August Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – License Renewals, EEO, Music Consent Decree Comments, EAS Test, LPFM NPRM and More

Once upon a time, August was a quiet month in Washington, when everyone went on vacation. Sure, there are plenty of vacations that will happen this coming month, but it seems that regulatory activity no longer takes a break. For example, August 1 is the due date for the filing with the FCC of license renewals for all radio stations (including translators and LPFM stations) in North and South Carolina, and the filing of associated EEO forms for all full power radio stations in those states. With the renewal filing comes the obligation that these stations start airing, on August 1 and August 16,  ... Read More

Electronic Test Reporting System for Aug 7th National EAS Test

The FCC announced in today’s Daily Digest that it has opened the Electronic Test Reporting System for the August 7, 2019 National EAS Test. The deadline for filing is July 3, 2019. You can access the ETRS on the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system. I’ve already had reports of problems on the site. Please keep trying. If you are unable to finish your filing by this Friday, June 7, please let me know and I will contact the FCC to report a group problem.

Here is the FCC announcement from today’s Daily Digest:

Released: 2019-06-03.  ... Read More

KUNR Public Radio in Reno Joins Mountain West News Bureau

(May 17, 2019) KUNR Public Radio in Reno Joins Mountain West News Bureau

Collaboration Expands Regional News Coverage

RENO, Nev. – KUNR Public Radio has joined the Mountain West News Bureau, a regional reporting collaboration of public radio news stations. KUNR, a service of the University of Nevada, Reno, joins five current member stations in serving the Rocky Mountain states of Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah—and now Nevada’s high desert and the Sierra.

The Mountain West News Bureau provides original reporting from its combined network of public radio newsrooms led by Boise State Public Radio in Idaho and including KUNR (Reno),   ... Read More

Nevada Broadcasters Association to Honor Findlay Automotive Group at 24th Annual Hall of Fame Gala

 (Las Vegas, Nevada) Nevada Broadcasters Association (NVBA) President Mitch Fox announced today that the Findlay Automotive Group will receive the prestigious Community Achievement Award at the organization’s annual Hall of Fame Gala on August 24th at the Four Seasons Hotel.

 “Under the leadership of COO/CFO Tyler Corder, the Findlay Automotive Group has redefined philanthropy as one of the most community-minded companies in the state of Nevada,” said President Fox. “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and so many other non-profits have benefited by the generosity of this company.  ... Read More

NVBA To Honor Broadcast Veteran Ralph Toddre at the 24th Annual Hall of Fame Gala

(Las Vegas, Nevada) The Nevada Broadcasters Association will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to broadcast veteran Ralph Toddre during the Association’s Annual Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday, August 24, at 7pm at The Four Seasons Las Vegas.

Toddre first began his long broadcasting career in 1975, working as the Operations and Programming Manager at KLAS TV, a Landmark Communications Company.

In 1986, Ralph became Vice President and General Manager for Sunbelt Communications Company where he developed plans for a new Yuma television station. The station began operations less than six months after its conception.  ... Read More

Important Reminder: Activate and/or Update Your Online Public Inspection File

As of March 1, 2018, all radio and television stations were required to transition their public inspection file to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) online public file system. However, despite the year-old deadline, a substantial number of broadcasters have not yet activated their online public file or have failed to keep their public file up-to-date.

These stations are at risk of substantial FCC fines. While the FCC has emailed warning notices to some stations, we strongly urge you not to wait for an FCC notice. Stations should immediately confirm that they are complying with the FCC’s rules.   ... Read More

FCC Releases Notices on Radio License Renewal Process – New Form, New Database and More Scrutiny of the Public File

The FCC yesterday released two public notices about the procedures to be used in the upcoming radio license renewal cycle. These actions were previewed by the FCC at the NAB Convention last week (see our article here). As we wrote here and here, the license renewal cycle begins with the filing of license renewal applications by stations in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and West Virginia that must be submitted by June 3 (as the June 1 deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended to the next business day).  ... Read More

NVBA to Honor Congressman Mark Amodei at 24th Annual Hall of Fame Gala

(Las Vegas, Nevada) Nevada Broadcasters Association President Mitch Fox announced today that Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei will be honored with the prestigious President’s Award, during the Association’s Annual Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 7pm at The Four Seasons Las Vegas.

“Congressman Amodei has always been a friend to Nevada’s broadcasting industry,” said President Fox. “His long-standing support for our issues was made even more evident when he was the first member of Nevada’s Congressional Delegation in 2019 to become a co-sponsor of the Local Radio Freedom Act.”

Congressman Amodei understands the importance of local radio and television,  ... Read More

Countdown to Comments on Next Quadrennial Review of Media Ownership Begins – Part I, Local Radio Ownership

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the next Quadrennial Review of the FCC’s ownership rules was adopted in December and was published today in the Federal Register, starting the 60 day period for public comments. Comments on the NPRM will be due on April 29 with reply comments due on May 29. The FCC is looking at numerous issues, including one issue, the rules setting out the limits on the number of radio stations that one company can own in a market, that has not been reviewed in depth in recent Quadrennial Reviews. On the TV side,  ... Read More

Elimination of Requirement that Broadcasters Post Their Licenses Becomes Effective

As we wrote here, at the FCC’s December meeting, the FCC was scheduled to adopt an order eliminating the requirement that broadcasters post a physical copy of their licenses and other instruments of authorization at their control points or transmitter sites. In fact, the Commission adopted that order before the meeting, and it today published the order in the Federal Register, meaning that it is effective as of today. This order was adopted as part of the FCC’s Modernization of Media Regulation initiative. As a station’s licenses are now generally available online, the FCC stated that they saw no reason to require that they be posted at station locations not normally accessible to the public.  ... Read More

2018 Recap

The Nevada Broadcasters Association experienced a number of successes in 2018. I'd like to share some of them with you.

In February a number of Nevada broadcasters went to Washington D.C. to lobby our Congressional Delegation on such issues as the Local Radio Freedom Act, the Microsoft Spectrum Grab, and retransmission consent.

The Nevada Broadcasters Association was able to hold a special members-only reception for Senator Gordon Smith, the CEO of NAB. We were also able to score an exclusive, meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

In April Governor Brian Sandoval sat down with the NVBA for nearly an hour and shared his perspective on the state. We were able to communicate to him, the valuable role we play in emergency communications.

Throughout the year, I was humbled and honored to attend meetings as a voting member of the Homeland Security Commission. Governor Sandoval appointed me to this critically important commission, with members that include the Governor himself, the Lt. Governor, Sheriff Lombardo and members of the State Legislature, among others. I'm excited to continue my participation on this Commission next year, when Governor Sisolak becomes Chairman.

Our Hall of Fame Gala was a huge success. We honored LVCVA CEO Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas 51s COO Don Logan and broadcast pioneer, 101 year-old Hank Thornley in addition to 37 Hall of Fame inductees. The Gala, along with Southern and Northern Nevada Golf Tournaments, combined with your generosity made it possible for 32 students to receive scholarships to a Nevada college or university. Thank you!

Throughout the year we had meetings or sponsored receptions in Nevada with Congressman Mark Amodei, Senator Dean Heller, Governor-elect Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Adam Laxalt, Henderson Mayor Debra March, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, Sheriff Joe Lombardo and Congresswoman-elect Susie Lee.

In addition, we produced an extremely compelling documentary on the opioid crisis and organized a One October remembrance that had the participation of Nevada's radio stations.
If all that weren't enough we had webinars for journalists and HR directors, continued our Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP) and held additional EAS training sessions.

Thank you to the NVBA Board of Directors and our Executive Committee for helping to make our year such a success.

Mitch Fox
President and CEO
Nevada Broadcasters Association

2018 New Year Update

Dear Members & Friends,

     Welcome to 2018 and to our website! A new year brings new leadership to the Nevada Broadcasters Association (NVBA). Veteran Broadcaster Mitch Fox has come on board to serve as our new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Mitch has served in the broadcast industry for more than 30 years.  He spent much of his career in Las Vegas working in Public Broadcasting and most recently was Nevada State Director for the Porter Group, a Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm. 

   Under Fox’s leadership, the NVBA Board and Staff will continue its mission to promote and advocate for governmental policies that benefit our member stations and to maintain a leadership role in our state, ensuring a vibrant and successful future for local television and radio.

     The NVBA relies on the grassroots leadership and strength of our member stations and we thank you all for your continued support and for allowing us to serve your stations and the industry at large as we move through the remainder of 2018.

Best Wishes,

Viola Cody, Chair