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What The FCC Router Ban Means For Broadcasters
The FCC just took a big swing at consumer grade routers, and if you’re running a broadcast facility with a little “good enough” box doing something mission critical, this is your sign to look closer. I walk through what it means when foreign manufactured routers land on the FCC covered list, what’s still unclear for brands that design in the US but build overseas, and why this is less about panic and more about planning for the next failure at the worst possible time.
From there, we get practical: real world alternatives that don’t require a giant enterprise budget. We talk open source firewall and routing options like pfSense and OPNsense, when a simple PC build can outperform the usual consumer gear, and why keeping a known good backup router can save your whole day. I also share why WireGuard has become a serious remote access tool for stations and how a local MSP can wrap support around open source infrastructure when you don’t have the staff to babysit it.
We also cover a local ownership win in Brookings, South Dakota, then pivot to a tough FCC inspection story out of New Jersey that shows how tower lights, access, operating power, and EAS failures can stack up fast when resources get stretched. On the engineering front, I break down the FCC’s HD Radio digital power changes including asymmetric sidebands and the easier path to running up to minus 10 dBc for eligible FM stations. Finally, we zoom out to the C band satellite distribution squeeze and why the move to fiber and IP delivery won’t be equally possible for every market, especially rural stations that still lack reliable options.
If you got value from this, subscribe, share the episode with an engineer or GM who needs to hear it, and leave a rating or review so more broadcasters can find the show.
Support the show
If you enjoyed the show, be sure to follow The Tyler Woodward Project and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app—it really helps more people discover the show.
Follow the show on Instagram and Threads.
All views and opinions expressed in this show are solely those of the creator and do not represent or reflect the views, policies, or positions of any employer, organization, or professional affiliation.
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By Tyler WoodwardThe FCC just took a big swing at consumer grade routers, and if you’re running a broadcast facility with a little “good enough” box doing something mission critical, this is your sign to look closer. I walk through what it means when foreign manufactured routers land on the FCC covered list, what’s still unclear for brands that design in the US but build overseas, and why this is less about panic and more about planning for the next failure at the worst possible time.
From there, we get practical: real world alternatives that don’t require a giant enterprise budget. We talk open source firewall and routing options like pfSense and OPNsense, when a simple PC build can outperform the usual consumer gear, and why keeping a known good backup router can save your whole day. I also share why WireGuard has become a serious remote access tool for stations and how a local MSP can wrap support around open source infrastructure when you don’t have the staff to babysit it.
We also cover a local ownership win in Brookings, South Dakota, then pivot to a tough FCC inspection story out of New Jersey that shows how tower lights, access, operating power, and EAS failures can stack up fast when resources get stretched. On the engineering front, I break down the FCC’s HD Radio digital power changes including asymmetric sidebands and the easier path to running up to minus 10 dBc for eligible FM stations. Finally, we zoom out to the C band satellite distribution squeeze and why the move to fiber and IP delivery won’t be equally possible for every market, especially rural stations that still lack reliable options.
If you got value from this, subscribe, share the episode with an engineer or GM who needs to hear it, and leave a rating or review so more broadcasters can find the show.
Support the show
If you enjoyed the show, be sure to follow The Tyler Woodward Project and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app—it really helps more people discover the show.
Follow the show on Instagram and Threads.
All views and opinions expressed in this show are solely those of the creator and do not represent or reflect the views, policies, or positions of any employer, organization, or professional affiliation.