More than 400 radio and television broadcasters gathered in Washington, D.C., last week for the NAB State Leadership Conference. The local station representatives met with lawmakers on a host of public policy issues critical to the future of free and local broadcasting.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (MI)

While broadcasters met on an array of issues, two will stood out: legislation that would levy a new performance tax on radio stations, and proposals circulating in Washington that support reclaiming broadcast TV spectrum to boost mobile broadband service.

The week's events included a series of policy updates, with appearances from House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (VA), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (MI) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (GA).

House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (VA)

A primary concern of radio broadcasters is legislation known as the Performance Rights Act, a bill supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which would levy a new fee on radio stations for every song aired on free, local radio. Fifty percent of the new fee would be paid directly to record labels, an industry dominated by foreign-owned companies based in London, Paris and Tokyo. Currently, a bipartisan coalition of 256 House lawmakers and 27 U.S. Senators stand publicly opposed to the RIAA-backed performance tax.

Television broadcasters met to ensure lawmakers understand the ramifications of recent proposals to reclaim broadcast TV spectrum for increased mobile broadband. Following the transition from analog to digital TV, in which TV broadcasters spent more than $10 billion and returned more than a quarter of their spectrum, some wireless industry advocates are now supporting proposals that could diminish free, broadcast TV service. Reps. Rick Boucher (VA), John Dingell (MI) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) have already expressed concern over the proposals.