Washington Beat

The Media Bureau is reminding all low power television and TV translator stations that the digital transition date — when stations must terminate all analog television operations — is fast approaching.

What can one SBA leader say about the early indications from Capitol Hill on what’s in store for radio and TV in your state? Colorado Broadcasters Association head Justin Sasso shares his observations on what's been happening in his state — and much more — in this 100th RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, presented by Dot.FM. LISTEN HERE

The NAB has launched a new volunteer initiative designed to enhance communication between broadcast media's biggest lobbying organization and its member stations’ employees at all levels.

The FCC today announced the winning bidders and the final bid totals in Auction 107— also known as the "C-Band Auction." Auction 107 net winning bids totaled $81,114,481,921 and gross winning bids totaled $81,168,677,645.  Twenty-one bidders won all of the available 5,684 licenses.

The Ranking Member of the influential House Energy & Commerce Commission is irate over actions her Democratic colleagues have taken that she and Communications and Technology Republican Subcommittee Leader Bob Latta (R-Ohio) believe put a threat to freedom of speech, and Freedom of the Press.

The “Voices From the Field” campaign, part of NAB’s “We Are Broadcasters” initiative, is designed to spotlight how broadcasters are using their expertise, experience and dedication to local broadcasting to serve their audiences and "uplift" their communities.

On December 1, 2020, television stations located in Alabama and Georgia were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on April 1, 2021.  Five stations failed to file license renewal applications.

It's been nearly five weeks since she was named Acting Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. Now, a coalition of female Democratic House Members have formally written to the White House to get Jessica Rosenworcel formally nominated by President Biden to take the seat on a permanent basis.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has released the witness list for its fully remote hearing for February 24 that takes aim at how "disinformation and extremism" has been fueled by U.S. media. The host and anchor of Hearst Television-distributed Matter of Fact is one of the three witnesses already confirmed to appear virtually.

“We are excited to bring these popular events under the NAB Show umbrella in 2021, offering a unique experience that is both familiar and new at the most comprehensive convention of its kind,” NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith said.

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has selected the agency's next Press Secretary. It's an individual joining the Commission’s Office of Media Relations after having served as Communications Director for then-Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico.

The FCC’s Online Public Inspection File server for radio and television broadcasters has been “live” for nearly three years. Much has been written about what goes in the OPIF, and when. And, the FCC provides a good summary online. Little attention has been paid, however, to what comes out of the OPIF: the co-equal obligation to remove expired material.

This week, the FCC designated for hearing the license renewal applications for a number of Alabama radio stations. Why? Who better than noted Wilkinson Barker Knauer attorney David Oxenford to explain the situation.

The Member of Congress representing Humboldt County, Calif., is irate over the second "blackout" of the CBS and NBC affiliates serving this portion of his district. Now, he plans to seek the elimination of the so-called "UHF discount" in legislation he's set to introduce. It's a new wrinkle to Rep. Jared Huffman's efforts in D.C. to end ugly retrans impasses.

Due to the various restrictions necessary to combat the pandemic, it has become difficult, if not impossible, for many parties to be able to honor the terms of their contracts. The question then becomes which party to the contract will have to bear the loss of failure to perform under the contract – the non-performing party or the party that was relying upon performance?