, there are a few things that caught our attention more than others.
Benner On COVID-19: Suggestions For Small Market Radio
By Ken Benner RBR+TVBR Media Information Bureau TUCSON — While many radio stations struggle to stay on the air — something even more of a challenge today due to the coronavirus — I can still find some stations doing remarkably well. This success has come in the face of substantial competition. How so? They focused on the one thing radio has always done best: its community.
Benner On Washington: 'Just Pay The FCC Fine — Or…' | Radio & Television Business Report
By Ken Benner “…It’s Likely The Legal Expenses Defending Your Station Will Exceed Your Fine.” A recent published prominent magazine article described the forfeiture of $50,000 for failure to identify a broadcast as prerecorded with the advice referenced in this column’s header. Indeed, we can recall again and again hearing the words, “The preceding (or the following) (is/was) transcribed,” and wondered why this was important.
Benner on Washington: 'Fear Not the FCC Inspectors'
From Day One in 1995, Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner believed it was essential to document all of the items involved with conducting Alternative Broadcast Inspections, a.k.a. “mock” inspections. There are two very important reasons for this. “First was to protect myself from efforts to discredit my performance,” Benner says in this latest effort for RBR+TVBR.
Benner on Washington: Recalling The 'Greenmail Scam'
By Ken Benner TUCSON — Long before I got involved with the “mock” or “alternative inspection programs,” I toured the Upper Midwest with a trunk full of homemade, carefully calibrated Heathkit® test instruments that I used to conduct the then-FCC required annual proof of performance measurements. This was conducted during my vacations and occasional days off from other employment ventures.
A Salute To Alabama Broadcasters … and Larry Wilkins
By Ken Benner TUCSON — Over the past 50 years and thousands of station visits, I have encountered the best and worst among the broadcasting industry. I have written several columns over the years saluting the best in engineering, brokerage, management, sales, talent, pride, and most importantly, professional dedication.
Benner On Washington: Tools of Clarity For Everyone
By Ken Benner I’m writing this on New Year’s Day 2020. Yesterday, my wife Karen celebrated her 80th birthday amid several bouquets of flowers and dozens of birthday cards from friends and relatives all over the nation. Indeed, she is loved by all who know her and she is the most wonderful wife ever. This column is dedicated to her.
Translator Complaints Addressed
By Ken Benner In June, Karen and I were engaged in a 100+ station alternative broadcast inspection tour during which there was substantial concern about translator compliance. We had produced a small modified certificate that required a date, my signature and that of a manager, engineer or staffer that were responsible for translators on the entire tour.
How The Media Fuels Terrorism … and What Can Be Done
Dayton, Ohio, two days after a mass shooting in the Oregon District. This column, says Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner, is respectfully dedicated to the memory of the thousands of innocent worldwide terrorism victims and to those who will continue to suffer the same fate as these horrific practices continue to escalate. By Ken Benner, CBRE, NCE Next month marks the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Another Intentional Example of Legislative Complexification
By Ken Benner It is doubtful any other profession than American Broadcasting has paid a heavier price for irrational legislation spurred by special interests with hidden agendas. Today we explore another current example. You’ve got to see this to believe it — as we explore another horrendous example of costly legislation complicated to an extreme, while serving a preposterous, ill-conceived, fabricated, imaginary “need.”
Why Is This Story Column-Worthy?
Featured columnist and “Mock” inspection pro Ken Benner will never forget the third station he was assigned to inspect under the ABIP program.
The 5G Imperative: Delivering On Operational Excellence
We are on the cusp of a technological revolution that will bring us next-generation communications services, improved autonomous vehicles, and innovative IoT services. The underpinnings of this revolution will be 5G. It will transform our cities, the way we work, and how we provide healthcare. 5G will bring faster speeds and lower latency — and a catalog of use cases we have yet to consider. In fact, some use cases may not pan out, but that’s okay.
Benner on Washington: Public Files and Alt-Inspections Redux
By Ken Benner, CBRE, NCE I find it amazing how subjects for my columns appear daily. For example, a wall in my office is cluttered with photos of incredible items found during my travels conducting Alternative Radio/TV station inspections over the past couple of decades. There’s a photo of a meltdown from a failed transmitter site cooling system. Another involves a blown transmission coax from a lightning strike or a severe impedance mismatch.
More Insight On License Revocation Prevention
In the final weeks of 2017, RBR+TVBR published a column by John Wells King and Erwin Krasnow that has become our most-read editorial content at RBR.com. On February 22, RBR+TVBR again offered the piece, “How To Lose Your Station’s FCC License,” to readers. Featured Media Information Bureau columnist and independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector Ken Benner read it, and offers additional thoughts on what King and Krasnow have to say.
Remembering The Legends Of Montana Broadcasting
By Ken Benner TUCSON — It was early in 2010 when a long-time husband and wife ownership team, Wally and Donna Peel, thought it would be a good idea to commemorate people they had worked with for many years. The Peels handed master control for KBLL-12 in Helena, the capital of Montana, during the 1960s. The station today is KTVH-DT.
A Love Letter To The FCC’s Leader
As featured Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner looks back at 2018 and the regulatory atmosphere for media companies, he turns his full attention to the FCC, and its Chairman, Ajit Pai. In Benner’s view, Pai — a champion of “modernization” of media regulation — is empowered to reverse a four-decade decline of broadcasting primarily due to hefty financial penalties handed down to licensees.
An Outstanding Standard For American Broadcasting
By Ken Benner, CBRE, NCE “What does it take to be the leading broadcast operation in any market?” and variations of that question have come up frequently during my 22 years conducting alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspections. During these years I have tallied at least 2,000 station visits, for example; The former Italian Radio Marino, the BBC in London, The Voice of America in Washington, DC, Armed Forces Radio in New York, KJNP-AM/FM/TV in North Pole Alaska and others.
An Ode To A 'Very Helpful' FCC
Some media industry C-Suiters may not be too pleased with the FCC, for a variety of reasons. There are the fines and forfeitures. There’s the scrutiny over deals (just ask Chris Ripley at Sinclair Broadcast Group what he may be thinking about the FCC right now). Yet, the FCC and its hard-working staffers should be appreciated, Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner writes. Sixty years ago this month marks my first experience working with staff members at the Federal Communications Commission.
How AI will solve CSPs' customer experience woes (Reality Check)
For too long communications service providers (CSPs) have been falling behind in customer experience (CX), while other industries have evolved to deliver amazing results. Retail, banking, and even some insurance companies are creating superior customer experiences that double as a competitive advantage. So, what’s stopping CSPs from achieving the same success? A number of factors come into play, including the complexity of service delivery and changing consumption models.
Step One On Becoming A 'Mock' FCC Inspector
Here’s a column on a topic that could rattle some bones, warns Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner. Benner is an independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector and a research analyst for the Coalition for Transparency, Clarification and Simplification of Regulations pertaining to American Broadcasting. He has more than 55 years of experience providing service to the broadcast industry. Who will follow in this octogenarian’s footsteps?
How to build the next generation of telco sales leaders
The consumer market for telcos has reached a saturation point. Millions of homes are equipped with cable and streaming services, and consumers are using mobile devices to instantly access entertainment on-the-go. As a result, telco executives are challenged to continue their growth trajectory and hit monthly and quarterly sales goals. New consumers are hard to come by, and stealing customers from other providers is more of a revolving door than a sound business strategy.
The FCC Chairman’s Good Faith Efforts
By Ken Benner On Saturday, June 10, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai stopped by a Wyoming Broadcasters meeting and said, in part, “Last month, the FCC launched a comprehensive review of our media regulations. Our goal is clear: We want to figure out how to update our rules to match the realities of today’s media marketplace.” This is not the first time such FCC efforts have been attempted, only to be destroyed with the well-funded lobbying of Members of Congress.
Explaining The Media Plague
RBR+TVBR featured columnist Ken Benner returns to the fold with his views on what’s truly killing media. It’s not “fake news.” It might just be, in his opinion, hefty fines and fees courtesy of the Federal government. It’s not rocket science to realize people, companies, and/or societies in a state of distress are easy to exploit.
Radio & Television Business Report
For any sense of a Democracy to survive, government transparency and accountability is vital. Indeed, without transparency, there is no accountability … and no check of misguided abuses of power and faith in government leadership rapidly evaporates.
‘If It Ain’t In Black & White … It Ain’t’
In this column from Alternative FCC inspector Ken Benner, the FCC and its willingness to profit from alleged violations is compared to lawyers who are eager and ready to collect for any error in judgment or practice. His advice: Back up everything you say and do in writing, even if the task is ludicrous and a waste of time and talent.
On The Certification Of Non-Compliant Stations
Over the past 21 years I have conducted Alternative Compliance inspections, I have found one question to be asked more frequently than any other. Have you ever certified a non-compliant station? I have one simple answer: There is no such thing as a 100% compliant radio or TV station in the U.S. Unfortunately, where compliance has been seen, individuals with a grudge have been found to create problems post-visit.
A Salute To Two Local Broadcast Leaders
In this column from Alternative FCC inspector Ken Benner, two small-market licensees are singled out for their dedication to delivering quality entertainment and information to their communities. In his opinion, such efforts should be the hallmark of all AM and FM station owners, in every market across the U.S. One of the most awesome pieces of professional broadcast dedication I’ve seen in quite some time was described in detail in a recent article appearing in Radio INK magazine.
A Historical Look At Radio’s Power To Heal
Alternative FCC inspector Ken Benner last week received a special request from a listener-turned-reader to help him recall a radio commercial from the 1960s that he believes deserves a comeback, following a surprise presidential election, the observance of Veterans’ Day, and the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday.
An Ethics Code For FCC Alternative Compliance
An Ethics Code For FCC Alternative Compliance By RBR-TVBR on Oct, 25 2016 with Comments 0 By Ken Benner Among the responses to my recent columns addressing the subject of stations self-certifying under their own alternative compliance certification program was one from a manager/engineer licensee who asked if I operate under some sort of ethics code. If so, he asked, could I share it with him? I most certainly can.
How To Become An Alternative FCC Inspector
Ever wanted to be an Alternative FCC Inspector? Now you can learn what it takes to earn such a title, thanks to RBR + TVBR featured columnist Ken Benner. In this exclusive Media Information Bureau Intelligence Brief, Benner provides “a very basic system upon which to confidently certify a station,” as he did in the early 1990s. I have received several requests for such a column as this. Thus, I am pleased to oblige.
Radio & Television Business Report
Easing Public File Pain By RBR-TVBR on Aug, 30 2016 with Comments 0 By Ken Benner Karen, my really smart, beautiful wife of 55 years, has accompanied me for hundreds of Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspections over the past 21 years. During this time, she has become a master of the FCC required public files for all AM and FM radio stations and for all television stations. What did we notice?
Alternative Compliance Certification Analytics
The most frequent request Alternative FCC Inspector Ken Benner gets is, “What are the most frequent violations do you find conducting Alternative Compliance Certification Inspections?” For this column, Benner pulled up materials for a seminar held a few years ago for the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association (NASBA) convention. While there are a few variations today from the items listed, the items are still relatively current, Benner says.
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