Washington Beat

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and his agency's four Commissioners opened Tuesday's Open Meeting with a presentation and discussion on a preliminary FCC report focused on the investigation into the Jan. 13 false missile attack alert sent to smartphones across the state of Hawaii. Pai has offered his official remarks on what the Commission learned.

A unanimous vote today during the FCC's January Open Meeting has brought radio and TV broadcasters one step closer to saving trees and cutting its printer toner bill.

In a party-line 3-2 vote held today at the FCC's January 2017 Open Meeting in Washington, the Commission moved forward on creation of a unit that "will help ensure that economic analysis is deeply and consistently incorporated as part of the agency’s regular operations."

The NAB has selected the station it will honor this year with the NAB Crystal Heritage Award. It's a station famously known for its "Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center" — in addition to top ratings for its continuous supply of news, traffic, weather and sports updates to listeners across the National Capital area.

In addition to serving as a featured columnist, Ken Benner is an independent Alternative FCC Compliance Certification Inspector. He has more than 55 years of experience providing service to the broadcast industry. Who will follow in this octogenarian’s footsteps? It could be you.

A deal has been reached between the NAB and music rights organizations ASCAP and BMI that resolves broadcast concerns with the Music Modernization Act.

The broadcast media industry's chief lobbying and advocacy group on Thursday night filed motions to intervene in Prometheus Radio Project’s challenge to the FCC’s media ownership reform order. The motions were filed with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and would allow the NAB — a non-party — to join the litigation without the permission of the litigants.

The final order of business ahead of an unspecified enforcement action at the FCC's January Open Meeting on Tuesday (1/30) was scheduled to see the Commissioners consider an Order deleting rules made obsolete by the Digital TV transition. This "Modernization of Media Regulation" has just been deleted from the meeting agenda.

NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Metheny has taken his call for the activation of FM chips in all Apple iPhone handsets to Congress. Metheny appeared as one of three witnesses at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing held this morning focused on the policy concerns surrounding the use — and effectiveness — of Emergency Alert Systems. For Metheny, FM chips in smartphones is just a start: Next Gen TV, known as ATSC 3.0, has the potential to wake up sleeping devices and save lives.

At its January Open Meeting on Tuesday morning, the Commission will hear details from a preliminary report into the false inbound missile alert that sent the state of Hawaii into panic on the morning of Jan. 13. Ahead of that presentation from the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau is a Thursday (1/25) Senate Commerce Committee hearing that delves into the policy concerns surrounding the use -- and effectiveness -- of Emergency Alert Systems.

Efforts spearheaded by music industry lobbyists to introduce legislation on Capitol Hill that would increase music licensing fees have largely fizzled since the start of the 115th Congress. A bi-partisan group of senators led by Utah Republican Orrin Hatch and Tennessee GOP senator Lamar Alexander hope that anti-royalty sentiment will change, thanks to their introduction today of a law they say would be "the most significant change in music licensing laws in decades." The NAB has already spoken up about the senators' bill, and it's concerned but pleased. We have an RBR+TVBR Observation to share.

On Jan. 24, 2017, Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai ascended to the role of Chairman, succeeding Democrat Tom Wheeler. In doing so, he embarked on a mission — crafted with much input from the White House and the conservative think-tank American Enterprise Institute — to loosen regulations for broadcast media companies. What exactly are Pai's achievements on the one-year anniversary of his first full day in office? He was kind enough to distribute an eight-page PDF that answers any question you may have.

It is possible to miss the FCC so much following a 16-year tenure that culminated in the role of Media Bureau Deputy Chief that you'd want to return, and assume your old role? That seems to be the case, as the newest appointment at the Commission involves an individual who is returning to the role after two years at a non-profit devoted to improving legal representation for domestic violence survivors. 

The FCC has scheduled its January Open Meeting for Tuesday (1/30), and two of the eight items on the agenda are fueled by Chairman Ajit Pai's utmost desire to rid the Commission of outdated or burdensome rules. Up for discussion is a Media Bureau docket item that impacts broadcast TV. The other pertains to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking designed to allow broadcasters and the FCC to "go green."