Washington Beat

As 2022 begins, NAB COO Curtis Legeyt will assume the role of President/CEO of the nation's leading voice in Washington for the broadcast media industry. Gordon Smith is winding down a 12-year tenure at the association, and with the cancellation of the 2021 NAB Show, there's only one place radio and TV industry executives will get the chance to personally wish Smith well as he heads into retirement.

America’s Public Television Stations is cheering the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chair for recommending $565 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for Fiscal Year 2024.

One of the two leading Democratic voices on the influential House Energy & Commerce Committee -- the individual who oversees the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology -- has announced he will not seek re-election. As such, he will be saying goodbye to Capitol Hill in January 2023.

Jessica Rosenworcel has shared with fellow Commissioners at the FCC a proposed rulemaking that would require mobile wireless providers to block illegal text messaging. "As the FCC continues to combat unwanted robocalls, it recognizes that it must adapt to the latest scamming trends—including the rise of robotexts," the FCC said on Monday.

While the newest FCC Commissioner, Nathan Simington, is widely known as an advocate for Section 230 reform, it's unlikely he'll agree with newly crafted legislation introduced by Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Introducing "The Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act," which Democrats say erases the liability shield when a digital platform "knowingly or recklessly promotes harmful content."

Like other radio station licensees, Golden Isles Broadcasting has something to say to the FCC regarding its 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of Commission broadcast media ownership rules.  That said, the licensee's head -- noted media broker Eddie Esserman -- tells RBR+TVBR he believes his Reply Comments in M.B. Docket No 18-349 raise a new question.

He represented Georgia’s Ninth Congressional District from 2013 to 2021. Now, he's the latest person to launch an audio-on-demand offering. Thank Salem Podcast Network for the opportunity.

A group of Capitol Hill Democrats are crafting legislation that would force a Secaucus, N.J.-licensed station owned today by FOX to turn its attention away from the Big Apple and focus instead on the Garden State. Republicans assailed the bill, calling it an attack on FOX.

The FCC on Tuesday kicked off a mid-band spectrum auction to support next generation wireless services – including 5G – in the 3.45 GHz band.  Auction 110 will make available 100 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum for commercial use this year. 

The FCC has announced the winners of the agency’s Excellence in Engineering Awards, which recognize Commission staff who have made outstanding engineering, scientific or technical contributions.

The latest quarterly broadcast station totals have been released from the FCC. And, when one compares the numbers to the end of the second quarter of 2021, one big takeaway is obvious: There are more than 150 fewer radio and TV stations licensed in the U.S. than on June 30.

The Media Bureau of the FCC is reminding applicants about an upcoming filing window for applications for noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits. As previously announced, there's an opportunity to file for one week, in early November.

The Media Bureau is reminding licensees that the window for the submission of 2021 broadcast biennial ownership reports is now open. All licensees of commercial and non-commercial radio and TV stations must file biennial ownership reports with the Commission in odd-numbered years. Here's when the filing window closes.

"Strengthening our Communications Networks to Meet Consumers’ Needs." That's the key topic up for debate and conversation at an upcoming legislative hearing announced late yesterday by the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the head of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.

On October 22, a 34-year relationship with Salem Media Group will conclude for the individual heading up national news and public affairs.  In more recent years, he has directed Salem’s Office of Government Relations. What does this mean for Salem in Washington, D.C.?