WASHINGTON, DC-- The National Association of Broadcasters Joint Board of Directors held meetings in Washington, DC on January 25 and 26. Below is a summary of their actions.
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JOINT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JANUARY 25-26, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
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 October
2009 Board meeting were approved.
REPORTS FROM JOINT BOARD CHAIR AND PRESIDENT/CEO
Newberry and NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith updated the Board on association
activities, including legislative and regulatory issues facing the broadcast
business. Smith provided the Board with his insight on specific legislative
and regulatory issues related to broadcasting, including the recording industry's
attempt to levy a new performance tax on local radio stations, and proposals
from some groups in Washington to reallocate broadcast TV spectrum for wireless
broadband devices.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
NAB Executive Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs Jane Mago provided
a brief update to the Board on issues related to spectrum reallocation, the
FCC's ownership proceeding and content regulation.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
NAB Executive Vice President of Government Relations Laurie Knight updated the
Board on legislative issues facing broadcasters, including the performance tax,
satellite TV reauthorization, and advertising. Knight noted that 253 House members
and 27 U.S. Senators have co-sponsored the Local Radio Freedom Act, a bipartisan
resolution that expressly opposes the imposition of a performance tax on local
radio stations.
NAB FASTROAD UPDATE
NAB Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Lynn Claudy updated the
Board on the NAB's FASTROAD (Flexible Advanced Services for Television and Radio
On All Devices) project. This initiative is designed to help spur the inclusion
of live, local radio and TV signals on mobile devices such as cell phones and
laptops.
NABPAC UPDATE
NAB Political Action Committee Chairman Larry Patrick updated the Board on NAB's
fundraising efforts and encouraged members to contribute.
NAB SHOW UPDATE
NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown
updated the Board on the status of the 2010 NAB Show, which will be held April
10-15, 2010 in Las Vegas.
RESOLUTION HONORING JIM QUELLO
The NAB Joint Board of Directors unanimously adopted the following resolution:
It is hereby resolved this day by the Joint Board of the National Association of Broadcasters that NAB and all broadcasters mourn the passing of a truly great American, James H. Quello. Jim Quello was himself a great broadcaster who answered the call of his country as a war hero in World War II, and through more than two decades of service on the Federal Communications Commission as a Commissioner and Chairman. NAB is grateful for Jim Quello's unwavering support for free and local broadcasting and applaud his bipartisan approach to public policy debates. We have lost a true friend.
RESOLUTION ON HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS
The NAB Joint Board of Directors unanimously adopted the following resolution:
It is hereby resolved this day by the Joint Board of the National Association of Broadcasters that NAB should continue to work closely with the American Red Cross, Ad Council, and our federal partners to distribute critical earthquake relief information. February 1 will be designated as "Broadcasters for Haiti Day." On that day, NAB will urge radio and TV stations to dedicate airtime to fundraising relief efforts, telephone banks, radiothons and telethons, and we also encourage stations to produce localized public service announcements boosting Haitian relief efforts.
RESOLUTION ON TEXTING AND DRIVING PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN
The NAB Joint Board of Directors unanimously adopted the following resolution:
It is hereby resolved this day by the Joint Board of the National Association of Broadcasters for NAB and broadcasters to work with Government and the private sector to promote and encourage safe driving practices. NAB believes that text messaging on portable devices while driving is incompatible with safe driving.
RESOLUTION HONORING JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE
The NAB Joint Board of Directors unanimously adopted the following resolution:
It is hereby resolved this day by the Joint Board of the National Association of Broadcasters that NAB congratulates all broadcasters who recently received awards for excellence in programming and broadcast journalism.
Particular commendation goes to the following NAB members who received the Peabody Award: WWL-TV New Orleans, KMGH-TV Denver, KLAS-TV Las Vegas, and the Hearst-Argyle Television Group.
The following NAB members also deserve special commendation for their receipt of the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award: KHOU-TV Houston, KMGH-TV Denver, WCAX-TV Burlington, VT; WTVF-TV Nashville and WWL-TV New Orleans.
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RADIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JANUARY 25, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
NAB Radio Board Chairman Charles Warfield, president and CEO of ICBC Broadcast
Holdings, called the meeting to order. After roll call the minutes of the October
2009 Board meeting were accepted.
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE
Gordon Smith and Laurie Knight provided the Radio Board with a detailed update
on the status of several legislative issues including the performance tax and
low power FM.
Jane Mago and Lynn Claudy provided an update regarding NAB initiatives to increase the adoption of FM radio receivers in cell phones and other mobile devices. Mago and Claudy also updated the Radio Board on a power increase proposal for HD Radio.
Mago updated the Radio Board on regulatory issues before the Federal Communications Commission, including media ownership, localism and the state of journalism.
HD RADIO
Bob Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity, briefed the Radio Board on recent
developments related to the rollout of HD Radio.
RADIO MUSIC LICENSING COMMITTEE
Radio Board First Vice Chair Caroline Beasley, executive vice president and
CFO of Beasley Broadcast Group and member of the Radio Music Licensing Committee,
provided an update to the Radio Board on rate discussions with BMI and ASCAP.
RADIO MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David provided an update to the Radio
Board on membership initiatives and upcoming events. John David and Chris Brown
updated the Radio Board on The 2010 Radio Show, sponsored by NAB and the Radio
Advertising Bureau. The event will take place September 29 - October 1, 2010
at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
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TELEVISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JANUARY 26, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Television Board Chairman Paul Karpowicz, president of Meredith Corporation
Broadcasting Group, called the Television Board to order. After a call of the
roll, minutes of the October 2009 Board meeting were approved.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Jane Mago provided the TV Board with an update on several FCC-related issues
including proposals before the FCC to reallocate broadcast TV spectrum for wireless
broadband use. Mago also discussed media ownership and content-related issues.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Laurie Knight provided the TV Board with an update on legislative issues, including
the CALM Act, legislation that limits the volume of commercial advertisements.
Knight also provided the TV Board with an update on satellite TV reauthorization,
which received a 60 day extension prior to the end of 2009.
RETRANSMISSION CONSENT
Knight and Mago briefed the TV Board on issues and activities related to retransmission
consent. Mago noted the numerous carriage deals reached in recent weeks demonstrates
that the market-based negotiation process is working as intended.
MOBILE DTV
Lynn Claudy updated the TV Board on initiatives of the Open Mobile Video Coalition
and NAB related to the rollout of live and local mobile DTV. Claudy noted recent
surveys demonstrating that younger people are particularly interested in receiving
entertainment and news content on mobile devices.
TV MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
NAB Executive Vice President of Television Marcellus Alexander updated the TV
Board on upcoming television activities and membership initiatives. Alexander
noted that the NAB Futures Summit will be held Nov. 7-9 in Rancho Palos Verdes,
CA.
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About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative,
regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB
enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses
and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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