NABPAC | Change the Game

Changing the Game: @ State Leadership

NAB's State Leadership Conference occurs every February, and it's a great opportunity for broadcasters to hear from prominent federal policymakers and industry leaders, as well as meet with their legislators to discuss current issues affecting the industry.

This is a natural fit with NABPAC's objectives – advocacy and action! Already this year, 230 individual broadcasters have made personal donations that are going right back out the door to support more than 35 members of Congress, and that's in just 51 days! These are members who help us fight for funds for repacking, protect local radio and advance industry standards.

In 2018, NABPAC's primary focus is to be a game changer. I urge you to consider the ways you can change the game today.

Jennifer

Jenn Flemming
Director, NABPAC

CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT  



Advocacy Calendar

Feb. 27-28 NAB State Leadership Conference (SLC), Washington, D.C.
Events during SLC include:
  • 7:45 a.m. fundraiser for Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Congressional Room Contribute to This Candidate »
  • 4:30 p.m. NABPAC VIP Political Briefing with Charlie Cook at Union Station (New, Upgrade, or A-List+ Donors)
  • 5:30 p.m. NABPAC donor reception at Union Station - Invite Your Member of Congress!
March 7 Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36) D.C. Luncheon
Contribute to This Candidate »
March 22 FCC Open Commission Meeting
March 27 Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) fundraiser, Florida
Contribute to These Candidates »

 


FCC Reauthorization Bill - Including Repack Authorization Language - Without Amendment

Recently, the House Energy and Commerce Committee successfully reported its FCC Reauthorization Bill – including repack authorizing language – without amendment. Chairman Greg Walden (OR-O2) intends to move this bill quickly to the floor for consideration by the full House, possibly as soon as this month. NAB strongly backs passage of RAY BAUM's Act, addressing the funding shortfall stemming from the spectrum auction repack. Full-power TV and radio stations, along with low-power TV stations and TV translators, provide news, entertainment and lifeline programming to tens of millions of Americans every day. We salute Chairs Walden and Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) for this thoughtful legislation, and applaud Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-03) for his tireless support on a matter of critical importance to local media. NAB is committed to working on a bipartisan basis in both the House and Senate to secure sufficient funding to cover the cost of broadcaster repack relocation costs.

 


Next Gen TV Approved

Next Generation TV, or ATSC 3.0, is the key to bringing over-the-air TV into the internet age by providing broadcasters with increased flexibility and new market opportunities. This allows broadcasters to deliver 4K pictures and enhanced audio as well as interactive features, enhanced emergency alerts and more. Recently, Raleigh station WRAL-TV, teamed with NBCU, NAB to show the Winter Olympics from PyeongChang, South Korea, with 4K UHD HDR coverage. This was a public showing of a complete Next Gen TV ecosystem that is as well suited to delivering 4K HDR as it is to serving up mobile television, interactivity and advanced emergency alerts. In other words, Next Gen TV is delivering on its many promises, not simply in South Korea where it has been deployed to deliver that nation's coverage of the Winter Olympics over the air in 4K, but also here in the United States. Next Gen TV transmission isn't limited to Raleigh and South Korea, however. Sinclair Broadcast Group has been testing transmission in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and has announced plans to do a full test rollout in Dallas. NAB and CTA are on-air from a Tribune station in Cleveland and the Pearl TV consortium is setting up a model Next Gen TV market in Phoenix.

 


NABPAC and a Member of Congress:
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06)

George Holding

Thank you for your leadership in introducing and fighting for the Viewer Protection Act. Is there more that broadcasters can do to convey the urgency of the problems your bill is trying to address?
Last year, the FCC completed a first-of-its-kind "incentive auction," which repurposed some airwaves for mobile broadband. Next-generation wireless networks are certainly important, but we cannot let people lose their broadcast signal because of the FCC's auction.

Broadcasters bring crucial information to the communities they serve. In some ways, the role of broadcasters is more important than ever - they have helped save lives during the extraordinary number of natural disasters that have been hitting our country lately. And in this era of accusations about "fake news," people expect their local broadcasters to bring true, unbiased news.

That's why I introduced The Viewer Protection Act. My bill would make sure that no one, no matter where they live, loses their signal as a result of the FCC's auction. Fortunately, my bill has garnered broad support from both parties in both chambers of Congress. But, as long as my bill sits waiting for action, the likelihood of people losing their signals grows. So I ask broadcasters to work with me and continue to let their members of Congress and congressional leadership know that we need to get this bill passed now. We cannot pretend that this problem will fix itself.

As the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, you are involved in many key policy debates, including those related to energy, healthcare and telecommunications. Other than issues related to broadcasting, which issues are you most passionate about that fall under your committee's jurisdiction?
The Energy and Commerce Committee has one of the most expansive jurisdictions in Congress, with oversight of the environment and energy, healthcare, consumer protection and communications. I was first elected to Congress to fight to protect our environment and the Jersey Shore, which was being polluted by garbage and medical waste. Environmental protection has always been a passion, as has finding ways to expand access to affordable health care. I was one of the lead authors of the Affordable Care Act and am proud of the improvements we've seen in our health system since it became law.

Since becoming the ranking member of the full committee, I'm taking a leading role on issues across our jurisdiction. As you mentioned, I have taken a special interest in broadcasting. I have also worked hard to make sure our networks are more resilient and that consumers maintain their privacy and security online. We are also fighting hard to ensure consumers continue to benefit from net neutrality protections.

When it comes down to it, regardless of the specific issue area, I will always fight for everyday people: small businesses, consumers and anyone who needs a voice in Congress. I will always support policies that increase our security, provide more opportunity and strengthen our democracy.

Hurricane Sandy had a devastating impact on New Jersey. Can you tell us what you learned about the broadcast industry in the aftermath of Sandy?
Broadcasters were our first line of defense. They made sure that people could find their way out of harm's way, even before the storm struck. I was especially moved by the broadcasters, television and radio alike, who put aside their own interests and sometimes ignored their own personal safety to help their community. Stations changed formats on a dime to make sure their friends and neighbors had all the information they needed to stay safe, to find their friends and to protect their families.

Honestly, in a lot of ways, my commitment to broadcasters comes from watching the way they served their communities when we needed them most. I learned that we cannot afford to let them go dark. We must make sure broadcasters have the resources they need to stay on air when the worst happens.

Can you tell us a little about why you chose to cosponsor the Local Radio Freedom Act? What value do you see in the services broadcasters provide?
The Local Radio Freedom Act lets us show our appreciation for our local radio broadcasters. These stations do so much to promote our local artists. My district in Central New Jersey is known for its local music scene. The careers of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi were launched by playing at local establishments and getting air time on local stations. And those traditions continue: we are still attracting music fans from all over who want to experience our amazing local artists. Congress needs to do what it can to ensure radio stations can keep promoting local music over the air and helping local artists.

What work are you most proud of during your time in Congress?
I'm proud of all of the success we've had in cleaning up and revitalizing many parts of my congressional district and the state of New Jersey over the last 30 years. I've focused a lot of my time working to clean up the Jersey Shore. When I first came to Congress, garbage and medical waste was washing up on the beaches on a daily basis, and we successfully fought ocean dumping and restored our beaches. I also worked with the late Republican Congressman Paul Gillmor to create the Brownfields program, which has been an incredibly important tool for protecting public health and spurring economic growth in New Jersey and throughout the country. Cleaning up and revitalizing blighted properties is making a real difference in our communities. I'm hoping that we can strengthen this program even further by reauthorizing it during this Congress. Finally, I would say that I'm proud of all of the work we have done over the years in expanding access to affordable health care. There is certainly more work to be done in this area, but we have made some significant progress and I'm proud of that.

Consider supporting our broadcast fundraiser for Rep. Pallone on February 27, and contribute here.

 


Recent NABPAC Fundraisers

On February 12, NABPAC, Charles Marshall and broadcasters from North Carolina gathered in Raleigh for a fundraising lunch in support of Rep. George Holding (NC-02). The congressman, who has roots in the broadcasting business, reflected on recently passed tax reform legislation. The House Ways and Means Committee, on which he serves, authored the bill and recognized how important it was to preserve the full deductibility of advertising for broadcasters and their advertising partners. Rep. Holding heard from the group the impact that the repack is having on both TV and radio stations in the state, and broadcasters hopes that funding shortfalls can be addressed as soon as possible. Finally, the congressman invited the group to breakfast in the members' dining room while they are in D.C. for NAB's State Leadership Conference.

 


Supporting a Member

Interested in attending a fundraiser for a member in your state? Contact us today! NABPAC Trustee and Emmis Radio's Vice President and General Manager John Beck attended a fundraiser in Missouri for Rep. Lacy Clay (MO-01) on January 20, 2018. He reported back that: "Rep. Clay is many times the very first congressman in Missouri to sign the Local Radio Freedom Act. He doesn't need to be pitched much anymore since he has been talked to for so many years that he may be able to do the pitch himself. The vulnerability with him is if the Republicans lose the house and Rep. Nadler introduces a new bill supporting royalties, we will then need to reinforce our position." Thanks, John!

 


Broadcasters Making a Difference This Month

Maryann Balbo (AL); Michael Brannon (AL); Mark Bunting (AL); Pat Courington (AL); Jimmy Cromwell (AL); Wayne Freedman (AL); Courtney French (AL); Collin Gaston (AL); Jesse Grear (AL); Eric Land (AL); Pat LaPlatney (AL); Tommy Lee (AL); John Malone (AL); Billy McDowell (AL); Stan Pylant (AL); Jimmy Shaw (AL); Warren Spector (AL); Robert Totsch (AL); Susana Willingham (AL); Ellenann Yelverton (AL); Van Comer (AR); Bob Connell (AR); Rich Moellers (AR); Ali Sugg (AR); Elizabeth Burns (AZ); Richard Burns (AZ); Joe Hengemuehler (AZ); Richard Howe (AZ); Lou McDermott (AZ); Edward Munson (AZ); Edward Atsinger (CA); Leigh White (CA); Julia Campbell (CO); Stephen Rabb (CT); Michael Ryan (CT); Zamir Ahmed (DC); Laura Alcocer (DC); Stephanie Bone (DC); Chris Brown (DC); Jonathan Brown (DC); Stephanie Christel (DC); John Clark (DC); Lynn Claudy (DC); Dianna Coleman (DC); BJ Corriveau (DC); Ann Marie Cumming (DC); Jessica Curtis (DC); Michael DeSantos (DC); Shawn Donilon (DC); Michelle Duke (DC); Ashley Fisher (DC); Jennifer Flemming (DC); Leigh Foley (DC); Anne Frenette (DC); John Garziglia (DC); Jamie Gillespie (DC); Lesli Haims (DC); Jerry Hales (DC); Patricia Johnson (DC); Rick Kaplan (DC); Sue Keenom (DC); Kristi Kennedy (DC); Sharon Kinsman (DC); Jennifer Landry-Jackson (DC); Curtis LeGeyt (DC); Garrett Levin (DC); Nate Mann (DC); Grisella Martinez (DC); Sam Matheny (DC); Theresa McDermott (DC); Daniel McDonald (DC); Patrick McFadden (DC); Justine McVaney (DC); Josh Miely (DC); Tariq Mondal (DC); Mike Mullen (DC); Alyssa Niemiec (DC); Chris Ornelas (DC); David Oxenford (DC); Emmy Parsons (DC); Joshua Pollack (DC); Suzanne Raven (DC); Adam Sandler (DC); Brian Savoie (DC); Freda Smith (DC); Gordon Smith (DC); Sylvester Smith (DC); Bart Stringham (DC); Will Vormelker (DC); Larry Walke (DC); Robert Weller (DC); Dennis Wharton (DC); Kelly Williams (DC); Jeffrey Willis (DC); Caroline Beasley (FL); Jeffrey Benninghoff (FL); Bill Hendrich (FL); David Hoxeng (FL); Elizabeth Neuhoff (FL); Mike Rodriguez (FL); Joe Fiveash (GA); Kim Guthrie (GA); David Hart (GA); Bob Houghton (GA); Hilton Howell (GA); Paul Karpowicz (GA); Larry Silbermann (GA); Gigi South (GA); Douglas Sutton (GA); Jim Wilcox (GA); Thom Pritz (IA); Douglas Armstrong (ID); Emily Barr (IL); Jim Kizer (IL); Dennis Lyle (IL); Ralph Oakley (IL); Thomas Oakley (IL); Jena Schulz (IL); Dana Withers (IL); Jamie Aitken (IN); Larry Delia (IN); Chris Fleming (IN); Jay Hiett (IN); Ryan Hornaday (IN); John O'Brien (IN); Joe Schlaerth (IN); John Servizzi (IN); Patrick Walsh (IN); Danny Thomas (KS); Ed Henson (KY); Michael Tarter (KY); Sandy Breland (LA); John Cruse (LA); Tim Ingram (LA); Joe Sciortino (LA); Chanae Crichton (MD); Jeffrey Jury (MD); Sharon Smith (MD); David Smith (MD); Doug Finck (ME); Christopher Cornelius (MI); Eduardo Fernandez (MI); Bruce Goldsen (MI); Greg Borgen (MN); Jason Gould (MN); Robert Hubbard (MN); Stanley Hubbard (MN); Kathryn Rominski (MN); Dan Seeman (MN); John Beck (MO); Mark Gordon (MO); Leo Henning (MO); John Kueneke (MO); Rick Lambert (MO); Margaret Perkins (MS); Dewey Bruce (MT); Dick Harlow (NC); Stephen Hartzell (NC); Jim Himes (NC); Gary McNair (NC); Tim Nelson (NC); Mark Prak (NC); Elizabeth Spainhour (NC); Bob Simmons (ND); Jim Timm (NE); Mary Ann Armijo (NM); Stanley Hubbard (NM);Paula Maes (NM); Larry Fuss (NV); Alan Bishop (NY); David Donovan (NY); Jordan Wertlieb (NY); Debbie Bush (OH); Michael Fiorile (OH); Mike Fredrick (OH); Brian Lorenzen (OH); Robert Maupin (OH); Christine Merritt (OH); David Griffin (OK); Wes Milbourn (OK); Amador Bustos (OR); George Pelletier (OR); Patricia Smullin (OR); David Field (PA); Patrick Wholey (RI); William McElveen (SC); Scott Sanders (SC); Lyle Schulze (SC); Margaret Wallace (SC); Rigby Wilson (SC); Bob Faehn (SD); Chris Gross (SD); Dean Kinney (SD); Whit Adamson (TN); Bryce Caldwell (TN); Lyn Plantinga (TN); Bayard Walters (TN); Marcellus Alexander (TX); Eric Baker (TX); Kathy Clements (TX); Eric Duncan (TX); Sara Fulmer (TX); Cindy Gilstrap (TX); Julie Pruett (TX); Oscar Rodriguez (TX); Garrrison Cavell (VA); Robert Folliard (VA); Stephen Hayes (VA); Scott Johnson (VA); David Lougee (VA); Francisco Montero (VA); Donald Richards (VA); Elizabeth Cowles (WA); Teddie Gibbon (WA); Melissa Luck (WA); Debbie Sieverding (WA); Dan Batchelor (WI); Chuck Roth (WI); Michael Smith (WI); Peter Tanz (WI); Tom Walker (WI); Karl Wertzler (WI); Jim Beck (WY)

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NABPAC Resources:
2017 Annual Report | Prior Approval | Tell NABPAC You'll Be in DC


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Contributions to NABPAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions from corporations, foreign nationals and federal government contractors are prohibited. The maximum annual contribution is $5,000. All contributions are voluntary. The decision to participate or not participate will not benefit or disadvantage you in any way. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Amounts listed are suggestions only. You should feel free to give more or less, or not at all. Federal law requires NABPAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.