An Electronic Publication of the National Association of Broadcasters

Stop New Performance Tax Legislation in its Tracks

Last week, Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-22) Darrell Issa (CA-50), both longtime music industry allies, introduced the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), legislation pushing for a new tax on radio.

Join us in sending a strong message to Capitol Hill that a performance tax would cripple local radio, harm artists and ultimately hurt listeners.

Take action today and thank your members of Congress who are supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act, bipartisan legislation that opposes "any new performance fee, tax or other charge" on local radio and is currently supported by 149 members of the House and 18 senators, or encourage them to cosponsor if they are not already.

Share this:

Reminder: Analog TV Translators and LPTV Stations Must Go Dark on July 13

All analog low-power TV (LPTV) and TV translator stations must terminate analog television operations by 11:59 p.m. local time on July 13, 2021. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that over 1,000 analog LPTV or analog TV translator stations have not yet transitioned to digital or begun the digital transition process by filing for a digital construction permit. These analog operations include a number of facilities licensed to NAB members.

Nationwide EAS Test Set for August 11, 2021

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on August 11, 2021, at 2:20 p.m. (EDT). A test of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will be conducted simultaneously. A back-up test is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. on August 25, 2021 in case of circumstances requiring a postponement.

It's Time to Dig In

Start preparing now for a celebration like no other as we host three of our most significant industry events in one city: NAB Show, Radio Show and the Sales and Management Television Exchange (SMTE).

Learn from trusted brands and have conversations with industry pioneers at NAB Show this October. Conferences and programs are designed for the industry, by the industry. Don't miss the Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference, now in its 75th year, the Business of Media of Media Conference or, for the first time ever, the co-located Radio Show and Sales and Management Television Exchange (SMTE) events. Member pricing per conference starts at $399.

All NAB Show and co-located event registrants receive access to the NAB Show floor, open October 10-13, as well as all-access NAB Show Main Stage sessions and special events. Maximize your conference experience and get a taste of two or more of these events with a registration bundle offer.

Just announced! Comedian Jim Gaffigan to Perform at NAB Show Sunday Kick Off

Winners of the 2021 Technology Awards Announced

The winners of the 2021 Digital Leadership Award, NAB Engineering Achievement Awards for Radio and Television and the Service to Broadcast Engineering Award were honored during "The Future of Media and NAB Technology Awards," a special event hosted exclusively on NAB Amplify.

PILOT Innovation Challenge Applications Now Open

PILOT, NAB's technology innovation initiative, is now accepting submissions for the PILOT Innovation Challenge through 5 p.m. ET on July 9. The program will provide mentorship and promotion to winning proposals, along with an opportunity to demonstrate their products at NAB Show in Las Vegas, October 9-13, 2021.

This year's challenge is seeking startups and growing companies providing solutions to some of the key challenges and opportunities facing broadcasters over the next two to three years.

Spotlighting How Broadcasters Bring Critical News and Information to Their Communities

NAB regularly shares with members of Congress examples of how local broadcasters have been at their best during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing fact-based journalism, breaking news, vaccine education and supporting local businesses. Recently, we highlighted local stations' participation in the White House's National Month of Action. Read more here.

To help us continue to educate Congress on the important work of broadcasters, please air NAB's We Are Broadcasters spots, which showcase stations' important role in delivering critical news and information to your communities. Air them as often as possible and keep posting stories of your public service on social media to send a strong message to policymakers.

Don't forget to tag your social media posts with #WeAreBroadcasters or reach out to WeAreBroadcasters@nab.org so we can help amplify your station's work.

New Voices From the Field: Adam Symson

Adam Symson, president and CEO of the E.W. Scripps Company, joins the National Association of Broadcasters' Chief Operating Officer Curtis LeGeyt to reflect on his career in journalism, what it means to helm one of the industry's most esteemed brands, media literacy and the growth of the Next Generation TV standard.

New on the NAB Podcast: Copyright, Defamation and Privacy - Inside NAB's Radio Rules Course and Guidebook

Pat Groshong, media claims manager, Axis Pro and Larry Walke, associate general counsel, NAB, detail the federal rules and policies governing copyright, defamation and privacy, which are just a handful of the topics covered in NAB's Radio Rules: A Guide to FCC Regulations for Radio Stations. Also, learn what to do should your station encounter an issue that requires Axis Pro's expertise.

Explore how MetadataIQ Empowers Broadcasters | June 30, 2 p.m. EDT

Create content. Automate the generation of captions, subtitles and metadata. Monitor the delivery of media.

New Course Available: Online Public Inspection File

Created to meet the information needs of radio and television broadcast professionals, this course defines OPIF and what it must contain for stations to be in full compliance with all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing rules and policies. Discounted NAB member rate: $29.99

Radio Rules: A Guide to FCC Regulations for Radio Stations

The newest edition of Radio Rules is now available. This must-have resource contains the latest critical information and guidelines to help you better understand Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and avoid costly litigation or fines. Includes an online scenario-based training and a PDF guide. Discounted NAB member rate: $29.99

Stay Connected with NABPAC

On June 16, NABPAC's Connect to Congress series featured Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27). Prior to being elected to Congress last November, Rep. Salazar was a broadcaster. She has worked for every major U.S. Spanish-language broadcasting network and is a five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. Not only has she gone toe-to-toe with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and Chile's Augusto Pinochet, but she is the only U.S. Spanish-language journalist to ever interview Fidel Castro one-on-one. This was a lively discussion hosted by NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith, Florida Association of Broadcasters President Pat Roberts and NAB Executive Vice President of Government Relations Shawn Donilon.

These town halls are complimentary for our NABPAC community. Click here to learn more and to find out how you can receive these invites. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Jenn Flemming at jflemming@nab.org.

Procter & Gamble to Receive Corporate Leadership Award

The NAB Leadership Foundation will present the 2021 Corporate Leadership Award to Procter & Gamble (P&G) during the Celebration of Service to America Awards. Each year, the Corporate Leadership Award is given to a leading business outside of the broadcast industry that exemplifies an extraordinary focus on community service and corporate social responsibility. The 2021 Celebration of Service to America Awards will be a televised event premiering on local broadcast stations on July 10, 2021.