Legislative Update
Could Australian Decision Giving Broadcasters the Right to Collectively Bargain with Tech Companies Be a Preview of Things to Come in the US?
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission approved an application for Commercial Radio Australia to collectively bargain with Google and Facebook over the carriage by these tech platforms of news content from Australian radio broadcasters (press release here, application and approval here). This approval is an outgrowth of the…
Read MoreJournalism Tax Credit Bill To Pay Salaries of Local Journalists Back in Budget Bill
The NAB has announced that the journalism payroll tax credit has been included in the just-released Democratic reconciliation text that House leadership plans to bring to the floor as soon as this week. This represents a significant step towards inclusion of this provision in any final Build Back Better Act package. While there remain some…
Read MoreFTC Reminds Advertisers That Deceptive Endorsements in Advertising Can Lead to Penalties
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In a Federal Trade Commission notice published last week, the agency warned the advertising industry that penalties could be coming for the use of deceptive endorsements. The FTC not only released the notice, but it also sent a letter (a version of which is available here) to hundreds of businesses (a list…
Read MoreBiden Names Jessica Rosenworcel FCC Chair
President Biden is moving to fill two openings at the Federal Communications Commission, nominating Jessica Rosenworcel as the commission’s chair, and former FCC staffer Gigi Sohn to a second vacant seat. Rosenworcel has been serving as the acting chair of the commission and has been on the panel since 2012. Sohn was counselor to former…
Read MoreMAB’s Klemet Meets with AG Nessel
MAB incoming President and CEO Sam Klemet met with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this week. Nessel, along with 14 other Attorneys General in the country, recently signed a letter in support of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act that would create a targeted tax credit for the hiring and retention of local journalists as well…
Read MoreFormer Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek has died at 69
Former U.S. Representative Dan Benishek, who represented northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula for three terms in Congress, died last Friday (10/15) at the age of 69. Benishek was a Republican from Crystal Falls. He made veteran affairs one of his top priorities while serving. He represented Michigan’s 1st District from 2011-2017. “We are heartbroken…
Read MoreDefamation by Tweet – Court Case Reminds Broadcasters to Take Cease and Desist Requests about Attack Ads Seriously
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP A recent controversial court of appeals decision on a defamation claim brought by Congressman Devin Nunes sends a signal to broadcasters about the care they need to give to reviewing commercial messages – particularly political attack ads – when questions are raised as to the truth of the assertions made…
Read MoreImportant Reminder: Biennial Broadcast Ownership Reports Due December 1, 2021
The Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Media Bureau recently issued a public notice reminding commercial and noncommercial broadcasters of their obligation to file their 2021 biennial ownership reports on FCC Form 323 or 323-E, respectively. In the notice, the FCC stated that it intends to take enforcement actions against stations that fail to file timely, complete…
Read MoreMAB: “Local Journalists Are a Conduit Between Government and the Public”
Michigan broadcasters shared the importance of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and access to public records with the Michigan House Oversight Committee on Thursday (10/14). “Local journalists are a conduit between government and the public and it’s essential that they have access to public records to protect the promise of transparency and accountability by…
Read MoreFormer Congressman Dale Kildee Has Died
Former Michigan Rep. Dale Kildee, who represented his hometown of Flint and the surrounding area in Congress for 36 years, died Wednesday (10/13) at 92. His death was announced by his nephew, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI 5th District), who succeeded him after his 2012 retirement. Dale Kildee, also a Democrat, was elected to the House…
Read More