Washington Beat

The #SubCommTech wing of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday held a hearing on "Preserving an Open Internet for Consumers, Small Businesses, and Free Speech." Democrats and Republicans had something to say. So did TechFreedom, following the hearing.

Capitol Hill consideration of four nominees to the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be the focus of an executive session of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation scheduled for Wednesday morning in Dirksen SOB.

The former Vice President of International Government Relations and Policy at Verizon Communications, has joined Wiley Rein LLP in Washington, D.C. Her role is as Consulting Counsel.

With another FCC spectrum auction in the books, many broadcasters may be interested in taking stock of the value of their spectrum usage rights and the likelihood that they may have an opportunity to monetize their spectrum in the future. Ari Meltzer of Wiley Rein LLP is happy to help with this guide.

Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner offers"a simplified, common sense, good faith effort to suggest compliance with required tower lighting, paint color, registration, lighting requirements, etc., with suggestions for obtaining documentation supporting your efforts to be compliant with this very important public safety effort." It could prove very valuable -- and save your stations from an FCC violation notice and/or fine.

A range of issues pertaining to best practices for multicultural groups and women in broadcasting and related industry sectors will comprise the bulk of the discussion topics set for a full-day FCC symposium planned for the first Thursday in March.

There's a lobbying group out there that works "to ensure music creators get fair pay for their work on all platforms and wherever and however it is played." They're not particularly fond of "big broadcasters" and wish "to end the broken status quo that allows AM/FM to use any song ever recorded without paying its performers a dime." Here's what musicFIRST is up to now.

For more than a year, the FCC has had an acting Chief Information Officer -- an individual who previously served as the Commission's Deputy CIO for Technology and Resiliency. There will be no further acting necessary.

Two antagonists who vociferously fought against many of the accomplishments of the Pai Commission are now empowered to push forward with hearings and potential legislation built on their views of how things are. This explains why the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing "on the effects of the FCC's repeal of net neutrality" in one week.

In the world of music there are joyful songs with happy messages.  There are also sad songs that tell tales of woe.  In the world of M&A transactions many are successful… almost as many fail. In the first of a two-part report, DEFcom Advisors CEO Doug Ferber offers his "lyrical guide to successful broadcast transactions."

There wasn't much business to discuss at the abbreviated January Open Meeting caused by the partial government shutdown. But, there was certainly something newsworthy: Geoffrey Starks took the oath of office as an FCC Commissioner. He also unveiled his staff.

House Energy and Commerce Committee minority leader Greg Walden (R-Ore.) has finalized the senior staff for the committee Republicans in the 116th Congress. It sees several Capitol Hill veterans returning in key roles.

Curious as to what Geoffrey Starks has to say about media ownership and everything else on the FCC's main agenda? On March 6, Broadcast & Social Justice Summit attendees will get their chance, as Starks makes one of his first appearances as a Commissioner.

The FCC's February Open Meeting, a statutorily-required affair, had been originally scheduled for Feb. 21. However, there's a chance that a partial shutdown of the Federal government could come again on Feb. 16. As such, the Commission has reacted.

With the 116th Congress ushering in a divided government, broadcasters will be met with new challenges and opportunities. A Thursday webcast for NAB members will offer an opportunity to ask questions about what's new in the new Senate and House, and what this means for their business.