WASHINGTON, D.C.—The NAB has applauded the passage of the FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that included language preventing the FCC from taking administrative action against broadcasters that accept cannabis advertisements consistent with the law of the state or jurisdiction in which the station is licensed.

Many states and local jurisdictions have legalized cannabis but broadcasters have been unwilling to take pot ads because the substance is still illegal on the Federal level and could subject them to FCC actions.  

If the Senate passes the bill with the current provisions, stations could take those ads, which have previously only appeared in other media.  

"For too long, local broadcasters have been stuck in a regulatory purgatory because of conflicting federal and state cannabis laws,” said NAB spokesman Alex Siciliano. “Today’s passage marks an important step towards allowing broadcasters to receive equal treatment for cannabis advertising that many other forms of media have enjoyed for years. While we are pleased to see the House act, broadcasters will continue to work with policymakers for a permanent resolution to this competitive disparity to the benefit of consumers.”

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives is about to put its two cents in on expanding the telecommunications workforce, as the bipartisan Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act has officially been introduced.

The bill was crafted by Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, with the stated goal of developing a workforce equipped to deploy 5G technology and broadband infrastructure in underserved communities. Companion legislation, also bipartisan, was introduced last week in the Senate.

The Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act would:

• Establish an FCC-led interagency working group that would be tasked with developing recommendations to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry;
• Require the FCC, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to issue guidance on how states can address the workforce shortage in the telecommunications industry by identifying all of the federal resources currently available to them that can be used for workforce development efforts; and  
• Direct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to determine the specific number of skilled telecommunications workers that will be required to build and maintain broadband infrastructure in rural areas and 5G wireless infrastructure needs to support 5G wireless technology. 

“Deploying next generation technologies and developing a skilled workforce are critical objectives that go hand-in-hand,” said Walberg. “As rural communities experience the increasing need for high-speed broadband access, the demand for a qualified workforce to build out this infrastructure is greater than ever. I am pleased to collaborate on this bipartisan, bicameral effort to help close the skills gap, expand opportunities for good-paying jobs, and bridge the digital divide.”

“Today’s workforce must meet the need for the ever-advancing telecom industrial revolution. Women and people of color continue to face dramatic underrepresentation in this industry. This must change immediately,” said Clarke. “I am committed to championing legislation addressing workforce inequities. Ensuring an equitable workforce in our country’s race to 5G will benefit all Americans. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to combat workforce inequities in the telecom industry."

The proposed Telecommunications Act already has industry support.

“NATE believes that the provisions outlined in the bipartisan Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act can serve as a springboard to fostering greater collaboration between the federal government, state workforce boards, higher education and private sector companies to accomplish the ultimate goal of developing a future pipeline of skilled technicians that the country sorely needs to meet its ambitious broadband and 5G deployment objectives,” said Todd Schlekeway, president and CEO of NATE.

“As we are all focused on expanding connectivity and helping Americans find jobs, now is the perfect time to support workforce development in the telecommunications industry. NTCA thanks Reps. Walberg and Clarke for introducing the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act,” added Shirley Bloomfield, chief executive officer, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. 

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives has passed a bill that reaffirms Congress’ commitment to media diversity and strategy of working with media organizations to better represent the American people.

The bill, H. Res 549, was introduced in 2019 by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). It’s official wording is: “[A] resolution reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to media diversity … and pledges to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.”

The resolution passed the House with a voice vote.

“Over the past year we have heard the growing calls for diversity in positions of power and listened to the millions of Americans who know, as we do, that representation matters,” said Energy & Commerce Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Communications & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) in a joint statement. “We must eliminate barriers to media diversity and provide all Americans the opportunity to engage with more independent and local media outlets that reflect the people of our diverse nation. Today’s resolution reaffirms our commitment to seeing that done, and we thank our colleagues for their strong, bipartisan support.”

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith provided the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:

“NAB applauds today’s passage by the House of Representatives of a resolution pledging lawmakers’ support for working with media organizations to increase diversity within the media industry …. America’s broadcasters thank Rep. Val Demings and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) and Sens. (R-Fla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) for their leadership on this issue, and reaffirm our commitment to creating a more diverse media landscape.”

Smith’s statement also touched upon legislation sponsored by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) that would reinstate the Minority Tax Certificate Program, which NAB believes would create more opportunities for diverse radio and TV station ownership, including among women and people of color. 

When the tax certificate program was in place between 1978 and 1995, NAB says that minority ownership in broadcast stations increased by more than 550%.

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives passed a trio of communications-related bills on Nov. 17, headlined by one that will work to include streaming in future emergency alerting efforts.

The Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act of 2020 (H.R. 6096) directs the FCC to examine the feasibility of modernizing the Emergency Alert System by expanding alert distribution to the internet and streaming services. Additional facets of the bill include classifying emergency alerts from FEMA as a type that cannot be blocked by consumers on their mobile devices and appointing the FCC to work with State Emergency Communications Committees in developing and modernizing State Emergency Alert System plans. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of representative and passed with a voice vote.

The other bills passed by the House were the Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act of 2020 (H.R. 6624), which creates a grant program through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to promote technology that enhances supply chain security and market competitiveness in wireless communications networks; and the Spectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020 (H.R. 7310), which requires NTIA to submit to Congress a report on its plans to modernize agency information technology systems relating to managing the use of federal spectrum. Both of these bills also had bipartisan support and passed in voice votes.

“From keeping Americans better informed during emergencies to promoting 5G coordination, competitiveness and security, these three bills will create a better, safer communications network for us all,” said Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) in a statement. “At its core, our telecommunications infrastructure exists to serve the public interest and connect our nation, and we are proud of the bipartisan work that went into advancing that goal with these three bills. We thank all our colleagues for working with us to get such important legislation passed today.” 

WASHINGTON—Michael Pack, President Donald Trump’s recent appointee as head of U.S. government broadcasting operations, defied a congressional subpoena to appear before the House of Representatives on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Pack was being called before the House to testify about a number of firings that took place at state-run media organizations immediately following his appointment to oversee their operations. This includes the removal of the heads of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Network and the Open Technology Fund. Pack also replaced the services’ bipartisan boards, mostly with political appointees, per Reuters.

Pack’s appointment also resulted in the resignation of top executives for Voice of America.

Both Democrats and Republicans have voiced concerns over the actions Pack has taken since being appointed.

Pack’s office said that a conflict arose that prevented Pack from testifying at the established time, but that he was eager to do so.

For more information, read the full story from Reuters. 

WASHINGTON—Supporting local media—including TV stations, radio stations and newspapers—has become a bipartisan effort in D.C., highlighted in part by a recently issued letter from four House Representatives to their colleagues and President Donald Trump calling for action.

Reps. Debbie Dingle (D-Mich.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Marc Veasey (D-Texas) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) have sent out a pair of letters to other members of Congress and to President Trump asking that federal advertising funds be redirected to local media outlets to support them during the current coronavirus pandemic.

“Local media outlets are devoting around-the-clock time and resources to reporting and informing our communities on every aspect of COVID-19, even as they themselves are suffering enormous losses in revenue as all the businesses they rely on for advertising are also faltering or closed,” the letter to House colleagues reads.

“Congress can help ensure that people have the information they need most by directing current federal government advertising funds to local news and media outlets,” the letter continues.

In the group's letter to President Trump, they outline three specific efforts to support these local media outlets:

• Direct your Cabinet secretaries to review any resources intended to be used for advertising campaigns and have them expedite such activities with local media outlets; 
• Direct federal agency advertising dollars for existing and new federal programs where community outreach is needed for spending with local media, including those serving minority and rural communities; and 
• Incentivize a portion of stimulus funds provided to businesses for their recovery efforts for advertising on local media 

“Advertising plays an incredible role in local economies, and its importance to the sustainability of local broadcast and newspapers cannot be overstated,” the letter to Trump summarizes.

This call for federal advertising funds for local media follows a joint effort by the NAB and other media organizations for similar support from federal advertising funds.

In addition, a letter from 19 senators to Senate leaders called for any future stimulus packages to feature support for media outlets. The American Consumer Institute has also requested both houses, the president and vice president that the Paycheck Protection Program be extended to local TV and radio stations, as well as additional coronavirus stimulus relief efforts. 

WASHINGTON—Following a year where a record number of TV blackouts occurred due to retransmission disputes, the U.S. House of Representatives have passed the Television Viewer Protection Act, HR 5035, that aims to ensure cable and satellite TV customers have access to broadcast network programming, in part with a mandate for good faith negotiations between broadcasters and MVPDs.

The bill, which was co-sponsored by House Communications Subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and House Energy & Commerce Committee ranking member Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) in a bipartisan effort, passed on suspension, a procedure that is typically reserved for noncontroversial items.

In addition to making good faith negotiations required—something required in the STELAR Act—TVPA provides consumers with transparency regarding their fees on cable and satellite bills, as well as gives MVPD buying groups the same good faith negotiation requirements.

One thing that this bill is not is a renewal of the STELAR Act, which is currently still set to expire at the end of the year and deals with compulsory digital signal-licenses.

“The Television Viewer Protection Act will benefit millions of Americans who subscribe to cable or satellite TV service,” said Doyle.

TVPA will now make its way to the Senate, where reports are that it will pass, with Doyle reportedly hoping to have the bill in front of President Donald Trump’s before the end of the year.

WASHINGTON—The proposed $495 million budget for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting in Fiscal Year 2022 has been given the seal of approval by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. According to America’s Public Television Stations, this is the first budget increase for the CPB in a decade.

In addition, the House approved level funding of $20 million in FY 2020 for interconnect and infrastructure that supports public safety and homeland security missions, delivering programs to remote rural areas and more. There was also an increase of $2 million—to $30 million total—for Ready to Learn, a grant program at the Department of Education that supports the work of public television in early childhood education.

“While we have appreciated steady funding through 10 years of budgetary austerity, the purchasing power of this funding has steadily eroded over time,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS, in a statement, “and this increase will enable public television stations to educate more children, protect more lives and property, and enable more well-informed citizens to guide the world’s most important democracy.”

He continued: “The broad support for public media funding among both Republican and Democrats in Congress reflects the overwhelming support of the American people for our service in communities across the country, and we couldn’t be more proud of this vote of confidence in our work.”

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives have passed S.1180, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems Modernization Act of 2015. This bill, which was co-sponsored by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), previously passed the Senate in July of 2015.

IPAWS allows emergency authorities to create customized messages, authenticates them and delivers them to various platforms. The new bill is designed to boost and expand IPWAS, which delivers emergency alerts to multiple platforms—i.e. TVs, radios, cell phones, computers and electronic billboards—boost training and increase collaboration.

“NAB applauds the House’s bipartisan passage of this legislation strengthening the public’s access to important emergency warnings and alerts,” said Dennis Wharton, NAB executive vice president of communications. “As ‘first informers,’ local radio and television stations understand the crucial need for up-to-the-second information when danger is near. We thank the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees, and Senators Ron Johnson and Claire McCaskill, for their leadership on this bill and we support President Obama’s swiftly signing it into law.”