Washington Beat

The NAB Leadership Foundation is accepting entries for the 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters. Winners will be honored at a black-tie gala attended by prominent broadcast industry executives and influential policymakers and regulators on June 9, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

The FCC has certified four Spectrum Access System (SAS) Administrators, paving the way for full commercial operations in the 3.5 GHz band. The Commission in 2019 approved these SAS Administrators for initial commercial deployments, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says today's action allows for full commercial use of this critical mid-band spectrum for broadband connectivity and 5G.

Before spring arrives, broadcasters need to tend to important regulatory matters in February. If your team find yourselves eager to plan now, Wilkinson Barker Knauer partner David Oxenford offers a quick synopsis of what's of key importance to radio and TV station owners and managers over the next five weeks.

The former deputy general counsel of the FCC has joined law firm Davis Wright Tremaine as partner in its Washington, D.C. office. As part of a newly launched Products Counseling team, he will provide holistic counsel to tech companies launching new products and help them navigate changing regulations.

Mike O'Rielly has been the radio industry's No. 1 point person at the FCC under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, largely due to his fierce efforts to silence pirate radio operators. Then, there is his anti-payola efforts. But, O'Rielly is also a key voice at the Commission on TV industry needs, and he'll be at the Grand Hyatt in Washington in March for a big cable industry event.

Want a president of the U.S. who can "rebuild America." If so, you may just be fueling a massive influx of political ad dollars at spot television from the campaign of one Mike Bloomberg. The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten TV report shows the Bloomberg campaign ranking at No. 1 by ad campaign — dominating all ad brands and categories.

The Director of Business Development for Morgan Murphy Media and the VP/GM of Bryan Broadcasting Corp., the Texas radio station owner seeking FCC regulatory approval of digital-only AM broadcasts, have been elected as co-chairs of the National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (NABPAC).

The Federal Communications Commission is opening a window for applications under its Honors Engineer Program, launched in 2018.  During this window, the Program is open to recent graduates with an engineering degree and current students who will graduate this spring.

In honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) on Wednesday (1/15) co-hosted a film screening and tribute honoring a longtime, trailblazing Detroit Congressman.

As we enter the 25th year of the existence of the “FCC Compliance Certification Program,” Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner argues that the program deserves "a realistic review of its history of licensee protection from massive fines, fees, forfeitures and most significantly, legal expenses."

A silent AM radio station licensed for 10kw of power from 1 tower has just received its death sentence from the Media Bureau and the FCC's Office of the Managing Director. Why? The station's owner, not to be confused with a big licensee involving Apollo Global Management, failed to pay its delinquent regulatory fees owed to the Commission.

When it comes to the more widely known communications law firms with a presence in the Nation's Capital, Wiley Rein LLP is one of industry renown. As of today, this Washington, D.C. legal practice has a new name.

The Associate Bureau Chief of the Commission's Media Bureau, in his role since April 2019, has been chosen to lead the FCC's Congressional affairs team. This individual served as Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs during President George W. Bush's first term and worked for Michael Powell following several private sector roles.

Don't think the radio and TV stations serving consumers are fully reflective of the communities they are licensed to serve? A House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology legislative hearing scheduled for next week may be just your cup of tea.

The Media Bureau will host a webinar later this month reviewing the functionality of, and changes to, the Commission’s revised Children’s Television Programming Report. Here are all of the details for those who wish to participate.