Washington Beat

The National Religious Broadcasters and American Family Association have come together to file a petition in a New Orleans federal appeals court against the FCC for what they believe is the unlawful requirement of broadcast TV and radio stations to publicly report employee race, ethnicity, and gender.

The program, scheduled for mid-June, will focus on new opportunities for broadcasting utilizing ATSC 3.0, the next-generation broadcast standard that is now available to viewers with devices capable of receiving NEXTGEN TV signals in 75 markets across the U.S.

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel defended it. Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr did not, noting how he voted against the agency's request for a 14.8% increase in its FY 2025 budget request. A House Appropriations Committee hearing held Thursday focused on FCC funding, and more.

Four noncommercial broadcasting operations have been awarded funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that will allow them to each upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting. CPB awards the grants through the FEMA-funded Next Generation Warning System grant program.

"We’re facilitating engagement between the public and local broadcasters." That's what FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel offered on Thursday as part of her outline of what the Commission will discuss at its June 2024 Open Meeting, scheduled for June 6 — just two weeks after the FCC's May Open Meeting.

The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation is teaming with a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged and underrepresented children that is designed to provide students with educational opportunities and "sustainable employment prospects" in the media industry.

An individual who has played a key role in expanding the company’s distribution relationships and advocacy efforts, previously the SVP of Distribution and Government Affairs, has been given Executive VP stripes at Hearst Television.

The NAB is welcoming a new VP of Public Policy, who reports to EVP of Government Relations Shawn Donilon. She was formerly VP/Legal at the Digital Media Association.

The Democratic FCC Commissioner threw his full support behind the AM for Every Vehicle Act, saying Thursday at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting's Washington Watch that the agency will provide support and expertise as the legislation advances.

The Radio + Television Business Report's information-filled all-new Spring 2024 Special Report was distributed in print at the 2024 NAB Show and via digital PDF download to subscribers earlier in April. Still haven't seen it? Look at what this 48-page full-color magazine has that you can't find anywhere else.

The nation's two direct broadcast satellite service providers, in addition to vMVPD Fubo, conservative-leaning cable network Newsmax, and four public interest groups have written to Congressional leaders seeking multiple hearings on the future of competition in pay TV.

What jurisdiction does the FCC possess to move forward with the proposed change in FM frequencies for two stations, including a Canadian operation? Plenty, it turns out, as this Canadian FM is actually licensed to a small Texas town.

“No one can seriously expect this Supreme Court to uphold the FTCʼs interpretation,” says Berin Szóka, President of the nonprofit, nonpartisan technology policy think tank. “The FTC may lose not only under modern textualist analysis and the major questions doctrine, but also because its reading of the statute assumes that Congress delegated vast lawmaking powers to the FTC without clear limiting principles."

The individual who has been serving as the Legal Advisor for wireless, space, and international issues for FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has accepted the role of Senior Spectrum Advisor and Director of National Spectrum Strategy. Who is succeeding Shiva Goel in that key role in Geoffrey Starks' office?

The FCC's party-line 3-2 vote on Thursday that reclassifies broadband service as a Title II telecommunications service — a.k.a. the restoration of "net neutrality" — received a flurry of responses. Democrats praised the vote, while Republicans condemned it.