Washington Beat

A growing licensee of Spanish-language religious stations in the suburbs surrounding the City of New York has been given the green light to close on its purchase of a Long Island AM. The deal can't happen, however, unless the seller of this station abides by a Consent Decree.

An attorney in the Communications and Appellate Litigation groups at Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, has been appointed as the new Legal Advisor covering wireline and public safety issues for Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.

Ahh ... the Public File booklet. Everybody loves that required 34-page item that must be provided, at no charge, for anyone asking for it, right?  Well, like it or not, Ken Benner says it is an "absolute must read for all of us involved to any extent in broadcasting." And, it's just been "substantially updated."

Lindsey Graham has jumped into the fray over the pending expiration of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) Act by signaling his opposition to the Act's reauthorization. But, he's seeking its end by proposing a market alternative.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Leadership Foundation has finalized the roster for its inaugural class of the Media Sales Academy. Curriculum for the program was developed in collaboration with the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB).

Anna Eshoo and Mike Thompson — in a letter co-signed by 23 Golden State representatives — request that the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hold a hearing on the role of telecommunications in public safety, which has been a major issue during ongoing wildfires in the state.

What's behind the FCC Media Bureau's decision to host a symposium on the state of the broadcasting industry? Noted D.C. communications law attorney David Oxenford of Wilkinson Barker Knauer has his thoughts on the matter.

The Copyright Royalty Judges have published for comment proposed regulations governing the rates and terms for the digital performances of sound recordings by certain public radio stations and for the making of ephemeral recordings necessary to facilitate those transmissions.

Featured columnist Ken Benner is particularly incensed over a proposed $15,000 fine handed to a Virginia radio station. Why? He has a simple form that could have prevented the signing and mailing of a hefty check to Washington, he writes in this Media Information Bureau exclusive.

It's official: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has appointed several members to serve on the 2019 Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. Among those taking some of the biggest roles is the head of Beasley, and the VP/Counsel for Global Public Policy at Comcast.

A coalition of House Members have introduced legislation that would require a public auction of C-Band spectrum in a manner that they believe "promotes competition, spurs the 5G revolution, and yields revenue for important domestic priorities."

Wednesday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on STELAR reauthorization saw Montana Democrat Jon Tester state his case. He's not a fan of it, as it gives DirecTV an out for not providing local news in two DMAs where he has constituents. How did AT&T's SVP/Content and Programming respond?

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) have set Oct. 29 as the date the influential Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Repurposing the C-Band to Benefit all Americans.”

With an August 27 Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking open to comments, the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters teamed up in offering their thoughts on reg fees to the FCC.