1. Anna Gomez Confirmed as Fifth FCC Commissioner

Yesterday, Anna Gomez was confirmed as the fifth commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

• "NAB congratulates Anna Gomez on her confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission. Her wealth of experience in telecommunications policymaking will help the FCC address the critical issues facing radio and television broadcasters," said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
• With a fully seated FCC now in place, LeGeyt is outlining for the Commission how they be the catalyst to keep broadcasting strong. Learn more about the three areas where NAB believes action is necessary to enable vital local news.

2. NAB Town Hall: A Conversation with Curtis LeGeyt

NAB will hold a members-only virtual town hall with President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt on September 28 at 2 p.m. ET.

• Send us your questions: Watch your inbox for further details coming soon. In the meantime, you can send in questions now for LeGeyt to answer during the town hall.

3. Show Congress America Depends on AM Radio

Your participation in NAB's #DependonAM campaign has led to listeners sending more than 341,000 emails and 40,000 tweets to Congress, urging them to support legislation that ensures AM radio remains in cars.

• Thanks to your engagement, one-third of all senators and members of the House of Representatives have cosponsored the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
• 📻 Keep airing NAB's #DependOnAM radio spots, available in English and Spanish, to continue engaging listeners in the campaign.
• The spots ask listeners to contact their members of Congress by texting AM to 52886, telling them to support the AM For Every Vehicle Act.

4. You Can't Miss the Broadcast Content Summit

Register now for the Broadcast Content Summit, a new dual-track conference at NAB Show New York designed for TV and radio leaders, programmers and content creators.

• Topics include AI, AM radio, connected car, NEXTGEN TV, sportscasting, audience engagement, preserving content, recruitment and more. Check out session highlights here.
• Register today - NAB members receive the best rates.

New! AI Creative Summit Virtual Event, Sept. 14-15. Get ahead of the curve and join the virtual event revolutionizing the intersection of AI and creativity. This immersive experience invites forward-thinking professionals to explore the ever-evolving landscape of AI-driven creativity. Register today.

5. Regulatory Fees Due Soon �? New Reduced Rates for Broadcasters

Recently, NAB was successful in advocating for a reduction in regulatory fees for broadcasters. At our urging, the FCC has begun reallocating a portion of costs to other industries that benefit directly from the Commission's work. This will result in significantly lower fees for most broadcasters, ranging from 5% to more than 40% for some stations. Some smaller stations may not pay fees at all.

Regulatory fees for those who owe them are due no later than September 20, 2023, and the FCC has issued a fact sheet that provides guidance targeted to broadcasters and other media licensees.

• The fact sheet specifies which media licensees must pay the fees, required fee amounts for various categories of media licensees and instructions for obtaining fee amounts for individual stations, and eligibility for exemption from the fees.
• The FCC also provides directions for paying the fees through the Commission Registration System (CORES). The use of CORES is mandatory. Payments not submitted by the due date are subject to a 25% late payment penalty.

For additional information, broadcasters should review the FCCs regulatory fee order, which addressed NAB's longstanding position that the FCC's regulatory fee methodology unfairly forces broadcasters to subsidize work performed on behalf of other industries.

6. How to Prepare for the Nationwide EAS Test

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the emergency alert system (EAS) at 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

• We've created a handy one-pager with all the information you need about this test, from filing deadlines to steps to take to prepare for the day.

7. Must Carry/Retransmission Consent Election Deadline

All commercial and noncommercial television stations are required to place a carriage election statement stating whether they elect retransmission consent or must carry on cable and satellite in their online public files (OPIF) on or before October 1, 2023.

• Stations that are changing their elections with respect to a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) must also email the affected MVPD and the Commission and attach that email to the statement they upload into OPIF.
• More details are available in NAB's Counsel Memo.

8. Ownership Reports Filing Window Opens Soon

The FCC Media Bureau recently released a reminder to commercial and noncommercial broadcasters of their upcoming requirement to file their 2023 ownership reports.

• The window for filing ownership reports will open on October 2, 2023, and all reports must be submitted by December 1, 2023.

Questions? Contact the NAB Legal department at (866) 682-0276 or legal@nab.org.

9. Air 9/11 Day PSAs Now

Refresh your station's public service announcement creative at NAB's Spot Center, a destination for local radio and television broadcasters seeking public educational materials from credible organizations.

• The nonprofit 9/11 Day has released new TV and radio PSAs urging Americans to remember 9/11 through kindness and helping others.
• The four spots, featuring 9/11 survivors, first responders and family members who lost loved ones, are available to run until September 15.