Hot Topic for 2022: Tech Regulation

My law firm partner, Jonathan Cohen, has been closely monitoring the developments in the regulation of social media and other big tech platforms by the current administration.  He offers these thoughts on likely areas of legislative and regulatory action in this area in the coming year.  Many nights, the last thing I do before falling... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 8, 2022 to January 14, 2022

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC announced that CDBS, the database where all broadcast applications were filed before most migrated to the newer LMS... Continue Reading…

A Broadcaster’s Regulatory Calendar for 2022 – Looking at Some of the Important Dates for the Year Ahead 

2022 has begun – and we are all wondering what will lie ahead in the New Year.  Each year, at about this time, we put together a look at highlights of the regulatory dates ahead for broadcasters.  This year is no different – and we offer for your review our Broadcaster’s Regulatory Calendar for 2022.  While... Continue Reading…

FCC Announces End of Filings in their CDBS Database As of 5 PM Eastern Time Today! 

Since the 1990s, the FCC’s Consolidated Database System (CDBS) has been used for filing broadcast applications.  In recent years, though, much of the filing activity has been migrated to the FCC’s Licensing and Management System (LMS).  While in some ways not as user-friendly as CDBS, LMS apparently has some advantages in, among other things, its... Continue Reading…

FCC Plans to Adopt Two Minor Changes to its Political Broadcasting Rules – What is Being Changed?

The FCC, at its January 27 monthly open meeting, will be voting on the adoption of two relatively minor changes to its political broadcasting rules.  While some press reports suggested that the changes would expand the FCC’s jurisdiction into online political advertising, in fact the draft of the FCC’s Report and Order released last week... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 1, 2022 to January 7, 2022

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC this week announced that it will vote on two items of interest to broadcasters at its next Open... Continue Reading…

GMR and RMLC Announce Confidential Settlement on Music Royalties for Commercial Radio Stations – Broadcasters Must Decide Whether to Opt In by January 31

A conditional settlement of the long-running litigation between Global Music Rights (GMR), a relatively new performing rights organization formed to license the public performance rights to certain musical works, and the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) was announced this week.  The terms of the agreement are confidential, so we can’t comment on the specifics of... Continue Reading…

A Look at Developments in SoundExchange Webcasting Royalties (Including for Broadcast Simulcasts) From the End of 2021

As 2021 wound down, there were significant developments on SoundExchange royalties for webcasters – including broadcasters who simulcast their on-air programming through IP channels (such as on their websites and on mobile apps).  While we covered many of these matters in our weekly Sunday updates on regulatory matters of importance to broadcasters, we thought that... Continue Reading…

The Past Two Weeks in Broadcast Regulation: December 18, 2021 to December 31, 2021

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last two weeks, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC released the results of the August 11 Nationwide EAS Test, finding that, compared to the 2019 test... Continue Reading…

January Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: Issues/Programs Lists; Digital LPTV Deadline; Audio Description Expansion; Children’s Programming, Webcasting Royalties; NCE FM Settlement Window; and More

As the holiday season comes to an end and 2022 comes into focus, broadcasters have several dates and deadlines to keep up with in January and early February.  We have noted below some of the important dates you should be tracking.  However, as always, stay in touch with your station’s lawyers and other regulatory advisors... Continue Reading…

2020 Recap

2020 has been an extremely challenging year for our nation and especially our state. Many Nevada broadcasters have struggled to survive under the weight of a depressed local economy and uncertainty of the future.

Many families experienced financial and physical loss because of the pandemic. I was saddened to hear of the passing of veteran Reno news anchor and good friend Brent Boynton who succumbed to the disease in November.

To be honest, in January and February of this year, few of us knew what we would experience in 2020.

On January 30 we were thrilled to attend the ribbon cutting for Telemundo’s KBLR new 22,622 square foot media center. Congratulations to President and General Manager Ramiro Lopez!

The next day we welcomed Congresswoman Susie Lee, Henderson Mayor Debra March, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, County Commissioner Michael Naft and State Senator Scott Hammond to the grand opening of our new offices on South Eastern off the I-215.

In February a group of us traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Nevada’s Congressional Delegation and lobby on behalf of Nevada’s broadcasters. With the help of KCEP General Manager Craig Knight, we were able to convince Congressman Steven Horsford to support the Local Radio Freedom Act. With the support of Representatives Mark Amodei and Susie Lee we worked with the National Association of Broadcasters to help secure enough votes to kill a radio royalty fee which had surfaced in two different bills.

Throughout February and March, we were able to conduct 26 alternative FCC inspections (ABIP), a service we provide, free of charge, to all of our members.

And then in March, our world was turned upside down and yours as well.

We locked up our new offices and started working from home, but we ended up having one of the most productive years in the history of the Association.

Early on, we had to make the difficult decision of canceling our annual Hall of Fame Gala, along with our Northern and Southern Golf Tournaments, three events critical to the funding success of our Foundation and the Tony and Linda Bonnici Scholarship Program.

With help from our Washington D.C. lobbying team, the Porter Group, we started scheduling Zoom meetings with every member of our Congressional delegation. It was important that they heard about the plight of broadcasters and how our industry has been unselfishly serving the community with impactful outreach projects and with our own NCSA program which pushed out important messages on health and safety protocols.

By the way, thank you for donating airtime to our efforts so we could facilitate the messaging for multiple COVID campaigns. Your generosity also helps pay for our operating expenses and we are extremely grateful for our partnership!

As the year progressed, we lobbied our congressional representatives to make sure that all broadcasters were eligible for PPP loans and that federal ad dollars would be directed to local stations here in Nevada.

When the state legislature conducted its special session, we were asked by the Legislative Counsel Bureau to coordinate the access of all of the radio and television stations who wanted access to the legislative building. It was a herculean task but thanks to the cooperation of our member stations, it was a success!

The Nevada Broadcasters Association also worked hard to get a letter from Governor Sisolak and the Department of Homeland Security specifying that broadcasting was an essential business and that our members needed to conduct their normal operations while ensuring that management and employees implemented prescribed health and safety measures.

Throughout the year we conducted three separate distributions of face coverings to any radio or television station that wanted them. We also were able to provide Reno-area radio and television stations with air support surveillance from the Washoe County Sheriff’s office during a 72-hour period of unrest and violent protests.

Despite everything that’s taken place, the Nevada Broadcasters Association will finish the year in a strong place financially. We will be able to donate a portion of our net income to our Foundation to use for scholarships. This is especially critical because traditional fundraising activities were suspended in 2020.

Thank you again for your support.

Mitch

Introducing New NVBA Chairman Chris Way