Letter from AFCCE President John Lyons

To the members of AFCCE:

Photo credit: Radio World

It is with profound sadness that I report the passing of a long time friend, associate and mentor, Ron Rackley.  I first worked with Ron in the early 1970’s in a project at WWRL(AM) in New York.  Since that time, we worked on several projects over the years and spoke regularly about issues affecting broadcasters.

Ron served as AFCCE President in 1987-88 and was the 2006 co-honoree with Ben Dawson of the NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award. He also served as a board member and as Vice President of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society.

In 1983, Ron co-founded duTreil-Rackley, which later merged with A. D. Ring & Associates to form duTreil, Lundin and Rackley.

I was last with Ron on Tuesday at the NAB convention where we honored this year’s Engineering Achievement Award honorees Gary and Cindy Cavell .  Ron passed away on April 12 at his home in Florida.

Please take a moment to reflect on the life of our long time member, past President and friend, Ron Rackley.

John M. Lyons
AFCCE President

Friday, March 22, 2019

Electromagnetic Compatibility and
the Internet of Things

Mike Violette, Co-Founder & CEO Washington Laboratories

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems will continue to be an issue for consumers of the Internet of Things (IoT).  The spurious and immunity EMC measurement is a mandatory measurement for the IoT devices and system through regulatory bodies.  An understanding of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) aspects of the IoT and its measurement methods can help ensure the best user experience for ubiquitous wireless systems. 

Luncheon meetings are open only to AFCCE members and their guests. The cost of the luncheon is $55.00 per person or $65.00 for reservations not received prior to the deadline.

AFCCE Members may register to attend the luncheon meeting below.

Networking starts at 11:45 AM with Lunch beginning at 12:30 PM

Please RSVP online with the form below by 5 pm Monday, March 18, 2019. To RSVP directly to John Reiser by phone at (703) 780-4824, or email rsvp@afcce.org.

All reservations requests and online payments will be confirmed by an email message or phone call. If you do not receive a confirmation email please email rsvp@afcce.org to verify it was received.

Meeting Location
Holiday Inn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive
Arlington, VA 22209

Driving Directions: The Holiday Inn provides free parking however, they have recently installed gates on the parking garage. You will need to take a ticket on the way into the garage and pick up a validation ticket at the meeting which you will use in lieu of payment on the way out.

Metro: The Holiday Inn is two blocks north of the Rosslyn Metro Station – Orange, Blue and Silver lines. Exit the station through the “back door” (up the stairs) and turn right onto North Fort Myer Drive.
Map & Directions

Lunch Menu

If you have special dietary requirements or allergies, please send a separate email to rsvp@afcce.org.

Main Course (Select one choice for all attendees in the form below)

• Thai Grilled Chicken
• Pan Seared Peppered Salmon
• Stir-Fry Vegetables

With:
Caesar Salad
Rice
Seasonal Vegetables
Pecan Pie

Sorry. This form is no longer available.

The Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers welcomed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as its monthly luncheon speaker today.  Chairman Pai spoke on a variety of topics affecting the broadcast engineering community including ATSC 3.0, the next-generation television standard; the post-incentive auction repacking process; and interference involving FM translators.  In addition, Chairman Pai took a variety of questions from the audience.

Chairman Pai is pictured here with AFCCE President John Lyons. Photo by Stephen Pumple

Chairman Pai’s prepared remarks are available here: Prepared Remarks to AFCCE on “Engineering the Future of Broadcasting”

Hossein Hashemzadah was presented with the E. Noel Luddy Award for years of meritorious service to the telecommunications industry. Hashemzadeh is Deputy Division Chief, in the Video Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau. The award was presented November 28 at the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers’ annual FCC Reception, held at the National Press Club by AFCCE President John Lyons.

In his introduction of this year’s honoree, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, recalled the time from when Hossein joined the FCC thirty-six years ago to the present day and told anecdotes on Hossein’s career and spoke of his prestige within the FCC.

Addressing the crowd of AFCCE members and guests, and FCC colleagues, Hashemzadah thanked the AFCCE for bestowing the award and expressed admiration for his colleagues and briefly spoke about his time at the FCC.

Hossein Hashemzadah joins a distinguished list of previous Luddy award winners that includes John Reiser, the first E. Noel Luddy awardee, and 2017 honoree Rudy Bonacci, both pictured here with Chairman Pai and AFCCE President Lyons.

The E. Noel Luddy Award (since 2000) is presented annually by the AFCCE Board of Directors. Its winner is frequently, but not always, an FCC employee who has provided notable and exemplary service to the telecommunications industry. Noel Luddy was a lifelong radio enthusiast who was in charge of all communications throughout the South Pacific during World War II. He served for many years in several engineering capacities with RCA. With Dielectric’s acquisition of the RCA broadcast antenna business, he joined Dielectric as a consultant, serving as a liaison to broadcast station engineers, consulting engineers and the FCC. He is well known for his years of service on the AFCCE Board of Directors and was recognized numerous times for his contributions to the association and the broadcast industry. Dielectric continues to fund the E. Noel Luddy Scholarship in Noel’s honor.

This year AFCCE through it’s scholarship funds gave out $42,500 in scholarships, including the E. Noel Luddy Scholarship, to Juniors, Seniors and Graduate students studying in the field of Telecommunications.

The Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers is a membership organization comprised of engineers and other professionals engaged in telecommunications engineering. Its website notes that its main objective is to aid and promote the proper federal administration and regulation of those engineering and technical phases of communications which are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.

Tram Le was the recipient of AFCCE Scholarships over multiple semesters while at the University of Washington.  She recently graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and has also been an intern with Hatfield and Dawson Consulting Engineers in Seattle, Washington.

Ms. Le recently visited One World Trade Center in New York City and was given a tour of the WTC broadcast facilities by AFCCE President John Lyons.

AFCCE Life Member, William Bernard “Jack” Carr passed away unexpectedly on, Tuesday Aug. 14, 2018. Jack was born in Huntsville, TX on May 31, 1932 to William Bernard Carr and Agusta “Gussie” Mildred Hankamer. Jack graduated UT Austin with a degree in engineering. He was also a reserve officer for Erath County Sheriff Department for over 20 years and spent a number of years as a reserve officer in Tarrant County. Jack was a Mason and attended Edna Hill Baptist. He had a passion for his ranch and his horses.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Anna Mildred Chesney.

He was remembered by his daughter, Anne Catherine Carr, of Austin TX, his nephew and wife Devin C. and Diane Lindsey, of Granbury TX, niece Anna Kathryn Manger of Pasadena TX, as well as many other great nieces and nephews. Jack will be missed by many. Graveside service were held at Barbee Cemetery, in Dublin TX Sunday Aug. 19 2018.