Washington Beat

Is it that time already? The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nominations hearing on Tuesday (6/16) that will consider several presidential nominations. Among them: the renomination of a FCC Commissioner.

The FCC has issued a Declaratory Ruling designed to foster the growth of next-generation data services enabled by the transition of digital television to the ATSC 3.0 standard. It's a move the Commission calls another important step "to further unlock the potential of broadcast spectrum, empower innovation, and create significant value" for TV station owners and consumers.

From offices in Alexandria, Va., National Media works with political campaign managers to research, plan, and manage an election campaign across all mediums. This includes television. As such, National Media has committed to getting a better understanding of ad delivery to key TV audiences, while also gaining greater comprehension of the actual voter.

Broadcast Internet promises consumers "a range of innovative offerings" that can be delivered over the broadcast television spectrum that blankets U.S. communities today. These offerings include support for autonomous vehicles, the "Internet of Things," smart agriculture and telemedicine, among other applications. The very prospect of Broadcast Internet highly excites one FCC Commissioner.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has spoken out on nationwide protests in response to racial injustice and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by committing himself to furthering diversity in media ownership. The comment comes just one day after GOP colleague Brendan Carr advocated for the further deregulation of radio industry ownership rules.

America's Public Television Stations on Monday filed comments as an interested outside party with the Commission in response to a NPRM and draft ruling that would bring improved broadband connectivity to rural areas via TV spectrum "white spaces." The organization urged the FCC to adopt the NPRM and a draft resolution, paving the way for "Broadcast Internet."

On Friday, Mike Gravino formally retired, but likely not by choice. The vibrant spectrum rights advocate was entering Hospice, as his fight with pancreatic cancer had become one he couldn't win. On Saturday, Gravino's battle concluded.

What did the NAB's COO say Wednesday to a group of U.S. Senators regarding the scope of music rights within the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)?  Curtis LeGeyt had a lot to discuss, and much of his conversation centered on the role broadcast radio plays in the U.S.

In March 2016, John R. Brooks and Erwin Krasnow penned a Media Information Bureau column that deviated from their common topic of how to find a lender, or ways to work with your lender in tough times. How should a broadcast media owner act if the lender-borrower relationship has failed? Examples of what not to do can be found here, in this encore presentation.

The Colorado Broadcasters Association has written to FCC Chairman Pai and all Commissioners with one big request for its members: Kill the proposed increase in regulatory fees for radio and TV stations. As the CBA sees it, the higher fees, combined with license renewals on the horizon, are "an unnecessary burden" given the COVID-19 pandemic.

If only a House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on Capitol Hill could be so efficient. The branch of the Energy & Commerce Committee held a teleconference program with key Congressional leaders chatting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The event came 24 hours after details of a FCC plan to advance "broadcast internet" services.

The company behind the aiWARE OS for artificial intelligence has received a two-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for its aiWARE Government platform from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The nation's biggest advocacy group in Washington for broadcast radio and TV has filed comments with the FCC asking its Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to adjust certain cost ranges in the catalog, and clarify the "Cost Catalog" to ensure it is "consistent" with the FCC's Report and Order.

House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle and Ranking Member Bob Latta said Thursday the House E&C arm will hold a teleconference forum on Tuesday featuring FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The event will focus on critical consumer protection, broadband and spectrum issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.