Washington Beat

In recent months, jarring TV spots have reemerged at over-the-air and cable TV, leading a politician who 11 years ago authored legislation designed to quiet "Loud Ads" to seek -- for the second time -- an FCC investigation into the matter. The Commission has now agreed to do so.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)'s Board of Directors has unanimously approved a distribution plan for the $175 million of emergency stabilization funds for public media. These funds were included in the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law on March 11.

A key Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has written to the FCC seeking an investigation into a rise in television commercial loudness complaints. Such concerns should have been erased in 2010, with President Obama's signing of a law introduced in Congress by this House E&C Member.

Nexstar Media Group's MVPD-distributed channel formerly known as WGN America has bolstered its Washington, D.C., news coverage by bringing on a correspondent with experience covering politics in the Lone Star State -- in addition to social justice protests and Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

With a J.D. from Florida International University's College of Law in Miami and degrees from Orlando's University of Central Florida, this woman has just joined the office of Government Relations at the U.S. media industry's biggest lobbying association. 

The FCC on Friday established a formal pleading cycle that will allow public comment in response to iHeartMedia's request to win Commission approval for greater foreign ownership and non-U.S. investment.

Are you eligible for costs incurred from your broadcast station's "repack" move and still need cash from the U.S. Government to help pay those bills? The FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau remind you that filing deadlines to submit all of your remaining invoices will commence soon. Translation: Stop procrastinating!

The former General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has joined Wiley Rein LLP, today going by the "Wiley Law" brand, as the co-Chair of its Appellate Practice.

With the FCC's announcement that it will conduct an auction of some 136 vacant non-reserved band allotments in the FM broadcast service, the Media Bureau is putting a freeze on FM minor change applications.

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision to reverse the Third Circuit's remand of the FCC's 2017 cross-ownership rule rewrite was warmly celebrated across the Nation's Capital on Thursday. Among those highly pleased with the ruling: A veteran Wiley attorney (pictured) who has advocated for media rule reform and, of course, the President/CEO of the NAB.

Rep. Karen Bass is the inaugural guest in a new NAB "Spotlight Series," which features D.C. politicians discussing key initiatives to advance D&I efforts and their perspectives on broadcast media. This first live discussion, scheduled for April 8, will see a heralded KNBC-4 in L.A. reporter conduct the live discussion on behalf of the NAB.

The CEO of Urban One and the EVP/Chief Diversity Officer of NBCUniversal have been appointed to the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Board of Directors. Both of their terms will begin April 1.

With a Public Notice released March 25, the Media Bureau announces that notice of the effective date for the rule changes adopted in the R&O was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2021.

Two communications law experts have set up shop at BakerHostetler. They each join the firm after exiting the same Comm Law firm the attorneys had worked at for several years. In fact, one of the new Baker lawyers had just been promoted to co-Managing Member — making her exit even more intriguing.

Prominent telecommunications, media, and technology law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth has elected a new Member of the firm. It's an active litigator who first joined the firm in January 2020 and continued to have a substantial hearing and deposition schedule -- remotely -- through the COVID-19 pandemic.