HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STALEMATE CONTINUES

The standoff on Capitol Hill continues as the House of Representatives remains without a Speaker.

• Without an elected Speaker, the House cannot conduct any business, including negotiations to fund the government past November 17 (when the current continuing resolution expires).
• A federal government shutdown would wreak havoc with travel and pause federal government support for events (e.g., speakers at events, Trade Event Partnership Program, etc.).

ECA supports efforts to ensure the industry’s top priorities are included in government-funding bills.

ECA AND IAVM JOIN MUSIC LICENSING CASE APPEAL

Last week, ECA and IAVM signed onto an amicus brief in the appeal of March’s BMI v North American Concert Promoters Association (NACPA) rate court decision.

• The original decision increased concert music royalty rates 138% by using benchmark rates set by two performing rights organizations: SESAC and GMR.
• ECA & IAVM joined the Motion Picture Association of America, Radio Music License Committee, National Association of Broadcasters, and Digital Media Association in arguing that the court should have used rates set by ASCAP and BMI, which are legally required to be “reasonable.”

A ruling is anticipated next year, which will likely impact future music licensing rates paid by the industry.

• Special thanks to the MIC Coalition for facilitating ECA’s involvement in this important appeal!

SENATE ADVANCES FTC NOMINEES

On Wednesday, 3 nominees to serve on the 5-person Federal Trade Commission were voted out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

• For nearly a year, the FTC has not had a full complement of commissioners, which is important as the agency moves to consider an ECA-supported final rule on business impersonation fraud.

ECA continues to support the final FTC adoption of its proposed anti-fraud rule as soon as possible to give the agency more enforcement power to stop email list sale scams and hotel reservation scams.

ECA ON THE ROAD (AND AIRWAVES)

In the coming weeks, ECA will be part of these great events organized by our ECA alliance partners!

• UFI 90th Global Congress (November 1-4: Las Vegas, NV): ECA will be part of the “Spotlight on Global Advocacy” panel.
• EDPA ACCESS (November 28-30: Bonita Springs, FL): ECA will be in attendance.
• IAEE Expo! Expo! (December 5-7: Dallas, TX): ECA will be part of an executive dialogue on “The Intersection Betweeen Exhibitions and Unending Political and Societal Challenges.”
• PCMA Convening Leaders (January 7-10: San Diego, CA): ECA will be part of the “When Politics and Values Collide: Navigating Potential Calls to Boycott a Destination” panel.

Don’t forget to catch the latest advocacy updates on the EXHIBITOR Now Association Focus podcast.