Washington Beat

The team at Fletcher Heald & Hildreth has put together an update on the important broadcast media FCC regulatory deadlines operators will need to take note of in the next several weeks. Here's a look at what should go on the calendar today.

The BLT program teaches the fundamentals of purchasing, owning and operating radio and television stations to senior-level broadcast executives, particularly women and people of color, who aspire to advance as group executives or station owners.

The NAB on Friday filed comments with the FCC regarding a proposal to extend the Emergency Alert System to the Internet — including through streaming services. Congress is requesting a study of the issue. But, the NAB cautions that updating EAS to enable internet alerts would be too complex, and likely infeasible, at this time.

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith offered remarks on the state of the industry, and on his year-end farewell from public service, at the association's State Leadership Conference. We're pleased to share them in their entirety.

BIA Advisory Services has conducted research focused on the "Economic Impact of Big Tech Platforms on the Viability of Local Broadcast News."  It found that each year broadcasters lose nearly $2 billion in value that they generate for two of the largest technology platforms through publication of their valuable content — particularly local news.

The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office has sent a formal complaint letter to the FCC against Sinclair Broadcast Group's flagship broadcast TV station, WBFF-45. It wants an investigation into the broadcasting practices and media content distributed by the station. The FOX affiliate calls the move an attack on a media source for its reporting on her.

It's only a proposal, and you have about a month to have your say with the FCC. And, your voice may be integral to thwart a regulatory fee increase proposed by the Commission. Among the ways the FCC seeks to get more cash from licensees: assessing regulatory fees for full service broadcast television using population-based methodology once again.

A bipartisan coalition of 77 members of the House of Representatives and eight Senators have joined together to introduce resolutions in both bodies of Congress that oppose "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on AM or FM radio in the U.S.

In the view of American Enterprise Institute Visiting Scholar Mark Jamison, White House control of FCC regulatory analysis is a bad idea. A better idea, he says, is to set transparent standards for such analyses, including public review.

It's official. The association representing the interests of broadcast media translator stations will be holding a live, in-person convention next month in Salt Lake City.

The ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, has joined two Republican colleagues in introducing legislation that would require the FCC and the NTIA to update a memorandum of understanding that governs biannual meetings between the agencies to conduct joint spectrum planning.

For the field journalist, unprecedented levels of verbal and physical violence came courtesy of civilians, police and even, the RTDNA says, "leaders we are meant to hold accountable." With that portrait as a backdrop, the RTDNA has released "2021 Newsrooms by the Numbers: Data From a Dangerous Year in Journalism."

On February 1, television stations located in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on June 1, 2021. Eight stations failed to file license renewal applications. A goodbye to said facilities is in the works, but can be prevented.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has selected the person who will be responsible for the development and implementation of "a multi-faceted communications and messaging strategy to advance awareness of public media and its value to American society." It is someone who worked for Nancy Pelosi for much of the 2000s.

America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and PBS on Tuesday shared their thoughts with the FCC in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on changes to the Emergency Alert System.