Washington Beat

Some significant deadlines are Thursday, Oct. 1 -- so you better read this to make sure you're not going to be staying up all night to resolve any potential issues! One item involves radio license renewal applications, and the other is tied to must-carry/retrans consent elections. Our friends at Fletcher Heald & Hildreth prepared a great checklist we're pleased to share.

For candidates seeking to reach the right voter, there’s now a way to match electorate profiles based on their consumption preferences. Thanks to programmatic advertising platforms, media buyers can target groups based on consumer preferences. And, this extends to declared political party affiliation.

The complexion of the FCC under a continuation of President Trump or a transition to Joe Biden has already been the subject of prognostications by D.C. insiders. Now, Kagan, the research division within S&P Global Market Intelligence, has offered its takes on what the FCC could look like following Trump's first term -- or only term.

The White House and strict constitutionalist Mike O'Rielly, the FCC Commissioner, don't see eye to eye on Section 230 reform. Hence, O'Rielly is exiting at the end of his term on January 23, 2021. But, what does the AEI -- selected by the Trump administration to transition the FCC from the Obama administration -- have to say about the internet free speech statute?

The Media Bureau has announced that children's television programming reports for the 2020 calendar year are now available in the FCC's licensing and management system (LMS). However, while licensees may now prepare and save their reports in the LMS, they wont be able to file them until New Year's Day.

On November 3, Latino voters will select not only the next U.S. president, but also individuals running for office on the state and local level. Who they choose could depend on who they know — and Hispanic radio can play a standout role. That’s why the first Hispanic Radio LIVE! session, on Thursday, October 1, promises to be a must-attend session.

Some may argue that duopolies lead to less owner diversity, leaving the local TV viewer with fewer choices. For Gray Television, using BIA Advisory Services data, the benefits of arrangements that, in some markets, have attracted considerable federal legislative scrutiny are bountiful -- with respect to the quantity of local news.

The Librarian of Congress has appointed the next Register of Copyrights and director of the U.S. Copyright Office. She'll serve as the 14th U.S. Register of Copyrights, and the appointment was warmly welcomed by the NAB.

Comments made before the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Thursday appear to indicate Mike O'Rielly's recognition that his pending departure is all but inevitable. This erases any belief by some in D.C. that a Biden presidency could somehow salvage his tenure at the agency.

The President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is the latest national figure -- and Washington-focused broadcast media leader -- to be added to the list of participants for Hispanic Radio LIVE!

The COVID-19 pandemic will not stop the NABOB Conference. It just won't be an in-person gathering this year. As such,the NABOB 44th Annual Fall Broadcast Conference and 20th Power of Urban Radio Forum will be held virtually, over three days in mid-October.

The Trump Administration has moved ahead with its nomination to a FCC Commissioner's seat -- presently held by Mike O'Rielly -- of an individual who has been in his current position of National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Senior Advisor for all of four months. The NAB offered a tepid reaction in approval of the move.

There's no longer any uncertainty or worry for those holding Auction 99 or Auction 100-awarded construction permits due to expire on or before June 21, 2021 who have not yet fully launched the FM translator stations associated with these CPs. That's because the FCC Media Bureau has given the green light to COVID-19 related requests for a waiver.

The two multicultural members of the FCC's leadership have joined together for the creation of an Early Career Staff Diversity Initiative — designed expressly for the advancement of equitable opportunities for underrepresented undergraduate, graduate, and law school students.

Legislation introduced by a New York Democrat in the House of Representatives that would require the FCC to complete its rulemaking reviewing the FCC’s broadcast and cable equal employment opportunity rules and to begin EEO data collection is heading to a full floor vote in the lower body of Congress.