Washington Beat

Stations must submit an online entry through a new NAB member platform, describing their community service efforts for the 2020 calendar year. The deadline for entry submissions is January 31. Finalists will be announced in February.

The NAB Leadership Foundation is now accepting entries for the 2021 Celebration of Service to America Awards. Following the pattern of the 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards, winners and finalists will again be honored during a special televised event, available for stations to air next summer.

In October, a partisan furor erupted in Washington, D.C., as FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he would initiate a "Section 230" rulemaking process. Much has changed since then. The president's days are numbered. As such, Pai is standing down. But, he believes a rule rewrite is needed, and is the job of Congress.

One of the FCC's biggest champions for the radio industry, forced to exit over a Section 230 disagreement with soon-to-depart President Donald Trump, has resurfaced as a visiting fellow at a Washington think tank. He'll be working alongside another former Commissioner -- someone who served on the FCC from 1997-2001.

On August 6, 2020, the FCC voted in favor of an order that eliminates the radio duplication rule for AM and FM stations. That failed to satisfy REC Networks, the musicFIRST Coalition and the Future of Music Coalition, which sought reconsideration on the Commission's yes vote. The NAB opposes a review of the Report and Order. Here's why.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has added a satellite and telecommunications lawyer as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office. As such, the firm says it is "bringing new capabilities to its team serving the technology and communications industries."

A powerful advocate who "is deeply committed to resolving issues that disproportionately impact" African-American and multicultural communities across the U.S. — including access to broadband, AI and civil rights, and media diversity — has been selected to serve as VP of Policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).

"A Road Map to Tech Jobs." That's what to be offered on January 15 in a virtual Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) summit from the FCC group that will see the involvement, among others, of the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has joined a national assembly of experts and organizations working on unified action against the COVID-19 pandemic. And, former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith is taking a key role.

Davina Sashkin now has something in common with Matthew H. McCormick and Dan A. Kirkpatrick. That would be her job title at noted Washington, D.C.-area telecommunications, media, and technology law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth.

On October 1, television stations located in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands were required to file applications for license renewal for terms expiring on February 1, 2021. However, 11 stations failed to file license renewal applications. That's bad news: their licenses will expire in one month, unless immediate action occurs.

The individual hand-selected by President Trump to succeed Mike O'Rielly as a Republican FCC Commissioner has named an acting media advisor, acting wireless advisor and acting wireline advisor. The moves come ahead of his first appearance as an FCC decision-maker, set for January 13.

"Serving as Chairman of the FCC has been the honor of a lifetime. And soon, my time in this position will conclude." Those are the words of Ajit Pai, who will preside over his final FCC Open Meeting come January 13. The meeting won't involve any new business, but is most certainly set to be full of heartfelt goodbyes.

On March 11, the Senate Commerce Committee heard testimony from an attorney at Covington & Burling, focused on commercial litigation and government contracts, who had been nominated by President Trump to serve as FCC Inspector General. This individual would replace David Hunt. That may not happen, as Congress has adjourned for one week.

He's already said his goodbyes on the floor of the full House. Now, Oregon Rep. Greg Walden has shared more about his accomplishments -- and thoughts on current tech policy debates including the Section 230 controversy that put Nathan Simington on the FCC -- with a top Inside-the-Beltway federal news publication.