1. Listeners Bombard Congress with Call to "Keep AM Radio in Cars!"
Last week, NAB released new radio spots, digital ads and talking points as part of the Depend on AM campaign encouraging automakers to keep AM radio in cars.
📣 Since then, our radio listeners and ambassadors have sent more than 119,000 emails to members of Congress asking them to keep AM radio in cars. This is a phenomenal result, and we are just getting started.
Please keep airing spots and encouraging your on air talent to share this issue with your listeners.
More than 80 million Americans depend on AM radio and removing it from vehicles is a dire public safety risk. We are asking listeners to help us contact Congress by texting AM to 52886 and telling them to keep AM radio in cars.
DependOnAm.com is an information hub with a grassroots call to action where listeners can quickly and easily tell their members of Congress to advocate for AM radio in vehicles.
Thank you for your engagement in this campaign – it is vital that we make our voices heard on this critical issue.
2. NAB Urges Action on Broadcast Ownership Review
NAB has filed a petition for mandamus in federal court seeking to require the FCC to expeditiously complete its 2018 quadrennial review of broadcast ownership rules.
"Broadcasters and the hundreds of millions of Americans that depend on us can't wait another day, much less another four years, for the FCC to allow us to compete on a level playing field. NAB is seeking judicial relief as unfortunately the Commission has left us no other option," said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
3. LeGeyt on FCC Merger Review Process
New on the NAB Blog: NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt writes about FCC's flawed merger review process.
"The Commission's handling of the Standard General-TEGNA merger has exposed the flaws in the current system of transaction review, and it is our hope that FCC will reverse course and correct this miscarriage of justice," he said.
4. FCC Issues Pirate Radio Warnings
🛑 The FCC's Enforcement Bureau issued 16 warnings to landowners for allowing illegal radio broadcasting from their properties.
"NAB congratulates the FCC on its recent enforcement actions against illegal broadcast pirate operations. With full funding of the 2020 PIRATE Act now in place, NAB looks forward to regular enforcement sweeps that will help maintain order on the public airwaves," said NAB Senior Vice President, Communications Alex Siciliano.
5. NAB Board Election Results Announced
The results of the 2023 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections have been announced. The two-year terms of the elected board members will begin in June 2023.
If you would like to join us for our next Connect to Congress event featuring NRCC chair and House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09) on May 16 at 3 p.m. ET, please contact pac@nab.com.
8. NAB on the Move
Experiencing what NAB members do at the local level is key to NAB's advocacy. This week, Jennifer Flemming, vice president, NABPAC and Advocacy Initiatives, visited Gray TV stations WGGB/WSHM in Springfield, Mass.
General Manager Patience Hettrick, News Director Hugh Zeitlin and Director of Creative Services Brendon Fontanella led an informative tour that included popping in on the station's Future Media Leaders Summit, a local grassroots program aimed at introducing high school and college students to the broadcast industry.
Organized by various WGGB/WSHM employees, Future Media Leaders brings together employees from all departments to show students the many opportunities at the stations. The stations have hosted over a dozen schools since its inception in October 2022.