Washington Beat

The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) will present its Corporate Leadership Award to Cisco at the Celebration of Service to America Awards. The honor is given each year to a non-broadcast business that exemplifies an extraordinary focus on community service and corporate social responsibility.

On February 16, the House Energy and Commerce Committee shelved its plans to hold an oversight hearing of the FCC. It's now June 5, and a rescheduled date and time have not yet surfaced. That greatly upsets the two highest ranking Democrats on the Committee, and they want hearings now.

Recognized as one of Washington's top events, the gala will honor radio and television broadcasters from across the country for exceptional community service.

In March, the rumors first surfaced. On Friday evening, June 1, the name of the next FCC Commissioner — if all goes according to plan — had been announced by the White House. Accolades continue to roll out on Monday for Geoffrey Starks, an alumnus of one of D.C.'s most prolific law firms.

Cumulus Media has stated on numerous occasions that it intends to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by the end of the quarter — June 30. Media Bureau Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner ​​just did his part to ensure that such an anticipated action stays on that schedule: The Commission has given the OK to the broadcast media company's plan — despite one objection filed with the FCC.

"GDPR," or the General Data Protection Regulation, is now law within the European Union. You may have received an email or two about receiving emails from various companies, as part of a sweeping rule that some U.S. businesses -- including yours -- may be concerned about. Why? Some wonder if it could happen here. AEI visiting scholar Roslyn Layton has some ideas that are definitely worth your time.

"Ol' Dad" Ken Benner's mailbox is filling up with queries from RBR+TVBR Members. "Why do you write?" "Where do you get your funding?" Benner has some fun with those questions while sharing some "serious business" pertaining to "major projects involved with regulatory transparency pertaining to American broadcasting." Sounds like a great read to us!

When it comes to making a deal happen, most buyers will use a cash flow multiple as an important element in valuing a station — and will rely on the seller's accounting records to make the calculation. But, what if your financial records are, quite frankly, a haphazard mess?

On May 18, bidding concluded in an auction of cross-service FM translator construction permits. This FCC auction, which was designated "Auction 99," raised more than $225 million. Some 11 bidders won 11 construction permits. Here are the details.

"Certain manufacturers of video television set-top boxes are either failing to comply with Federal Communications Commission equipment authorization requirements or falsely using FCC branding on their devices." That's a message Republican Commissioner Michael O'Rielly personally communicated on Friday to the CEOs of two of the world's largest online vendors.

Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the FCC has released a voluminous Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could very much impact your radio or TV station's profits in 2018. It's the FCC's way of asking, "What's in your wallet."  

The blocking of critics by President Trump from his personal Twitter account is a violation of the First Amendment, a Federal judge in New York has ruled. What does this mean for your Twitter-using air talent? Several D.C. attorneys shared their thoughts with RBR+TVBR. How this may impact your business should not be overlooked.

A Class A television station serving a Louisiana market filed an application for license renewal with the FCC. But, it seems, there was some compliance issues with all of the Commission's rules. To resolve those problems, the licensee has entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC. It will cost the licensee.

UPDATE: In response to a Stay Petition and a Petition for Reconsideration filed in early April 2017 by Prometheus Radio Project, the Commission's top leadership late Tuesday offered a firm decision on the 40-mile limit for an FM translator's move. This FCC decision could be related to the informal objection filed May 16 by Prometheus, as the Commission had not acted on its filings from last year -- as Prometheus noted last week. 

Does the Commission have a big problem with how it looks at a big, complex merger? Daniel Lyons, an associate professor at Boston College Law School who is also a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, very much thinks so. Here's what he has to say on the subject.