New Jersey
The intense work to halt the FCC's issuing Low Power FM licenses to local stations and translators, has put a six month freeze on the granting of licenses for translators.
Our work with Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) includes an amendment that was added to the McCain Low-Power FM Bill that would protect local New Jersey radio stations against harmful interference from translator networks. The amendment provides third-adjacent channel protection for full-power FM stations licensed in states with more than three million housing units plus a population density over 1,000 people per square mile. New Jersey is the only state in the country that meets both criteria.
As a result of NJBA's efforts in the New Jersey legislature, the bill outlawing pirate radio stations was passed.
NJBA assists stations with FCC inspections, when asked.
Whenever there is any mention of a tax on advertising, NJBA people are very present in objecting, and have effectively tabled or killed any such legislation.
Because the state's emergency alert system is rather antiquated, NJBA is constantly working to upgrade the electronics of the system. This is crucially important when it involves the Amber Alert System. However, in the middle of April a child and mother were abducted, and the system worked. After seven hours of negotiation, the child and her mother were released and the abductor arrested.
In order to assure that advertising agencies responding to state RFPs are aware of the media opportunities in New Jersey, a statement will be included in those RFPs requiring that responders have knowledge of all the state's media capabilities. This was also through NJBA efforts.
New Jersey Broadcasters Association holds an annual meeting highly regarded June 6 and 7 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, NJ. Featured are Don Blohowiak as Keynoter; Dan O'Day, and RAB sales experts Mike Malone and George Hyde.
Philip Roberts
President
New Jersey Broadcasters Association
proberts@njba.com
New York
The NYSBA has written to every member of the House from New York asking each to cosponsor HR 998, the "Local Emergency Radio Service Act."
This bill will keep the satellite radio industry from circumventing the will of the FCC by providing localized content. Additionally, all NYS radio GMs are being urged to call their member of the House requesting their support of the bill.
Joe Reilly
NYS Broadcasters Association
joereilly@nysbroadcastersassn.org
California
The California Broadcasters Association is dealing a number of important legislative issues. Many radio stations offer low cost promotional concerts to their listeners and often all the proceeds go to charity. A bill that would have imposed a 1% surcharge on every ticket to a live entertainment event was defeated last week. Such a measure could have dramatically increased the economic risk of this community service.
The legislators have become enamored with using broadcast advertising to promote consumer protection. There are more than a dozen bills that increase the disclosures/disclaimers in everything from cell phone termination fees to cancellation rights at health clubs. As government mandates fill more copy, businesses see less value in broadcast ads (especially radio).
On the labor front, a bill is moving that would drastically affect a station's ability to recoup commissions that have been advanced to salespersons.
Two bills to restore camera and microphone access to California prisons have also passed their first policy committees. Similar bills have been vetoed by the Governor over the past decade.
Mark Powers
California Broadcasters Association
cbapowers@cabroadcasters.org
Washington
Legislation that will protect broadcasters from lawsuits arising from the broadcast of erroneous information during an AMBER Alert has passed the Washington Legislature and was signed into law by the Governor on April 21st. The bill, sponsored by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters (WSAB), provides immunity from civil liability in the event, for instance, that law enforcement agencies provide mistaken identification of suspects. Washington is the 10th state to pass such legislation.
Mark Allen, Esq.
Washington State Association of Broadcasters
wa-broadcasters@earthlink.net
Kentucky
The Kentucky Broadcasters Association is sponsoring two training sessions in July conducted by the Radio Advertising Bureau. Recognizing that many stations find it difficult, due to the expense and time, to send trainees to the RAB classes in Dallas, the KBA brings RAB to Kentucky. "This is the fourth year in a row we have sponsored this event", says Gary White KBA president/CEO. He added, "This is one of our most popular sessions and typically attracts about 25 participants from across the state." This year, in addition to the RAB's basic training academy, for those with less than 2-years experience, a concurrent class will be held for more advanced sales reps and managers.
The cost of the program is partially underwritten by the KBA allowing the RAB to offer participates a deep discount in the cost.
The sessions will be held June 27-29, 2005 at the KBA headquarters in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Gary White
Kentucky Broadcasters Association
gwhite@mis.net
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