Joint Board of Directors

NAB Joint Board Chairman Steve Newberry, president and CEO of Commonwealth Broadcasting, called the meeting to order. After a call of the roll, the minutes of the June 2009 Board meeting were approved.

Chairman’s Report
Newberry briefed the board on the CEO selection process and introduced former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who was recently named NAB President and CEO. Newberry noted Sen. Smith’s reputation as a bipartisan bridge-builder and his deep understanding of communications policy as a former member of the Senate Commerce Committee. Newberry thanked (Acting) NAB President and CEO Janet McGregor for her leadership and noted the strong commitment from NAB staff in keeping the association running smoothly throughout the transition.

Executive Report
McGregor briefed the board on NAB’s many ongoing efforts, noting the success of the recent NAB Radio Show and Small Market Television Exchange. She also discussed NAB’s advocacy efforts related to the performance tax, a new fee sought by the Recording Industry Association of America, and the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA).

NABPAC Report
NABPAC Chairman Larry Patrick, managing partner of Patrick Communications, provided an update on the activities of NAB’s political action committee. Patrick urged members of the board to contribute to the NABPAC.

NAB Show Report
NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown provided a report to the Joint Board on the upcoming 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Financial Report
NAB Chief Operating and Financial Officer Janet McGregor provided an update on NAB’s finances.

Government Relations
NAB Executive Vice President of Government Relations Laurie Knight briefly updated the board on Capitol Hill activities related to the performance tax and SHVERA. Knight noted that a bipartisan majority of 251 House lawmakers, along with 26 U.S. Senators have co-sponsored the Local Radio Freedom Act, which expressly opposes a performance tax on local radio stations. On reauthorization of SHVERA, Knight noted the status of various bills and reiterated NAB’s support for bringing local-into-local service in all 210 markets.

FCC Update
NAB Executive Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Jane Mago provided a brief overview of activities at the Federal Communications Commission, including the agency’s focus on broadband deployment and spectrum-related issues. Mago also provided a brief status update on the regulatory climate surrounding media ownership and content-related issues.

NAB FASTROAD
NAB Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Lynn Claudy provided an update to the board on activities related to NAB’s technology advancement program, FASTROAD. Claudy briefed the board on the continued rollout of mobile DTV, and he noted Apple’s recent announcement that iPod nanos will now have FM-capability.

NAB Education Foundation
NAB Education Foundation President Marcellus Alexander updated the board on Foundation activities.

Television Board of Directors
October 13, 2009

Call to Order
Paul Karpowicz called the Television Board meeting to order. After a call of the roll, minutes of the June 2009 Board meeting were approved.

Legislative Update
Laurie Knight briefed the TV Board on issues related to reauthorization of satellite TV legislation, direct-to-consumer advertising and the CALM Act, legislation that would impact the loudness volume of televised advertisements.

FCC Update
Jane Mago provided the TV board with an update on FCC-related issues including rules related to children’s television programming and the transition to digital television. Mago also updated the board on TV spectrum issues related to the FCC’s planned rollout of a national broadband strategy.

Retransmission Consent
Knight and Mago updated the board on the legislative and regulatory environment surrounding retransmission consent negotiations, the market-based process by which TV stations and cable operators negotiate the terms of a station’s signal carriage.

Membership and Activities
NAB Executive Vice President of Television Marcellus Alexander updated the TV board on membership levels and recent television activities. Alexander noted the success of NAB’s Small Market Television Exchange and recognized Paul McTear, president and CEO of Raycom Media, the 2009 recipient of the Chuck Sherman Leadership Award, for his service to small market television.

Mobile DTV
Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Lynn Claudy provided a status update on the continued rollout of mobile digital television, and the expected adoption of a single standard through the Advanced Television Systems Committee process. Claudy also discussed positive developments of the Open Mobile Video Coalition, a coalition of more than 800 local TV stations moving aggressively to distribute live, local TV to cell phones, laptops and other mobile devices. Claudy noted that seven local broadcast TV stations are currently on air with mobile TV in the Washington, D.C., market. In addition, Dell Computer is moving quickly to embed mobile DTV applications in laptop computers.

State Association Communication
NAB Television Board Chairman Paul Karpowicz re-emphasized the importance of good communication with the broadcast state associations. Karpowicz noted the strong relationships many state association executives have with their members of Congress, and noted their invaluable role in bolstering broadcasting grassroots efforts.

TVB ePORT
NAB Television Board Chairman Paul Karpowicz updated the Board on the TV Bureau of Advertising’s (TVB) ePort program, an initiative supported financially by NAB that is designed to provide efficiency in the selling of spot advertising at the local TV station level.

Radio Board of Directors
October 14, 2009

Call to Order
NAB Radio Board Chairman Charles Warfield called the meeting to order. After roll call the minutes of the June 2009 Board meeting were accepted.

Legislative Update
NAB Executive Vice President of Government Relations Laurie Knight briefed the Radio Board on the legislative status of the performance tax and low-power FM. Knight noted that a bipartisan majority of 251 House lawmakers and 26 Senators are on record in opposition to a performance fee on local radio.

Broadcast Radio in Cell Phones
NAB Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Lynn Claudy and Executive Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Jane Mago updated the radio board on the practical and regulatory environment surrounding NAB’s goal of increasing the number of FM-capable cell phones in the U.S. market.

The radio board unanimously adopted a resolution encouraging cell phone manufacturers “to include local broadcast radio functionality to the extent possible in all or most U.S. cell phones.”

FM IBOC Power Increase
Mago and Claudy also briefed the radio board on the status of NAB’s request to the FCC regarding signal power increase for HD Radio broadcasts.

FCC Issues
Mago updated the radio board on several FCC-related issues, including the musicFirst petition on the performance tax issue, new FTC rules on product endorsements, AM on FM translators and Arbitron’s transition to Portable People Meter devices.

New Technologies in Radio
Claudy updated the radio board on technological advancements having an impact on radio broadcasters, including HD Radio, Internet radio, WiMax and mobile streaming applications such as iHeartRadio.

Radio Membership and Events Report
NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David briefed the radio board on current radio membership levels. David and NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown provided highlights from the recently-held NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia and provided a brief update on next year’s NAB Radio Show, to be held in Washington, D.C.

Radio Heard Here
David provided an update on the Radio Heard Here campaign.

Radio Streaming and AFTRA
David provided an update on streaming-related issues and continuing discussions with AFTRA regarding the streaming of radio commercials.

Music Licensing Update
Board member Ed Christian, who chairs the Radio Music Licensing Committee, briefed the board on the status of music rate negotiations with performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI.