Published on beautiful summer days by the
Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club
www.bangorbreakfastrotary.org
Modulating amplitude digitally
Got def?
L
arry Julius rocks. With a bow tie. As General Manager of Clear
Channel/Maine Radio, he hears the latest hits, the latest news, and the
latest of what’s on listeners’ minds. He is also keenly aware that
competition from satellite radio is nibbling away at over-the-air broadcast
audiences. Will radio survive?
“Satellite radio was the pivotal point that seriously affects the future of (traditional)
broadcasting,” he said at Thursday’s meeting. He believes that high definition radio is the
solution to the proliferation of satellite program channels. “Clear Channel is leading the
charge into High Definition Radio.” The company will invest $1.4 billion to develop its
own High Definition radio.
Mr. Julius noted that by 2010, 20 million households will have satellite radio. There
are benefits: there will be true national coverage, multiple channels that offer hundreds of
selections, niche programming, and there will be multiple program options with CDquality sound.
However, local information suffers. There are no local services, no local information
(weather, traffic information), there is a monthly subscription and, not to Mr. Julius’s
liking, there are no surprises.
Using a high-energy PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Julius said phase one of the HD
transition will compress the analog AM signal with the digital channels riding on the
periphery of the signal. They can broadcast three separate stations in the same spectrum
space. Phase 2 will allow six separate stations on one space. Clear Channel owns eight
radio stations in Maine, affording 48 different programming options. This will be the first
time AM radio will have FM-quality since it began 86 years ago.
Clear Channel will “get def” in 2008. There will be 40 to 240 program options in
Maine. “This is what radio clearly needs to do to compete (with satellite radio),” Mr.
Julius said.

News and Notes
Announcements and pronouncements:
teve Andrew is making updates on the club’s website. The “other clubs” tab
provides information and links to Rotary clubs where makeup meetings will be
honored. Paul Deschene will send an e-mail survey to us soon asking for input
about programs and soliciting suggestions about speakers.
NOTE: The meetings on August 3, 10 and 17 will be held in the EMCC cafeteria on the
main campus while Rangeley Hall undergoes renovation.
Jodi Steele reported that the Federal Reserve says inflation is slowing. Apple
earnings were higher based on their I-pod sales. Nat Bond says a tropical storm making
its way toward New England may affect coastal weather over the weekend, but our
weather should be clear and beautiful on Sunday.
Dr. Lew Phillips placed his stethoscope on the pulse of Marfan Syndrome, a
connective tissue disease. (It is believed that Abraham Lincoln suffered from Syndrome.)
On-line make-up opportunities now exist with a Rotary Club in Colorado, according
to Rotary Moment editor Bob Kreitzer. Members can log on, read material and take a
test to qualify for a make-up.
The Myers-Cattelle-Buzzini trio warmed up somewhat rusty vocal cords to serenade
birthday celebrants President Paul Miragliuolo and Rev. Bob Carlson (complete with a
two-fold A-men). Rev. Bob told of getting “rear-ended” by another motorist at a traffic
light near Eastern Maine Medical Center. Bob got out of his car and approached the
motorist, whom he described as being in somewhat of a daze.
“Did you not see me stopped,” asked Bob. The motorist said he apparently didn’t.
Bob asked to see his license. As the motorist gave it to him, he said that he was returning
from a doctor’s appointment where he learned that he has an inoperable cancer. “I’m on
my way home to tell my wife,” the man said. Bob told him he would not pursue further
action.
Paul Deschene celebrates his 9th wedding anniversary and Steve Harrison will
celebrate his 6th wedding anniversary in Quebec. Nat Bond will observe his 50th wedding
anniversary in December. But the family gathered last Saturday and celebrated the event
early. Bob Leavitt’s grandson is on the way to recovery after treatment for cancer.
Mischelle Adam’s daughter, Alaina, will be one-year-old on Saturday. In just fifteen
years she’ll ask for her driver’s license. Ivan McPike sort of apologized for not attending
last week’s meeting- he caught four Atlantic salmon. Fun’s fun, but fish is fish.
S
Les Myers- July 20, 2006