Washington Beat

"When disaster strikes, it’s hard to overstate the importance of being live and local, of providing continuity and a familiar voice." Those are the words of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who saluted both radio and TV stations that are "consistently on the front lines—not only providing critical, life-saving information, but also offering a path forward for healing, coming together, and rebuilding" during an address Tuesday at the 2018 NAB Show.

After several years of discussions and hearings — and growing concern from radio broadcasters about a further pinch on revenue — the House Judiciary Committee this morning (4/11) unanimously approved a package of music licensing reforms.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan will retire at the end of his term and not seek reelection. Among the first to offer a reaction was House E&C Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.). Could this former radio broadcaster be primed to fill Ryan's shoes? More than one media industry luminary at the 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas says yes.

Raising money for local charities. Partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to give a priceless moment to a sick child. Those are the "ordinary things that have an extraordinary impact," and for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, "it’s this kind of community service that makes it a joy to visit broadcasters whenever I can." With that, the GOP-affiliated head of the Commission reinforced his belief that a modernization of the agency's rules is "the only way to allow broadcasters to thrive." He also revealed that translator interference can be tackled through a proposed update of the FCC's rules

"Until the broadcasting industry takes the initiative to sever the Congressional chains of bondage over the FCC, it will continue to endure massive abuses with preposterous fines, fees, forfeitures, legal expenses, frustration, wasted time and wages for employees desperately attempting to address compliance for the licensees they work for." That's a common refrain from Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner. What irks him today? Capitol Hill abuse and an Arizona senator are the focal points of this latest effort from Tucson-based Benner.

In a NAB State of the Industry address delivered Monday (4/9) at the 2018 NAB Show, President/CEO Gordon Smith took pride in how the broadcasting industry's biggest lobbying organization achieved "five enormous wins" thanks, in large part, to a powerful and unified group of radio and TV broadcast company owners.

Heading to Las Vegas early for the 2018 NAB Show? So is Kathleen A. Kirby, co-chair of Wiley Rein’s Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) Practice. She will serve as chair for the 37th annual Representing Your Local Broadcaster – PRIME TIME program organized by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) in conjunction with the NAB.

That question was addressed by Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel at a Thursday field hearing held in Honolulu by the Senate Commerce Committee, as part of its efforts to fully understand why a false missile alert was issued — and received by many smartphone owners — across Hawai'i on the morning of January 13.

Representatives from media industry trade organizations will come together to share their viewpoints concerning its changing landscape at Media Finance Focus 2018, the 58th annual conference for MFM and its BCCA subsidiary, the media industry’s credit association, on May 21-22 at The Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va.

On Jan. 8, 2018, a small market radio broadcasting company based in Park Rapids, Minn.,  asked the Commission to modify its decision to kill the main studio rule by providing an additional six months to any permittees with less than six months remaining on their unbuilt CPs for new facilities. Media Bureau Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner on Tuesday made a final decision as it pertained to this family-run radio station owner: Permission granted.

Why should broadcast media owners and executives take a closer look at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? Featured Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner knows why. On Monday, it became known that President Trump wants to weaken the independence of the CFPB. That could sound the alarm for Washington watchdogs who wonder if the White House also wants to weaken the independence of the FCC.

The Media Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau have each identified all proposals for new FM translators filed in the January 25–January 31, 2018, filing window known as "Auction 100" that are mutually exclusive with other proposals submitted in the filing window. As such, a limited period for those applicants to enter into settlement agreements or otherwise resolve their mutual exclusivities by means of engineering solution has been finalized.

On Feb. 22, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to eliminate the requirement that certain broadcast television and radio stations file the Broadcast Mid-Term Report, known as "Form 397." You now have the opportunity to voice your opinion on the matter.

What can your local broadcast TV stations do to help educate viewers about the big changes coming to local TV in the coming months and years? The NAB has new tools to help educate consumers on these upcoming moves.