Thanks to some last-minute session and meeting scheduling by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink and Radio + Television Business Report ahead of the 2025 NAB Show, which begins Sunday, it became known that no less than two FCC Commissioners will be appearing at the annual affair. The Democrat will be at a North Hall session, while the Republican will appear the next morning.
With little, if any, major announcements from the NAB, Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez is scheduled to speak in a session on Monday, April 7 at 3:00pm in Room W219. It is part of the NAB’s Broadcast Management Track, and sees Gomez participate in a “fireside chat” with The Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Flint. They’re scheduled to talk about “significant regulatory issues affecting broadcasters, the Commissioner’s top priorities for the coming year, and the unique challenges and opportunities for radio and television broadcasters in today’s media landscape.”
Gomez’s coming appearance at the NAB Show comes following a string of outspoken public remarks that have amplified her presence on the Commission.
But, is the NAB doing a disservice to the radio and television industry by scheduling Gomez against another important session? At Room W233 at the same start time is a 45-minute session moderated by Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth partner Francisco Montero devoted to a mergers and acquisitions outlook in broadcasting that serves as a precursor to discussions planned for the Media Finance Management (MFM) annual conference in Arlington, Va., on May 18-21. Appearing on the panel are Lou McDermott, VP of leading brokerage Kalil & Co., and Rick Ducey, Managing Director at BIA Advisory Services.
With important conversations likely happening concurrently on Monday, Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington is appearing at a session broadcast TV industry leaders will likely want to attend.
Simington will deliver keynote remarks Tuesday at a large-capacity setting focused on “Overcoming Hurdles to Full ATSC 3.0 Deployment,” and he’ll be in Theater 2 (West Hall, Room W2631) from 11:45am-12:30pm. His appearance precedes a panel discussion in which NAB Associate General Counsel Emily Gomes chats with Tolka TV’s Alex Day, Heartland Video Systems President Dennis Klas, Gray Media SVP/Government Relations and Distribution Rob Folliard, and NMPBS General Manager Franz Joachim.
Absent from the conference lineup: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and outgoing Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.
