We Are Advocates

NAB secured big wins for broadcasters in 2018, successfully fighting for policies to ensure stations' ability to serve their local communities.

Spectrum Auction Repack

Performance Tax

Music Modernization Act

Retransmission Consent

Media Ownership

Next Gen TV

Children's TV Programming Rules

State Leadership Conference

NAB Political Action Committee


To learn more about our advocacy efforts, click here.

Spectrum Auction Repack

We Are Ensuring TV Frequency Moves Don't Leave Viewers and Listeners in the Dark

In 2018, broadcasters successfully secured an additional $1 billion to reimburse radio and television stations for their costs during the spectrum repacking process. These funds help to ensure viewers and listeners don’t lose access to their stations.

NAB worked with leaders in the House and Senate to ensure that RAY BAUM’S Act, which provided additional funds for full-power television stations, FM Radio stations and low-power television and translator stations affected by the repacked, was included in the final omnibus appropriations bill and signed into law.

NAB will continue to work productively with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure broadcasters are fully reimbursed and stations are not forced to reduce services due to circumstances outside their control.

Local Radio Freedom Act

We Are Preventing a Performance Tax that Would Hurt Local Stations and Their Listeners

Broadcasters were once again successful in staving off attempts by the record labels to impose a tax on local radio stations, securing a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives to support the Local Radio Freedom Act. At the end of the year, 228 members of the House and 28 senators demonstrated their appreciation of radio stations’ critical role in communities by cosponsoring this resolution that opposes any new tax, fee or royalty on local radio stations.

NAB will continue to educate policymakers about the harm caused to local radio stations, artists and listeners by legislation that would impose a fee on stations simply for airing and promoting music.

Music Modernization Act

We Are Bringing Certainty to Music Licensing

In 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed the Orrin G. Hatch – Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act into law, putting into effect the first reform of music copyright law in decades. NAB advocated for this legislation, which includes no new performance tax on broadcasters and formally establishes a role for Congress as the Department of Justice reviews consent decrees with the two largest performing rights organizations, ASCAP and BMI. The decrees are essential to a functioning music marketplace and any action to terminate them must be preceded by appropriate congressional oversight and the implementation of an alternative framework to protect the interests of songwriters, licensees and music consumers.

Enactment of this law is the culmination of a years-long process to find consensus solutions to music licensing problems. NAB’s guide to the Music Modernization Act, available to all members, outlines what these changes mean for stations.

Retransmission Consent

We Are Protecting a Level Playing Field

As pay-TV companies continued to lobby the government to intervene in private, market-based negotiations to avoid fairly compensating broadcasters for their highly-valued content, NAB worked to ensure a fair process that benefits viewers. Broadcasters ensured that legislation introduced by Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-01) to eliminate the copyright and communications laws underpinning broadcast video carriage, including retransmission consent, did not gain traction.

NAB and broadcasters will continue to educate policymakers that government intervention will only disrupt a marketplace that has resulted in abundant programming choices and services for viewers.

Media Ownership

We Are Advocating to Remove Antiquated Restrictions

Broadcasters applauded the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) decision to modernize outdated ownership rules last year. NAB has long advocated for the removal of antiquated restrictions to allow stations to compete more effectively in the modern marketplace.

NAB will continue to support the FCC in court challenges to its decisions brought by those opposing all reform of the broadcast ownership restrictions.

As part of the FCC’s next ownership review in the coming year, NAB will be making the case for modernizing the FCC’s local radio ownership caps.

Next Gen TV

We Are Seeking Flexibility for Local Stations to Unleash Next Gen TV

Since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the voluntary deployment of the Next Generation TV standard in 2017, NAB has continued to lead efforts to educate policymakers about Next Gen TV’s great benefits to viewers.

Broadcasters applaud the Commission for recognizing stations’ commitment to innovating and adapting to a digital media landscape to better serve viewers.

The order allows broadcasters to deploy the Next Gen TV standard subject to local simulcasting arrangements using the current DTV standard to preserve service to viewers.

Broadcasters in the U.S. are moving to unleash this next generation of free broadcast TV service, and NAB will continue to work with the FCC to minimize any regulatory roadblocks that may arise as stations transition to the Next Gen TV standard.

To learn more about the next generation of television, visit nab.org/NextGen.

Children's Television Rules

We Are Ensuring the Modernization of Media Regulations and Children's TV Programming Rules

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted its children's programming rules more than two decades ago, broadcast TV was by far the most significant form of video programming available to children and their parents. But the children's video landscape has dramatically changed, providing a plethora of educational options across multiple platforms. As the FCC considers proposals to update its children's television programming rules, NAB will continue to advocate to bring these rules into the digital age and work with the Commission and other stakeholders to craft flexible rules that allow local TV stations to serve all viewers, including children, effectively. NAB also is encouraging FCC action to modernize other rules, including various paperwork and filing requirements, that unduly burden radio and TV stations.

State Leadership Conference

We Are Making Broadcasters' Voices Heard

The 2018 NAB State Leadership Conference brought more than 500 broadcasters from across the country to Washington, D.C., to learn more about policies before Congress and to meet with their legislators on the issues that impact their businesses. Rep. Gene Green (TX-29) was presented with the inaugural NAB Broadcast Champion Award in recognition of his strong support for broadcasters, including co-sponsoring the Local Radio Freedom Act since its inception in the 110th Congress. Attendees also heard from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (ND) and Rep. Greg Walden (OR-2), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

NABPAC

We Are Supporting Pro-Broadcast Candidates and Legislators Through the NAB Political Action Committee

The NAB Political Action Committee’s (NABPAC) advocacy role is elevated in an election year and 2018 was no different. By aggregating personal donations from NAB members, NABPAC was able to support pro-broadcast candidates and legislators during midterm elections. More than 290 members of Congress or candidates running in open seats received funds thanks to the 912 donors who participated in NABPAC. Through company solicitations, in-state fundraisers and events at NAB functions, NABPAC was able to connect with local broadcasters and raise a total of $1,368,034. Through NABPAC, broadcasters are making an impact in Congress that will secure a strong future for broadcasting.

We are grateful to these NABPAC members for their support that is strengthening broadcasters’ voices in Washington, D.C.

To get involved, contact Jennifer Flemming, director, NABPAC, at jflemming@nab.org or (202) 429-5314.





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