Hello from Washington, D.C. Just when you thought things might cool down for fall, the NAB Government Relations team just turned up the heat! At the beginning of the year, NABPAC allocated over $1 million in funds for members of Congress, targeting 271 members. We just closed the third quarter and NABPAC has already spent $960,000 of that allocation. NABPAC is a bipartisan PAC and 100 percent of contributions go to members of Congress. Hitting our 2018 fundraising goal of $1,365,000 is critical before the election this year. There are currently 70 open seats and many of these are coming from current members that sit on our four key committees: Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary and Ways and Means. It is our hope that you will continue to support your industry today to ensure our team has the resources we need to help pro-broadcast incumbents hold their seats and to help educate pro-broadcast candidates. We would be honored to list you as a Power Player in 2018!
Whether you are making that personal investment, encouraging your colleagues to get involved or are learning about candidates to support, we encourage you to keep in mind the wins that personal contributions have brought the industry. In 2018, $1 billion in additional repack funding is the top issue for our TV broadcasters. Given that this was an issue that involved years-long advocacy before the commerce committees, appropriations and leadership in both chambers of Congress, the PAC enabled NAB’s Government Relations team to support the numerous champions who helped us gain traction on this issue along the way. As we head into 2019, the upcoming STELAR expiration is the top issue on our legislative agenda. For our radio broadcasters, last week the Senate passed the newly named Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act (MMA) by unanimous voice vote. As you will recall, the MMA includes significant reforms relating to songwriter compensation by on-demand streaming services, payments to pre-1972 recording artists and royalty shares for music producers. The MMA now heads to the House of Representatives, which had previously passed its version of the legislation by a 415-0 vote, where we expect it to be taken up as soon as this week, passed and sent to the president’s desk for signature. NAB fully supports the MMA after the continued inclusion of a provision that establishes an enhanced oversight role for Congress in any Department of Justice (DOJ) review of the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees. Given recent activity around this issue at DOJ, NAB advocated heavily for this oversight provision and negotiated with key Congressional offices and other stakeholders for its inclusion during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of the legislation. Additionally, this legislation preserves an agreement reached between NAB, ASCAP and BMI earlier this year that limits the application of unfavorable changes to the ASCAP and BMI rate court evidentiary rules to pureplay streaming services, but not terrestrial broadcasts or simulcasts. Finally, and most importantly, this legislation, which is the culmination of the years long copyright review that began in 2014 in the House Judiciary Committee, includes no new performance royalty on local broadcasters. Don’t miss out on these upcoming events:
We appreciate your continued support! Our thanks, Jennifer Flemming Alyssa Niemiec
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. |
