Legislative Update
MAB Returns to Capitol Hill to Advocate for Broadcasters
By: Sam Klemet, MAB President and CEO Advocate. Educate. Celebrate. Those are the three primary missions of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. And I’m proud to say, this week encompassed each of those pillars. We educated members at the 2022 Digital Great Lakes Media Show which had more than 360 registrants and more than 40…
Read MoreTwo Proposed FCC Fines Suggest Tougher Enforcement – $32,000 for EEO Paperwork Issues and $20,000 for Alleged Contest Rule Violations
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In the last week, the FCC issued proposed fines to two big radio companies for alleged violations of FCC requirements. One proposed fine was for apparent violations of the FCC’s EEO rules, and the other dealt with the obligations of broadcasters to disclose and follow rules for on-air contests. In both cases, the proposed…
Read MoreNAB Files Comments Opposing Proposed Forest Service Fees
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has told the FCC that it opposes a proposal from the U.S. Forest Service to assess an annual programmatic fee on communication uses to cover the Forest Service’s costs of administering its communications use program. A survey by your MAB indicates that this proposed fee could impact some Michigan…
Read MoreMarch Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: EAS and Next Gen TV Rulemaking Comments, Incentive Auction Reimbursements, TV Auction, GMR Licensing Deadline, and More
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP March is one of those months where no regularly scheduled FCC deadlines fall. But there are still plenty of other deadlines and dates of importance to broadcasters that fall during this month, from comment dates in rulemaking proceedings, to the start of an auction for new TV stations…
Read MoreControversial Super Bowl Political Ads on Local Stations – Why They Can’t Be Pulled
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Ads planned to run in (last Sunday’s) Super Bowl by Republican candidates in primaries to select candidates for 2022 senate elections drew comments and controversy even before the game, with some calls to block the ads from the air. Ads for a candidate in Pennsylvania used the “Let’s…
Read MoreYour MAB: Working with Congress and Lawmakers for Our Members
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters are proud to work on behalf of our members to educate Congress and state lawmakers about the issues that impact our industry. Over the past two weeks, the MAB and representatives from stations across the state have met with multiple members of Congress and their staff. Michigan currently has seven…
Read MoreMAB Delivers Access to Broadcasters at the State Capitol; Opportunity to Weigh on FOIA
Providing access is a key mission of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. This week, the MAB is proud to have fought for and won an issue that is important to our members who cover activities at the state Capitol. Last week, media parking spots were removed on Ottawa St. near the Capitol building. Those were…
Read MoreGMR and RMLC Announce that Radio Royalty Settlement is Effective – Gives Commercial Radio Stations One Last Chance to Join Licensing Agreement by March 31
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In a press release issued today (2/7), the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and performing rights organization Global Music Rights (GMR) announced that enough commercial radio stations signed the GMR licensing agreement to allow the settlement of the RMLC/GMR litigation to become effective. As we wrote when the settlement was announced early last month,…
Read MoreThe Hill: Republican John James Announces Congressional Bid
Michigan Republican John James on Monday (1/31) announced a bid to represent the state in the U.S. House. The Hill reports that James, who ran unsuccessful Senate campaigns in 2018 and 2020, is vying to represent Michigan’s newly drawn 10th Congressional District. The district is expected to be competitive, as it encompasses parts of swing…
Read MoreFCC Follow Up to Stations that Did Not File Biennial Ownership Reports Last December – Fines to Follow?
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP The FCC sent out a flurry of reminders to broadcasters who did not file their Biennial Ownership Reports by the December 1, 2021 deadline. As we wrote in our reminder in November, these reports were to be filed by licensees of all full-power radio and TV stations (commercial and…
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