IN THIS WEEK'S WSAB NEWSLETTER...
- BROADCASTERS CONVERGE ON OLYMPIA
- WSAB LEGISLATIVE REPORT
- STATE BROADCASTERS TO ADVOCATE IN WASHINGTON, DC
- UPDATED 2019 BROADCASTERS CALENDAR
- WSAB MEMBERS AIRING TWO STATEWIDE PEP CAMPAIGNS
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Broadcasters from around the state spent January 29 on the hill in Olympia meeting with 24 state legislators and staff members to discuss issues of importance to local over the air broadcasters.
Pictured left to right are: Neal Boling, Station Manager of KHQ-TV Spokane, Jackson Weaver, Immediate Past Chair of the WSAB, Mark Allen of Mark Allen Government Relations and Cameron Derrick, Station Manager of KNDU-TV/KNDO-TV Tri-Cities/Yakima, who joined Keith Shipman for the day long event.
The WSAB advocacy team met with leadership on both sides of the aisle and had productive conversations about three primary issues:
- First Informer (HB 1147/SB 5186) – the WSAB introduced this bill which would permit broadcast technicians to enter declared emergency zones to restore transmitter and studio equipment so that radio and television stations can broadcast safety and recovery information;
- Local Candidates Access to TV (HB 1180) – the WSAB opposes this bill, which proposes to allow local candidates free access to television stations for political advertising;
- B&O Tax on Direct to Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising (SB 5659) – the WSAB is opposed to this bill, which would create a 2% B&O tax on broadcast advertising of pharmaceutical products;
- First Informer (HB 1147/SB 5186) – the WSAB introduced this bill which would permit broadcast technicians to enter declared emergency zones to restore transmitter and studio equipment so that radio and television stations can broadcast safety and recovery information;
- Local Candidates Access to TV (HB 1180) – the WSAB opposes this bill, which proposes to allow local candidates free access to television stations for political advertising;
- B&O Tax on Direct to Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising (SB 5659) – the WSAB is opposed to this bill, which would create a 2% B&O tax on broadcast advertising of pharmaceutical products.
The WSAB is also monitoring public records bills that may impact broadcast journalism.
Advocacy team members also reminded legislators of the tremendous impact our industry has across the state. With 27 commercial television stations and 218 commercial radio stations, the local broadcast industry employs over 6,000 people statewide. Stations produce local news and information programming and contribute to the civic well-being of the communities they serve, and the industry’s direct economic impact is $1.11 billion in GDP (with a stimulative effect of $20.67 billion in GDP) (source: Woods & Poole Economics, Inc., 2017).
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WSAB LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING REPORT
Mark Allen is the contract lobbyist for the Washington State Association of Broadcasters.
The President & CEO Emeritus of the WSAB has walked the halls of the Capitol for four decades, and offers his insight about issues that affect broadcasters in the the newly christened 2019 session.
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NAB STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
As it does each year at this time, the WSAB is preparing for the National Association of Broadcasters State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.
Four broadcasters will join Keith Shipman in the nation’s capitol the final week of February to meet with members of the Washington state Congressional Delegation. Janene Drafs, WSAB Board Chair and General Manager of KOMO-TV, KUNS-TV, KOMO-AM/FM, KPLZ-FM and KVI-AM Seattle will lead the group, which will also include Jackson Weaver of InTown Media, LLC, Patricia McRae, President of KHQ, Inc., and David Praga, General Manager of KEPR-TV Tri-Cities, KIMA-TV Yakima and KLEW-TV Lewiston/Clarkston.
We will discuss several issues while meeting with our ten Representatives and two Senators, among them:
- Retransmission Consent for Television Broadcasters (STELAR – Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization)
- Local Radio Freedom Act (Performance Royalty for Broadcast of Sound Recordings)
- C-Band Spectrum Allocation
- Next Generation Television Standard
- Broadcast Ownership
- TV White Spaces
- Television Children’s Programming
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UPDATED 2019 BROADCASTER CALENDAR
Given the recent government shutdown, some key dates on the 2019 Broadcasters Calendar have been altered. The WSAB's FCC Counsel - David Oxenford of Wilkinson Barker Knauer - has updated and reissued the 2019 Broadcasters Calendar,
which you can find by clicking the button below.
Please note that because of the government shutdown, the dates to comply with the obligations involving the online public file, and the filing of Quarterly Children’s Television reports, were extended. FCC filings, like the Quarterly Children’s Television Report, are now due February 8. Public file obligations that arose during the shutdown, like the Quarterly Issues Programs Lists, are now due to be included in the public file by February 11, 2019.
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DAVID OXENFORD'S BROADCAST LAW BLOG
The WSAB’s FCC Counsel – David Oxenford of Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP – addresses the impact of the recent government shutdown on filing deadlines, offers insight on the DOJ’s reported review of the impact of digital advertising on broadcast mergers, and the FCC’s newest consumer initiative – a help desk for viewers attempting to re-scan their television set after the re-pack. Click the button below to read David’s Broadcast Law Blog
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WSAB AIRING TWO STATEWIDE NCSA/PEP CAMPAIGNS!
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ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
The WSAB appreciates member station support of the Washington Army National Guard with a two year PEP campaign that airs through October of 2019. The primary theme of the campaign is recruitment of citizen soldiers to the Washington Army National Guard. This is a radio and television campaign with messages available in English and Spanish languages.
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GRAND LODGE OF FREEMASONS
The WSAB welcomes the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Washington as a returning PEP progam partner. The radio and television campaign airs from February through mid-July and is designed to assist them in raising awareness and recruiting potential new members to their organization, also known as Freemasons. .
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Thanks to our member stations (and in some cases, non-member stations) for airing the WSAB's Non-Commercial Sustaining Announcement (NCSA)/Public Education Partnership (PEP) campaigns. As we must report the airtime that stations contribute to our NSCA/PEP partners, please forward your monthly invoices/affidavits to the WSAB, PO Box 11341, Tacoma, WA 98411 or you may email them to kshipman@wsab.org. If you need further information on these campaigns (insertion orders/traffic instructions) please email Keith Shipman at kshipman@wsab.org.
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EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM PERSPECTIVE
The WSAB participates in the State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) which is charged with management of the Emergency Alert System in Washington. The committee is comprised of members from several professions, including broadcasting, emergency management, law enforcement, weather, etc. One participant is Jim House, the Disability Integration Manager for the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Preparedness (CIEP) at the Washington State Independent Living Council. Jim weighs in on the impact and effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System for the population he works with daily, and offers an interesting perspective which we encourage you to read
HERE.
The 2019 EAS RMT schedule for the state of Washington can be found
HERE.
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The WSAB is on TWITTER - please follow us at @WABROADCASTERS.
We've also launched a new Facebook page and plan to promote the terrific work of radio and television broadcasters throughout the state of Washington. Email digital photos and news releases of station events, non-profit efforts, reporting of key community events, etc. to kshipman@wsab.org and we'll post them. Find us at www.facebook.com/washingtonbroadcasters.
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ABIP: The WSAB offers radio and television stations an insurance policy against FCC inspections.
Sign up today for the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. A successful inspection provides you with a certification of compliance and helps you avoid FCC inspections for three years. Learn more at www.wsab.org or email the WSAB at abip@wsab.org.
WSAB JOB BANK: Have a job opening at your television or radio station? Send us your job posting and we will include it on the WSAB website's "Job Bank" page. The WSAB Job Bank is an excellent source for recruitment of candidates. Send your posting to: kshipman@wsab.org.
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Washington State Association of Broadcasters | 360-705-0774 | kshipman@wsab.org | www.wsab.org
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