Washington Beat

The Ranking Member of the influential Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has asked the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) "to work cooperatively to resolve spectrum policy issues."

On January 1, Curtis LeGeyt took over as the President/CEO of the broadcast media industry's biggest advocacy and political lobbying organization. Now in charge of the NAB, LeGeyt is inviting the association's members to learn more about his vision at a January 20 Town Hall meeting, to be held virtually.

Modernizing digital infrastructure in the United States is the focus of a virtual discussion scheduled for midday Tuesday (1/11) featuring FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. Join in the discussion right now.

The Media Bureau has announced that it "seeks to refresh the record" on proposed FCC rules intended to enable individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing to fully enjoy video programming through closed captioning.

CBS News has completed what it calls "several key appointments" in its M Street news hub, including the selection of a new bureau chief and giving the executive producer of its Sunday political talk program Face the Nation a wider role.

No matter how some Americans choose to remember the events that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, in the last days of the Trump Adminstration, Curtis LeGeyt says that, among the many lessons learned that day, "the public was undoubtedly reminded of broadcasters’ critical role in bringing information to the public, especially during times of crisis."

Lerman Senter has added a Member to the firm, and it is a woman who first joined the communications, technology and media-focused PLLC on L Street NW in April 2020 as Counsel.

On October 1, 2021, television stations located in Iowa and Missouri were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on February 1, 2022. Four low-powered television stations failed to file license renewal applications. Their licenses were yanked.

The President/CEO of the largest advocacy voice in Washington for the broadcast media industry is no longer the former U.S. Senator from Oregon. As of today, Curtis LeGeyt (pronounced "legit") is now the head of the NAB. With LeGeyt now in charge, the association now has its first Chief of Staff. It's the NAB's EVP of Public Affairs, who is adding additional responsibilities.

As FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sees it, "The personal networks that have supported us through these days have been important, as have the communications networks that make it possible for so many of us to stay in touch, stay working, stay healthy, stay informed, and stay entertained." Rosenworcel offers her thoughts, "2021 Reflections," in a new column.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has released its assessment of just how the Emergency Alert System test performed.

As the holiday season comes to an end and 2022 comes into focus, broadcasters have several dates and deadlines to keep up with in January and early February. David Oxenford, the respected Washington, D.C., communications attorney with Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, has noted some of the important dates media industry C-Suite professionals should be tracking.

The license renewals for a group of radio stations and one FM translator involved in a 2019 sale that failed to close have been granted by the Audio Division of the FCC's Media Bureau. But, in order for that to happen, the station's owner — Rocking M Media — agreed to a Consent Decree to resolve "issues raised" during the Commission's review of the renewal applications.

The Copyright Royalty Judges on December 23 announced that they have adopted existing rates and terms for the retransmission of over-the-air television and radio broadcast stations by cable television systems to their subscribers. Here's what that means.

On December 8, the FCC’s Media Bureau issued an Order denying a stay petition filed by the NAB, MMTC and NABOB that sought to thwart a Commission order mandating disclosures for foreign government-sponsored programming. Now, the groups are asking the D.C. Federal Appeals Court to grant a stay of the new rule.