Washington Beat

They represent two very different sides of the political spectrum. But, if Ed Markey and Ted Cruz can find common ground on the matter of AM radio's continued availability in all U.S. vehicles, "it should highlight just how important we believe it is for Americans to have access," they share.

Gray Television is sharing its pleasure of having received the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Award for TV Ownership Group at a formal ceremony held Tuesday in the Nation's Capital.

In late January 2023, the FCC's Media Bureau took a look at mutually exclusive applications for a noncommercial FM radio station that would bring an added voice to Key West, Fla. One month later, a petition to deny the selection by the Commission of this potential licensee was filed by one of the "MX" applicants. Now, the Bureau is siding with that applicant.

On November 29, 2021, the Media Bureau issued a public notice identifying no less than 231 groups of mutually exclusive noncommercial FM applications, tied to a new station filing window opened by the FCC. Now, the Commission has performed threshold fair distribution of service analyses and used a point system to tentatively select an application for grant in 10 groups of mutually exclusive applications for new NCE FM construction permits. 

Ahead of a Tuesday House Committee on Energy & Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing on the value of kHz-band broadcasts to Americans, six public safety groups added their names as supporters of the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, introduced in the Senate and House by politicians who rarely come together in unity over a political issue.

The process of renewing a radio station's license has the potential of uncovering a failure to adhere to Commission rules. And, that's exactly what has happened to an Iowa broadcaster, who faces fines for not abiding by online public file requirements.

The ceremony, which honors broadcasters for their outstanding commitment to public service, will be held on June 6 at The Anthem in Southwest Washington and will see ABC News' weekend "Good Morning America" co-anchor hold the emcee mic.

On May 23, three key members of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee announced plans to hold a Committee hearing in early June on the importance of AM radio installation in new cars. On Tuesday, full details as to when the hearing would take place were revealed.

The FCC's Media Bureau has granted an additional 18-month waiver of emergency information accessibility requirements, something that the NAB had petitioned for.

The FCC council charged with providing recommendations to ensure that underserved communities "are not denied the wide range of opportunities made possible by next-generation networks without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability" will be active for another two years.

The NAB-fueled Congressional quest to mandate AM radio accessibility in all new vehicles sold in the U.S. is rapidly moving forward, as three key members of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair have announced plans to hold a Committee hearing in early June on the importance of AM radio installation in new cars.

The White House not only moved forward with its intention to nominate Anna Gomez to fill the fifth FCC Commissioner's seat, but also signaled on Monday that it will re-nominate a Republican and a Democrat for additional five-year terms as Commissioners. 

As RBR+TVBR reported on Wednesday, the FCC has released a lengthy Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that offers one important takeaway for broadcast media companies — regulatory fees for fiscal 2023 are going down. The NAB is quite pleased with that.

New rules preserve a portion of the band for Advanced Satellite Broadband while considering how to promote Advanced Terrestrial Broadband in the rest of the band, the Commission announced on Thursday following a unanimous vote at the FCC's May Open Meeting.

How much could your radio or TV station pay in regulatory fees to the FCC for fiscal 2023? The proposed new rates have been issued in a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. They are not final, and a comment date and reply comment date have been established.