So-called FM booster stations allow broadcasters to differentiate the programming that they air to certain geographic sections within their entire service areas. Originally used primarily for rebroadcasting transmission signals to areas where reception is poor, booster technology has now evolved to the point that broadcasters can use boosters to customize programming content delivered to different parts of their service area and air programming different from their primary station. However, until now, the FCC has limited advanced booster technology for use only on a temporary or experimental basis.
A Second Report and Order issued by the FCC now opens booster technology for broader use, including the use of program-originating boosters that allow broadcasters to provide listeners with more targeted content, such as localized weather reports and advertisements from local businesses.
The FDA’s pilot program will provide both consumers and industry with early alerts regarding the recall of potentially high-risk medical devices used in connection with cardiovascular, gastrorenal, obstetrical or gynecological, and urological issues. The goal of the pilot program is to minimize the time between when the FDA becomes aware of a potential device safety concern and the communications from the agency to the public regarding the safety concern.
The pilot program follows recommendations from the Patient Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) on how the FDA’s recall efforts could be enhanced to reduce the time between FDA awareness of device-related risks and the communications with the public about those risks, their potential impact and actions that can help minimize those risks.
A total of $200,000 in forfeiture penalties have been issued in connection with three pirate radio operators based in Brockton, Massachusetts, including $120,000 against Renold David, $40,000 against Djovany Pierre and Mario Turner, and $40,000 against Joao Vieira.
According to the Commission, its efforts over the past four years to increase enforcement efforts against illegal radio broadcasting have resulted in more than $14.5 million in proposed fines and over $5.5 million in penalties.
According to a Report and Order, the Commission has modified its rules for the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 24.75-25.25 GHz bands to align with a Resolution passed in 2019 by the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19). Specifically, the FCC has aligned the requirements detailed in Part 30 of its rules for mobile operations in these frequencies with the limits set forth in WRC-19 Resolution 750.
Currently, the 23.6-24.0 GHz band is allocated for use by certain passive scientific and research services, including the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS), essential to meteorological applications such as weather forecasting. According to the FCC, its rule changes are intended to protect the 23.6‑24.0 GHz band from unwanted emissions that could adversely impact its use.
According to an article posted on the website of Interesting Engineering, the researchers are working to develop a high-efficiency thermal emitter, one that absorbs heat and converts that heat into electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is then captured by a photovoltaic cell to generate electricity.
The researchers say that the use of a thermal emitter can help to reduce energy loss during the conversion of heat to electricity, a critical limitation of current thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems used for heat-to-electricity conversion.
Researchers at Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) have developed a biodegradable electronic circuit board made from tree leaves. Instead of using fiberglass or composite plastic, which are difficult to recycle, the research team assembled a webbed skeleton of leaves to create a substrate. The substrate was then dipped into ethyl cellulose, a biodegradable polymer, resulting in a smooth, flexible, and transparent material that can handle high temperatures comparable to nonrecyclable plastics.
At the end of their predicted useful life, the “leaftronic” substrates can then be placed in an ultrasonic acid bath and eventually degrade after about a month in compost.