NAB advocates on the issues that impact the ability of local TV and radio stations and their network partners to serve your constituents. To learn more about the policies that broadcasters are focused on in the 118th Congress, visit nab.org/advocacy.
Keeping AM Radio in Cars Ensures Public Safety
AM radio serves a vital role in our nation's emergency infrastructure as the backbone of the Emergency Alert System. When the power goes out and cell networks are down, the car radio is often the only way for people to get information, sometimes for days at a time.
- AM radio keeps 82 million listeners connected to news, sports and entertainment each month.
- Agricultural communities, often with poor or non-existent cellular and broadband coverage, depend on AM radio for critical weather updates, crop reports and local information.
- AM stations also serve communities of color and underrepresented groups with religious and in-language programming.
Despite AM radio’s vital role in communities, some auto manufacturers have begun discontinuing AM radio from the dashboard.
Broadcasters support the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 1669; H.R. 3413) that was introduced in the 118th Congress. This bill would preserve AM radio in cars and ensure Americans can continue to have access to this reliable communications medium.
Congress should enact the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to keep this vital service as a standard feature in all vehicles and ensure Americans’ public safety.
Big Tech Business Practices Threaten Vital Local Journalism
Big Tech's Grip on Digital Advertising
A free press is the bedrock of American democracy. For over a century, broadcasters and their teams of journalists have served the public interest by bringing truth to light. Unfortunately, the dominance of Big Tech platforms threatens this vital role.
Even as broadcasters' free, accessible and reliable content remains in high demand, it is being undermined. The digital revolution and the exponential growth of the internet have fundamentally altered the media and advertising landscape.
Here is the problem: Local broadcast stations must be available on all platforms and every device to remain relevant to audiences and advertisers. But Big Tech platforms have a stranglehold on digital advertising and can dictate what, if any, revenue share broadcasters receive for their valuable content.
Broadcast content remains free by relying on advertising revenue to support its operations. As Big Tech platforms dominate the advertising market, local broadcast revenue has significantly declined, making local journalism more difficult to support.
The dominance and behavior of these platforms have resulted in "take-it-or-leave-it" offers for broadcasters' valuable content. Local stations have little power to negotiate because they would lose access to hundreds of millions of consumers if they declined to publish their content online.
Local journalism is now at risk due to this unchecked competitive power held by a handful of dominant digital players.
At the same time, local broadcasters continue to be subject to outdated rules restricting their scale and scope, making it even more difficult to compete with digital behemoths, which are allowed unregulated and unfettered growth.
Outdated Regulations Hurt Broadcasters’ Ability to Compete
Congress has recognized the importance of having up-to-date broadcast ownership rules and requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review these rules every four years to repeal or modify those no longer necessary. Unfortunately, as of January 2023, the 2018 review has still not been completed.
As competition from Big Tech increases, policymakers should urge the FCC to modernize TV and radio ownership rules to reflect the current marketplace and account for the rise and influence of digital media. This is particularly important as it relates to restrictions on local radio ownership, which have not changed since 1996. To continue offering a free service available to all, broadcasters must be able to compete on a level playing field for audiences, advertising and investment.
Broadcasters Foot the Bill for Big Tech at the FCC
Finally, the FCC should not require broadcasters to pay more than their fair share in regulatory fees. The Commission is required to assess and collect regulatory fees every fiscal year to recover the costs of carrying out its functions. There are currently numerous services covered by FCC regulation that do not pay these fees, leaving broadcasters to subsidize the FCC's costs of regulating other industries. Broadcasters provide a free public service and are unable to recoup these costs. Regulatory fees impact stations' operating budgets, hurting their ability to provide critical local news and information and compete in the media marketplace.
Congress should support laws and policies that recognize and uphold broadcasters' essential role in democracy and ensure their ability to compete and continue serving their communities. This includes supporting the FCC's modernization of TV and radio ownership rules and urging the FCC to allocate regulatory fees more equitably.
A New Performance Tax Hurts Listeners, Artists and Local Radio Stations
Congress has repeatedly rejected the record labels' attempts to impose a harmfulnew performance tax on local radio stations. This would financially cripple local radio stations simply for airing music. It would jeopardize local jobs, stifle new artists and harm local radio listeners.
Broadcasters strongly support the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 33, S. Con. Res. 9, 117th Congress), a resolution that opposes a performance tax and was supported by more than 250 bipartisan members of the House and Senate during the 117th Congress – including a majority of the House of Representatives.
Strong congressional support for local radio was also made clear in the 2018 enactment of the Music Modernization Act, legislation that did not contain a performance tax and benefited songwriters, legacy recording artists, producers, digital streaming services and music listeners.
Broadcasters stand ready to work with Congress and the recording industry on a balanced music licensing proposal that promotes innovation and recognizes the benefit to artists and listeners of radio's free, locally focused platform.
Congress should stand up for local radio station listeners by opposing a performance tax.
Allow Broadcasters to Continue to Negotiate in the Free Market
Congress has recognized that local stations must be able to negotiate for the value of their signals in a process known as retransmission consent to keep pace in an incredibly competitive marketplace. This provides more choice for viewers and resources for stations to invest in local news, public affairs programming and emergency weather coverage.
Congress has consistently reaffirmed the importance of this process, most recently in passing the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act of 2019 (STCPPA). This law reformed and made permanent key elements of this system.
Retransmission consent has driven unparalleled investment in local television resulting in abundant, locally focused content that benefits local communities across America.
As viewers increasingly turn to streaming platforms to watch broadcast content, NAB also supports the Federal Communications Commission refreshing the record as it considers whether retransmission consent rules should apply to streaming services.
Broadcasters urge policymakers to continue reaffirming the importance of the retransmission consent system.
Broadcasters are Working to Ensure a More Diverse Workforce
Broadcasters are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and creating new opportunities for women, people of color and other underrepresented communities.
Since 2000, the NAB Leadership Foundation's cornerstone initiative has been the Broadcast Leadership Training program, which has a strong track record of preparing women and people of color to purchase and run radio and television stations.
However, access to capital remains one of the primary barriers to media ownership.
Unfortunately, the most impactful program to expand diversity in broadcast ownership – the Minority Tax Certificate Program – was eliminated by Congress in 1995. That program had provided tax incentives to those who sold their majority interests in broadcast stations to minorities, and broadcasters support legislation to reinstate it.
Reinstating this proven program would encourage investment in broadcast station ownership for women and people of color and dramatically help underrepresented voices realize their dreams of owning a station.
In the 117th Congress, broadcasters supported the Broadcast Ownership Opportunities Act (H.R. 4871) and the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service Act, also known as the Broadcast VOICES Act (S. 2456).
Congress should pass the Broadcast VOICES Act to help ensure station owners are as diverse as the communities they serve.
Changes to the Tax Treatment of Advertising Hurt Local Media
Under the U.S. tax code, advertising is treated as an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible in the year it is incurred.
In the last few years, some in Congress and state legislatures have proposed changes to the tax treatment of advertising to raise revenue. This would have a devastating impact on radio and television stations, as well as local newspapers, by making it more costly for businesses to advertise.
Local media rely on ad revenue to serve their communities with essential news, emergency information, sports and entertainment programming. The proposed changes also raise significant First Amendment concerns and ignore the important consumer benefits that advertising provides.
Congress should oppose legislation that modifies the tax laws to make advertising more expensive for businesses.
The Future of Television is On the Horizon
The next generation of broadcast television can deliver lifesaving advanced emergency alerting, stunning pictures, immersive and customizable audio and improved reception to enhance and expand the broadcast viewing experience.
NEXTGEN TV combines the best features of broadcast television and broadband, allowing local stations to better personalize their broadcasts with information and interactive features to give viewers the content that is most relevant to them.
The FCC has approved voluntary use of the Next Generation TV standard, which requires no additional spectrum and no government subsidies. To date, this free over-the-air service is available to more than half of all U.S. households.
As broadcasters continue to invest in the future of television, Congress can help by urging the FCC to maintain a reasonable, flexible framework for NEXTGEN TV deployment. To learn more about the next generation of television, visit WatchNextGenTV.com.
Join the Congressional Broadcasters Caucus
The Congressional Broadcasters Caucus, a bipartisan group of members of Congress, educates other policymakers about broadcast-related issues and the importance of local radio and television stations to millions of Americans.
Recognizing the critical role broadcasters play in their local communities, the Caucus discusses issues significant to the broadcast industry, specifically local radio and television stations, and other forms of broadcast journalism.
Broadcasters have a rich history of representation within the halls of Congress and throughout the executive branch. In the 117th Congress, two-dozen members of Congress had a background in broadcasting. Members do not, however, need experience or a background in broadcasting to join the Congressional Broadcasters Caucus.
Reps. Tom Emmer (MN-06) and Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) founded the Congressional Broadcasters Caucus in the 116th Congress and currently serve as its co-chairs. If you are interested in joining the Broadcasters Caucus, contact Lizzy Fallon with Rep. Tom Emmer at Lizzy.Fallon@mail.house.gov or Gianluca Nigro with Rep. Brendan Boyle at Gianluca.Nigro@mail.house.gov.
CONTACT US
In the 118th Congress, broadcasters look forward to working with legislators on policies that allow local stations to thrive and compete in an evolving media landscape. For more information on the issues affecting local radio and television stations, please contact the National Association of Broadcasters' advocacy team.
(800) 424-8806 | advocacy@nab.org | nab.org/advocacy
