LAS VEGAS — “Welcome to the 2022 NAB Show!” began Curtis LeGeyt, National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO, in his State of the Industry address Monday morning (April 25). “Six words that I’ve waited three years to say!”

The 2022 NAB Show is LeGeyt’s first in his new role. He was chief operating officer of NAB before moving up to president and CEO at the start of the year, with Gordon Smith retiring. 

“There is truly no greater honor than representing your interests in the halls of government every day,” he said, “and I cannot imagine a more exciting or more important time to take the reins of this great association.”

LeGeyt spoke of the role local broadcasters have played amidst the pandemic, civil unrest and attacks on democracy. “Through everything, you were — and are — a leading voice in helping communities sort through a multitude of information and emotions,” LeGeyt said, “while also striving to find common ground and common good.”

He mentioned broadcasters’ ability to bind the communities they work in, while other media often divides them. He noted “next generation” technologies that make broadcast television even more powerful, including ATSC 3.0, 5G, streaming and mobile video, and new developments that are leading an evolution in radio.

“The data capabilities of HD Radio and the connected car give broadcasters powerful new ways to build and extend their listener relationships,” he said. 

LeGeyt described the four areas he’s working on with policymakers. “First, Congress must take action to rein in the gatekeeping ability of the Big Tech giants who are stifling the economics of local news,” he said, noting how local broadcasters lose some $2 billion annually when their content is accessed through Google and Facebook. 

Next, LeGeyt said, lawmakers “must modernize media-ownership laws to reflect the realities of the marketplace.” Google and Facebook control around 77% of locally focused digital advertising, he added. 

Third, NAB urges the FCC “to reorient how it thinks about broadcast policy more broadly,” LeGeyt said. He added that broadcast’s ability to function in the public interest is premised on “its economic viability.” 

His final point for policymakers is urging congressional support for the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes a new performance fee on local radio stations.

“Broadcasting is more than a technology. It is a public service — interwoven in the fabric of our communities,” said LeGeyt, sharing a story about Doug Kammerer, meteorologist at NBC’s WRC Washington, who was live on the air when he saw a tornado on the radar, and called his children to warn them while still broadcasting. 

“Doug is one of thousands of local broadcasters providing these kinds of lifelines in their communities every day,” LeGeyt said. 

He concluded, “My hope as your president and CEO is for us to continue our work together to always be there for our communities and give Americans the trusted local journalism only broadcasters can provide.”

Rob Hubbard of Hubbard Broadcasting said LeGeyt delivered a strong presentation. “Curtis has been doing a great job and will continue to do great,” he said. 

Asked what about the address stood out for him, Hubbard said, “the focus on what we do to help our communities.”

Walter Podrazik, a lecturer at the University of Illinois-Chicago, said he is eager to pass along parts of LeGeyt’s State of the Industry speech to his students. “I want to share this with the new generation of news consumers,” he said. 

Following LeGeyt’s remarks, Caroline Beasley, CEO of Beasley Media Group, was given the National Radio Award, which honors outstanding leadership in radio. “My service to the radio industry has always come from a true love for the business,” Beasley said. “I grew up in it.”

Beasley said radio broadcasters have a more robust opportunity to deliver compelling content than ever before. “I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited about what the future holds,” she said. 

LeVar Burton, whose on-screen credits include Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Reading Rainbow, received the inaugural Insight Award from the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. “The stories that we tell set the foundation” of who we are and what is important to us, he said. His family is full of teachers, Burton said, and he took “my branch of the family business into the broadcast medium.”

Burton singled out Alex Haley, Gene Roddenberry and Fred Rogers for bringing “a unique and powerful voice” to America and beyond.

Finally, Gordon Smith, former NAB president and CEO, received the NAB Distinguished Service Award. Following recorded statements from President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton, among others, an emotional Smith said he is accepting the award not for the recognition of what he has accomplished,  but “as a reminder that there is still much yet to do.” He referred to himself as a “foot soldier” in the broadcast battle. 

A former U.S. senator from Oregon, Smith took over as NAB chief in late 2009, and retired at the close of 2021. 

Smith thanked the room for giving him advice, offering him counsel, and at times giving him criticism. “You’ve given me support and you’ve given me friendship,” Smith concluded. ■

National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith told a Marconi Radio Awards virtual audience Wednesday (Nov. 10) that there has never been a more important time to be a broadcaster or a more important NAB mission than making sure broadcasters have the support they need.

Also: D.C. Salutes NAB’s Gordon Smith

Smith was delivering his final state of the industry address, though not in the way he had hoped to. Smith is transitioning to an advisory and advocacy role through Dec. 31, 2024, and is being succeeded atop NAB by Curtis LeGeyt, currently the association’s chief operating officer.

Smith said that “standing up to Big Tech giants” is part of that mission to make sure Congress and the Federal Communications Commission know how vital the role of broadcasters is during a pandemic and beyond.

Also: NAB’s Smith Among Broadcasting ‘Giants’

Smith said he wanted to pass along the lessons learned in a life infused with a passion for politics and, ultimately, for broadcasting's public service mission. He said they might seem obvious but they were not when he joined NAB in 2009. For one thing, he said, calling it strange but true, when he came to NAB, in the minds of some members he was not supposed “to even talk to our opponents.”

1. “Never be afraid to negotiate.” He called that NAB's winning strategy behind stopping legislation deemed harmful to its audience and shaping other legislation to promote and protect broadcaster interests. Citing one of his iconic predecessors atop NAB, Eddie Fritts, Smith said: “[T]here are no permanent victories and no permanent defeats in democracy.”

2. “NAB should never register Republican or Democrat but as human, local and American. We need friends on both sides of the aisle,” said the former Republican U.S. senator from Oregon.

3. “Spend money on the possible,” by which he meant prioritize issues and focus on what will be the likely outcome. “Be a rifle, not a shotgun.”

4. “Invest to thrive, not just survive.” As an example he used NextGen TV.

5. “No matter how many conflicting interests we have [some NAB members have interests in cable, satellite and streaming], NAB must always speak for free over-the-air local broadcasting.” The reason is simple, he suggested. “If NAB doesn’t, nobody else will.”

6. NAB’s PAC and grassroots advocacy are vital tools. “Broadcasters’ nuclear bomb is our airwaves, but it must be used judiciously as should our other tools,” he said.

7. “Hire the best, not the most. Good people equal good policy.”

8. “Reflect the values that underpin an FCC license.” Those, he said, are “civic engagement, relief, rescue, community decency, local focus and fair, diverse journalism.”

9. “Before you take a punch, anticipate the counterpunch.” He said that allows for calibrating the response and delivering it at the right time.

Smith signaled the state of NAB was in good hands with his successor. “I know that NAB will continue to achieve great success under Curtis’s strong leadership,” Smith said. “He is the right person at the right time for this job.”

National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith, whose father was in the food processing business but came to Washington to work in the Eisenhower administration and whose mother was a Udall of political family fame, reflected this week on what he called a life of "the battle of peas, policy and politics," a battle he had loved.

Smith, who is retiring, took the opportunity of accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Media Institute at a virtual gala this week from Washington to reflect on his time in Washington, both in battles on the Hill and in defending broadcasters wherever their best interests were threatened.

Smith, the former Republican senator from Oregon, suggested that his call to service actually came not from a Republican President, but a Democratic one.

He said he remembered at the age of eight his mother awakening him on Jan. 20, 1961 and dress warmly to go to the inauguration of the new President, John F. Kennedy, because Smith's cousin, Stewart Udall, was going to be secretary of the interior.

Also: NAB's Smith: Time to Acknowledge Election of Joe Biden

He said that President's "clarion call" to a new generation to ask what they could do for the country.

"The whole occasion struck me as important, something to be aspired to and something to value."

Smith said he early on had a passion for news, and while his mother said that the best way to ruin a good story was to hear the other side, he says he never lost his passion for policy or hearing the other side. "In politics," he said, "what you see depends on where you sit." Smith said it was important to respect that view from others as you would hope they would respect your experience.

Smith said the central plank in his service was the First Amendment, which has to do with protecting the freedoms of religion, press and assembly, and to petition the government for redress of grievances, and how each builds on the other.

The protections of religion are about the freedom of conscience, to think and decide what you believe, he said. If you are allowed to think and believe something, you need to be able to speak about it, you should be free to publish it, and if you want to publish it, you can assemble people to your cause, and then you can redress grievances. "It all fits together," he said, and it is called democracy.

He said when you are nurtured at the knee of a Udall mother, you want to try and make the world a better place, to keep the Second Commandment of loving your neighbor.

Smith said NAB gave him a place to to do that because of broadcasters' daily charge to serve the public interest.

Flanked by a silhouette of Lincoln, Smith quoted from the President who, amidst the terrible conflict of the Civil War and his vilification from some quarters, said: "Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe."

In a digital age where fake news runs rampant on social media, Smith said he felt fortunate to stand with the best source of finding the facts, and that is among radio and TV broadcasters. He said he was thankful they had included him in their ranks for the dozen years he has headed the association.

Gordon Smith will step away from his day-to-day duties as president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters at year-end. 

Smith took over in November 2009, following the long and storied tenure of Eddie Fritts atop the association, a hard act to follow as demonstrated by the short and rather rocky tenure of ex-beer association executive David Rehr that preceded Smith’s arrival. Back in April 2021, NAB said the departing Smith would be succeeded in January by Curtis LeGeyt, currently the association’s chief operating officer. Smith will transition to an advisory and advocacy role through Dec. 31, 2024. 

Also Read: NAB Show Canceled Amid Concerns About Coronavirus

A former U.S. Senator from Oregon, Smith has guided his members through a number of  sea changes on the way to its interactive, next-gen future, always with his eye on the North Star of the industry’s public-interest calling.

We reached out to some major Washington players for their thoughts on his tenure and what emerged was a strikingly consistent portrait of a fundamentally good man and an executive who has exhibited grace under pressure and commanded respect, while garnering affection from allies and the loyal opposition alike.

Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting FCC Chairwoman

Senator Smith took the reins at NAB right after broadcast television stations transitioned to digital service. After ushering these stations into a new age, he faced another big challenge as the same stations were given the option to participate in the first ever broadcast incentive auction. That’s a lot of change to manage!  

He did it all gracefully and along the way he was also a zealous advocate for radio and a consistently smart and respectful presence in every policy discussion about the power and potential of broadcasting. I wish him the best in retirement. 

Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association

Senator Smith is a strong and steady leader, who has ensured broadcasters made their voices heard on major policy issues. On a personal level, I have enormous respect and appreciation for Senator Smith. He is trustworthy, intelligent and has a dignity that sets him apart as a stellar individual. 

Preston Padden, Former top News Corp. and Disney Executive, Currently an Independent Consultant

Gordon Smith may be the nicest person in Washington, D.C. Coupled with a keen grasp of the issues, that niceness has reaped huge rewards for broadcasters

Chip Pickering, CEO, INCOMPAS and Former Mississippi Congressman

An industry of communicators has been blessed to have Gordon Smith serve as their voice for the past decade. He is a tremendous leader, whose wisdom and decency has helped unite many of us around common goals for the greater good.

It was a true honor to serve with Gordon in Congress, and then to be at the table with him as our industry continues to evolve toward a brighter, better future. Family is and always will be Gordon’s true north, and I am excited for them as a new journey begins.

Richard Wiley, Chairman Emeritus, Wiley Rein LLP, and Former FCC Chair

Gordon Smith has been a forceful, determined and effective advocate for the broadcast industry. But, at the same time, he is a thoroughly considerate individual admired by allies and opponents alike. And, yes, I would buy frozen foods and maybe even a used car from him. [Smith Frozen Foods is the family business].

Matthew M. Polka, President and CEO, ACA Connects

NAB president Gordon Smith has served with distinction in public service and government relations since 1992. Whether in the Oregon State Senate, the U.S. Senate or in his post leading the NAB, Senator Smith navigated the tricky waters of politics with character, dignity and an always-friendly demeanor. In his work at NAB, he led networks, television groups and radio stations — not always the most sanguine of groups — with skill and savvy during dramatic change in the market, especially in the competitive tussle for advertising support. 

Everyone I know who dealt with Senator Smith knew him to be not only a worthy adversary, but also a leader who always made a sincere attempt to appreciate the other side’s point of view. The Washington, D.C., public policy scene will miss Senator Smith and his uncommon approach to advocacy in action. I wish Senator Smith the very best, with God’s many blessings.

Robert McDowell, Co-Chair, Global Communications Practice, Cooley LLP, and Former FCC Commissioner

Gordon has led NAB with grace, wit, determination and resilience. His steady hand on the association’s tiller has navigated it through the treacherous waters of increasing and intense competition from powerful tech companies for eyeballs, ears and ad dollars; increasing and asymmetric regulation of broadcasters when compared to other media, especially during the Obama years; and enduring a pandemic that dealt a blow to NAB’s revenue, among many other challenges. 

Throughout it all, Gordon was a calm and courageous voice of reason who was a delight to work with while I was a commissioner. His legacy will cast a long shadow for years to come.

Steven K. Berry, President and CEO, Competitive Carriers Association

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Gordon Smith for many years, and I consider him a friend. Gordon has been a highly effective advocate for NAB, bringing stability and a healthy understanding and knowledge of Congress to the organization. 

He is a respected industry leader, an honest broker of solutions, and on a personal level, someone I’d be glad to meet out on the golf course any day of the week. Congratulations Gordon on your accomplishments; I wish you well in your future endeavors!

Michael Powell, President and CEO, NCTA–The Internet & Television Association, and Former FCC Chair

I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Gordon Smith for years, both while he was a U.S. senator and then as he led the National Association of Broadcasters for more than a decade. 

Gordon is a truly honorable public servant and friend whose calm demeanor and thoughtful leadership helped steer NAB during a period of significant change and upheaval in the traditional media marketplace. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and his well-deserved retirement.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair, Senate Commerce Committee

I have had the pleasure of working with Senator Gordon Smith for decades, first as a colleague in the Senate and then in his role as the head of the National Association of Broadcasters.

He has always been a tireless advocate for those he represents, from the people of Oregon to radio and television broadcasters throughout the country. The country will be better for the work Gordon has done to secure a bright future for local broadcasting even as consumer video habits have changed. 

And Gordon knew better than most how important it is for broadcasters to remain committed to the cities and towns where they are located while serving the larger national interest. I wish Gordon all the best in his retirement.

Broadcasters are working hard to try to get the FCC to reverse course on its plans to increase their user fees, in part to pay for the better broadband maps Congress has demanded of the commission.

The FCC pays for its operations through user fees--as well as auction proceeds when it comes to covering the expenses of conducting those.

National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith last week was on a phone conference with acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel to talk about the special appropriation of $33 million for the FCC to implement the Broadband Data Act, legislation that Smith and other NAB executives on the call said provided "no benefit whatsoever to broadcasters."

They said that despite that, broadcasters would wind up fronting about 16% of what were costs unrelated to their operations. The FCC fees are based on how many full-time employees are used to regulate a particular service.

Also Read: Broadcasters Tell FCC Not to Charge Them for Broadband Maps

NAB has told the FCC that not only is making them pay some of the broadband mapping freight unfair, but that it violates statute, a point they reiterated last week, saying that passing along costs attributable to broadband does not square with the requirement that the FCC take into account factors related to which entities benefit from broadband mapping. "Had it done so," they said, "the Commission would have no doubt concluded that broadcasters – and more specifically the Media Bureau – are not involved in implementing the act."

They invoked the pandemic, including the rise of the Delta variant, as reason that the increase would be hard to absorb, increases they can't pass along to their audience--as say, could ISPs via their monthly bills.

Two words recur frequently during a discussion with Curtis LeGeyt, the next president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. They describe
his operating vision: “bipartisan” and “collaborative.”   

He also peppers conversations with media buzzwords — especially “disruptive” and “diversity” — reflecting the challenges that face an industry now buffeted by technology, pandemic economics and shifting demographics.  

LeGeyt (pronounced Le-JET), who has been on the NAB staff since 2011, mostly as a senior government relations executive, became NAB’s chief operating officer about a year ago. He will take over the top spot on Jan. 1, 2022, from Gordon Smith, who has held the post since 2009. LeGeyt believes the continuity from Smith to him will assure NAB’s ability to handle its swath of priorities, ranging from retransmission consent policies, spectrum usage and local journalism to ownership, ad tax and performance tax decisions. 

“We approach advocacy from a bipartisan perspective,” he said. 

LeGeyt sees a “nexus between journalism, ownership and tech competition,” which he cited as three major “interrelated” factors affecting the broadcasting industry.  

“We hope Congress and the Federal Communications Commission understand the disruption” that these developments are causing, LeGeyt said during a telephone interview shortly after NAB revealed the succession plan in early April. He focused on the role that “local broadcasters have as gatekeepers for local audiences” compared to global technology providers. 

LeGeyt also emphasized the need to “make sure that advertisers understand local broadcasters” can reach customers in better ways than online systems. 

He said “one of the great silver linings” of the pandemic period was the “renewed  appreciation that local broadcasters can provide information about local businesses, schools, vaccine status” and other community needs. LeGeyt affirmed plans to collaborate with the News Media Alliance (once known as the Newspaper Association of America ) to show policymakers the value of local media. 

Citing April’s Supreme Court decision on broadcast ownership rules, LeGeyt said “we’re going to pull every thread to create a policy landscape” that appreciates “how much investment it takes to create a local news product” — a service global tech companies cannot provide, he contended. 

Newspapers and broadcasters may have different business practices, LeGeyt added, but when it comes to the impact of local news, “our interests converge.”

“We both see a large part of our audience access or content on digital platforms,” he acknowledged, and the goal is not to stop the tech companies. But he wants to make sure that legislators and regulators remain aware of the importance of local sources. “The good news is that policymakers are extremely focused on this issue,” he said. 

LeGeyt sees NAB’s role as making sure that the industries work together to maintain that awareness and support. 

First Democrat in 60 Years

LeGeyt’s decade at NAB has solidified his perception of broadcasting’s role in the evolving media landscape. 

“You have a hyper-partisan cable news and digital ecosystem,” he said, acknowledging “a lot of distrust of media at large.”

“Our stations are emerging out of that,” LeGeyt explained, because audiences know that “local broadcasters are in the community.” Viewers and listeners “appreciate that,” he said. 

LeGeyt came to NAB from the staff of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). He’s the first Democrat to head the association since former Florida Sen. and Gov. LeRoy Collins held the post in the early 1960s. (Smith is a former Republican U.S. Senator from Oregon.) LeGeyt is only the sixth NAB president during six decades. 

LeGeyt was attracted to join NAB a decade ago because of his background in antitrust and copyright law, after an undergraduate education in economics. 

“The opportunity to leverage that background for an industry that is a cornerstone of American democracy was the real appeal,” LeGeyt recalled.  “There is no place where you sit at the intersection of so many issues that are so disruptive but are so critical.” 

“That’s what brought me to NAB in the first place. That’s the evolution in the time I’ve been here,” he added. 

NAB did not run a traditional search committee process to select LeGeyt as its next president. He called his selection an “affirmation” of satisfaction for his work with Smith during the past decade and the value of continuity of leadership. He cited a nonpartisan ability to leverage relationships with lawmakers. 

Smith’s contract as president ran through 2023; he will become a senior adviser to the association for three more years (through 2024), available to help with “bipartisan advocacy,” LeGeyt said. Smith plans to return to his Oregon home to help run the family food processing business and other projects but will be available for D.C. duties when needed.  

Although NAB has not revealed LeGeyt’s pay package, it is believed to match Smith’s compensation. According to CEO Update, which tracks association executive salaries, Smith’s recent annual base salary was just above $2 million, with bonuses and perks bringing his total paycheck to about $2.27 million per year.

Mixing Economics, Tech and Policy

The impact of streaming media is high on LeGeyt’s issues agenda, citing its disruptive impact.  

“We need to be where consumers are,” he said. “Since viewers increasingly consume via streaming, we need to be accessible wherever and however they want us.” 

LeGeyt said part of his immediate mission is explaining the ways the pandemic has reshaped the media landscape to policymakers.

“Ad dollars for broadcasters were tremendously stressed,” he said. “That exposed some key elements of whom we’re competing against. It added a sense of urgency, the need to confront the tech disruption. 

“The most important thing we need to do is make sure that lawmakers understand clearly what broadcasters are facing, especially in the competition for ad dollars,” he said. “We want to make sure lawmakers understand the challenge in this entire process,” emphasizing the “challenge to remain forward-looking” to anticipate evolving technical platforms.

That’s where NextGen TV, or ATSC 3.0, also high on LeGeyt’s agenda, comes in. He said it will “assure that our station groups can invest in new tech, which is key to providing service.”

Convention Plans And Personal Life

As for NAB’s near-term agenda, LeGeyt followed up on recent explanations about the October plans for the NAB Show in Las Vegas. NAB executive VP of business operations Chris Brown (who heads convention activities) recently laid out expectations for attendance at about 70% of 2019 levels and about 600 exhibitors (compared to more than 1,000 in April 2019). 

“We’re bullish about the October convention,” LeGeyt said.  “The demand is there. We’re hearing from members and exhibitors who are yearning to be back in person.” The combined convention will include NAB’s Radio Show and its Sales and Management Television Exchange simultaneously.

“We’re getting feedback that it is efficient for exhibitors and members, for programming all in one place,” LeGeyt explained. He predicts this model “will be a successful one for this year when budgets are tight.” 

As LeGeyt navigates the leadership transition, he can look out to the U.S. Capitol from his office in the new NAB Building on South Capitol Street. Although the building is near Nationals Park, he and fellow staff members have to go up to the roof to catch a glimpse of the baseball field. And although he admits becoming a fan of D.C. teams during his decades in Washington, the heart and soul of this Connecticut native is still with New England sports teams. 

“There’s nothing quite like Boston sports,” he said with a smile. 

At the same time he is preparing NAB’s agenda, LeGeyt and his family (including three kids under 8 years old), are getting ready to move from suburban Alexandria, Virginia, into Washington, D.C. He is involved with several music-related charities, including “Tracy’s Kids” (a music and arts program for childhood cancer support), Musicians on Call (which delivers music programs to patients); he and his wife also support mental health charities.  

LeGeyt’s philanthropic efforts reflect his NAB agenda, which as he put it, involves “a passion for what we do.” For his day job as broadcasting’s chief cheerleader, LeGeyt said he “wants to beat the drum” and “assure that policies are in place” to assure broadcasters a steady future. 

ABC's eight owned TV stations will air mental health-related content and hold community events throughout May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, including streamed and on-air town halls.

The centerpiece of the initiative will be the stations' participation in the first Mental Health Action Day May 20.

WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham will kick off the campaign with a half-hour special, “Eyewitness News Investigates: The Silent Struggle,” May 6, followed by a stream-only town hall available on WTVD's free app and connected TVs.

Also Read: Mental Health Summit Draws Entertainment Talent

Other content includes reports on WABC-TV New York on the impact on mental health of COVID-19 and the increase in opioid-related deaths; a special episode of WLS-TV Chicago weekend public affairs program, Our Chicago, featuring mental health experts talking about the impact of racism; KGO-TV San Francisco will broadcast town halls, including one during its 4 p.m. newscast May 20.

Better mental health treatment and information has been a big issue for the National Association of Broadcasters and its president, former Oregon senator Gordon Smith, whose son, Garrett, struggled with mental health issues and whose death ultimately led to passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act funding suicide prevention efforts, particularly among young people.

National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith told a Senate panel Thursday (April 15) why broadcasters are the best place for the Administration to spend its vaccine-promoting advertising message, which is backed by over $1 billion in COVID-19 aid funding.

Smith was testifying at a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing, "Shot of Truth: Communicating Trusted Vaccine Information," on ways the media is disseminating vaccine information and what more TV, radio and online platforms can do.

Also Read: NAB Joins COVID-19 Collaborative

Broadcasters were praised by the senators for getting out accurate information, social media, not so much.

The April 15 hearing came only days after White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was trying to connect with white, conservative communities —which overindex rural — with public service announcements on Discovery program Deadliest Catch, as well as working with NASCAR (which would mean money for Fox TV stations as well as cable) and CMT.

Smith said that the best way to use federal dollars to get credible information out to vaccine-hesitant populations, including white conservatives, is effective targeted broadcast advertising, particularly via small and local markets, which can “drive home the message better than any other medium.”

Also Read: Local Media Considered Best Source for Vaccine Reporting

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), chair of the Communications Subcommittee, said the public is getting mixed messages from the media, including radio, TV and the internet, which was one of the reasons behind the hearing. The senator said one of the keys to getting people vaccinated is getting them that information from trusted sources.

President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan has set aside $1 billion for the vaccine public education effort.

Smith said that when an issue like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause, broadcasters' job is to simply give the public the facts, with no spin, and no political theater. He pointed out that while broadcasters have been singled out as the most trusted news source, social media was at the bottom of the list. He also said a local and regional approach with broadcasting a key element was better than a "one-size-fits-all national approach.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said she was frustrated by local news reporting things accurately, but then ”crazy things“ get reported on the internet. She pointed out broadcasters could not air total lies without regulatory problems. She said broadcasters could use help versus Big Tech, which is why she is sponsoring a bill to allow content producers to collectively negotiate with social media giants.

Smith thanked her for the bill, and said it should be obvious that people are struggling to find out where the facts can be found, which is broadcasting, but that journalism isn't free, and social media’s domination has meant that those platforms put broadcast content on their platforms and sell ads around it, ads that broadcasters aren’t getting on their airwaves. Klobuchar said she would continue to push for her bill.

Asked by Klobuchar how best rural areas could be reached, Smith said Congress needed to use all the tools in the toolbox and that the best tools to reach the most people with the best info was TV and radio. 

Klobuchar said social media was a major source of antivaccine information. She has been pushing for new antitrust laws to get at the conduct of those major tech players, and added vaccine disinformation to her list of grievances. “I just can’t help but think that the biggest companies the work has ever known [Facebook and Twitter, for example] can't find some way to deal with this [disinformation],“ Klobuchar said.

Luján, in a follow-up question, pointed to the lack of diverse media ownership and suggested it was hard to have diverse public health messaging campaigns without diverse media ownership. Given Smith’s testimony about broadcasters being the most trusted source of such messaging, he asked Smith if NAB Congress and the FCC encouraging diverse media ownership. 

Smith responded that Congress could incentivize diverse ownership using the minority tax certificate, which Congress ended — due to some abuses — but should have mended, he said. “You can do it with a stick,” he said, “but it is better with a carrot.” The “carrot” in the tax certificate was the tax break media companies got for selling outlets to minorities.

Smith, who has announced he is stepping down from the NAB presidency at year's end, was saluted at the beginning of the hearing by Thune, who called him a valued and treasured colleague while Smith was a fellow senator (R-Ore.), said his role as head of NAB had been extraordinarily important. He called Smith a ”loud, clear voice and advocate for local broadcasters around the country,“ and an ”extraordinary leader.“

Also Read: NAB's Smith to Testify at Vaccine Info Hearing

Luján echoed the sentiment, saying everyone who had met Smith was a friend.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said broadcasters were going to miss Smith and that he had done a great job.

NAB president Gordon Smith will testify at a Hill hearing next week on getting the message out about vaccine availability.

The hearing, titled "Shot of Truth," is being held Thursday, April 15, at 10 a.m. in the Senate Communications Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).

Also Read: NAB Joins COVID-19 Collaborative

It will look at ways the media is providing vaccine safety and COVID-19-related information to encourage the public, particularly in rural areas, to get vaccinated.

The hearing announcement also suggests that the media need some help "promoting reliable and trustworthy vaccine information."

Also testifying will be Dr. Tracie Collins, secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health, and Dr. Yonaira Rivera, assistant professor of communications at Rutgers.

Also Read: Local Media Considered Best Source for Vaccine Reporting

Back in January, NAB teamed with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) to create an online toolkit to help journalists educate the public about the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccination.

NAB is also a member of the COVID Collaborative, which comprises groups and experts working on a unified approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan includes $1 billion for "vaccine confidence, information, and education activities."

Gordon Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, shifts to what the association is calling “an advisory and advocacy role” as of Dec. 31. Curtis LeGeyt, chief operating officer of NAB, takes over as president and CEO Jan. 1, 2022. 

“It has been my great honor to give the lion’s roar for broadcasters – those who run into the storm, those who stand firm in chaos to hear the voice of the people, those who hold to account the powerful – and to stand with those of the fourth estate who have the hearts of public servants,” said Smith. 

Smith became president and CEO of NAB in November 2009. He was a two-term U.S. senator from Oregon and later a senior advisor in the Washington offices of Covington & Burling, LLP. 

NAB was  looking for someone who could make key connections on the Hill, something Gordon came already equipped with.

Smith guided broadcasters through some seismic changes for broadcasters, including the broadcast incentive auction and repack, the rollout of the ATSC 3.0 Next Gen broadcast standard, and the building of a new headquarters closer to the FCC and Hill action.

Among broadcasters' victories under Smith was the media ownership deregulation order under Republican Chairman Ajit Pai that was initially thrown out by an appeals court but reinstated last week by the Supreme Court.

It eliminated the newspaper-broadcast and radio-TV crossownership prohibitions and tweaked local ownership limits.

Smith beat the drum loudly for greater regulatory parity between broadcasters and their cable, satellite and online video provider competition as well as for the value of free over-the-air spectrum as the wireless industry eyed it hungrily.

And while cable made strong pushes to eliminate the must-carry/retrans regime broadcasters and NAB strongly defended, that regime remains in place.

In a more recent win, Congress expanded eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program loans to more local media outlets, including those radio and television stations which were previously excluded.

And Smith and NAB early on (Nov. 7 to be exact) called for President Trump to acknowledge Joe Biden as the new President. "With due respect to President Trump’s rights to judicial review of election results," Smith said at the time, "it is time to acknowledge the election of Joe Biden and to allow him the chance to bind our nation back together.” 

NAB Joint Board of Directors chairman Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, thanked Smith for his service. “Gordon is the ultimate statesman, bringing people together from both sides of the aisle to discuss ideas, find common ground and lead NAB to success on countless fronts,” said Wertlieb. “On behalf of the leadership of NAB, we extend our sincere gratitude for more than a decade of service to the broadcast industry. We look forward to continuing to work with Gordon and benefiting from his guidance for years to come.”

LeGeyt has been with NAB for nearly a decade. Prior to becoming chief operating officer, LeGeyt spent five years as NAB executive VP, government relations. Before joining NAB, LeGeyt was senior counsel to then-Senate Judiciary chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.).

“I am honored and humbled to be named the next leader of this great organization,” said LeGeyt. “To represent the broadcast industry and the local stations that bind our communities together in a moment of such tremendous change across the media landscape is a privilege. Our stations’ role in communities across this country has never been more important, and I look forward to working every day to ensure their ability to grow and thrive.”

Smith will be in the advisory role, which includes lobbying on behalf of broadcasters, through 2024. 

“I am also delighted to share that NAB is in the enviable position of having cultivated top talent within the organization to provide for a smooth and stable transition in leadership,” Wertlieb said. “Curtis LeGeyt has the utmost confidence of the NAB leadership and staff to lead our association into the future.”

"Gordon and I have usually (but not always) been on opposite sides, but I have great respect for him," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, senior counselor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, who argued in court against the media ownership dereg that Smith and NAB advocated for. "He has always been gracious, candid and good to his word."

"Gordon Smith has been an outstanding executive, statesman and advocate for the broadcast industry," said Dick Wiley, chairman emeritus of powerhouse communications law firm, Wiley, and former FCC chairman. "Kudos to him on his truly exemplary service."

Even those on the other side of policy issues praised Smith.

“Senator Smith has a genuinely decent manner that made him an extraordinarily effective advocate for Broadcasters," said Preston Padden, principal of Boulder Thinking LLC and a former top association and network executive and lobbyist.

“ACA Connects salutes NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith on his service over the past 12 years as leader of the National Association of Broadcasters," said his opposite number at ACA Connects, association president Matt Polka. "Although free TV broadcasters and traditional pay-TV providers have had their policy differences on occasion, Sen. Smith’s leadership has permitted us, at times, to be able to set aside those differences and produce win-win outcomes that benefit the American public.”

 “We wish Sen. Smith the best of luck as he looks ahead to new adventures.”

John Eggerton contributed to this report.

National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith is urging law enforcement to keep journalists apprised of potential violence in the run-up to the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President.

In an op-ed in The Hill, Smith said it was imperative that law enforcement "provide security briefings to news media to help keep journalists safe while reporting from the field."

Also Read: Protestors Force Suspension of Congress' Certification of Biden Victory

He pointed out that social media posts on protest organizing sites have labeled reporters as "soft targets" and possible victims of violence.

During the storming of the Capitol Jan. 6, he wrote: "Members of the media were bullied, verbally harassed and physically intimidated. Some were assaulted as they tried to do their jobs or left in the face of violent threats. Others had equipment stolen and destroyed. “Murder the media” was even scratched into a door of the Capitol.

"Jan. 6 was a new day of infamy in the chronicle of American history. Yet, the press did not relent in the face of danger, and we are grateful to the dedicated journalists who risked their lives to cover this monumental story. Now, as journalists prepare to cover additional protests, it is of supreme importance that law enforcement equip them with the necessary tools and information to stay out of harm’s way while doing their jobs during these dangerous times," he wrote.

The Capitol attack was personal for Smith, himself a former senator from Oregon. "[I]t is hard to fathom that the place I honor and cherish as the secular temple of our democracy could be desecrated by a domestic mob."

President Trump has labeled the media as fake news, corrupt, and enemies of the people, and did nothing to discourage his rally crowds from joining in such attacks.

The President issued a statement Wednesday in the midst of the House's consideration of his impeachment over allegedly inciting the deadly storming of the Capitol.

"In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You."

The National Association of Broadcasters has joined the COVID Collaborative, which comprises groups and experts working on a unified approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NAB president Gordon Smith will serve as a member of the collaborative's advisory council.

"Radio and TV broadcasters have devoted tremendous resources to keeping their audiences safe and informed throughout the pandemic,” said Smith in a statement. “Now, as vaccines roll out and the nation’s recovery begins, local broadcasters will play an important role in educating and engaging viewers and listeners. NAB looks forward to working with the Collaborative in leveraging broadcasters’ connections to local communities across America to inform the public and defeat the virus."

Also Read: Local Media Considered Best Source for Vaccine Reporting

NAB describes the group as "a non-partisan group of the nation’s leading experts in public health, education and the economy working together with associations representing state and local leaders and vulnerable communities to take unified action to defeat the pandemic and sustainably and safely reopen the country."

Other members of the eclectic collaborative include The Ad Council, the CPB, Johns Hopkins, the NAACP, the National Urban League, and Walmart.

The bipartisan collaborative is co-chaired by former Governors Dirk Kempthorne (R-Idaho) and Deval Patrick (D-Mass.).

Also Read: NAB Seeks Early COVID-19 Vaccine for Journalists

The Trump Administration has taken a decentralized, state-by-state approach to the virus, one that has been criticized for failure to establish a coordinated approach to pandemic response and transmission prevention.

The National Association of Broadcasters has teamed with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism institute on a project to identify effective COVID-19 vaccine education messaging so that local broadcast media can help encourage everyone to get inoculated.

A vaccine is predicted to be ready to roll out in December.

Related: House Broadcast COVID-19 Aid Bill Introduced

The research project will be employed to develop a toolkit for local TV and radio stations to craft their own locally targeted public health messaging and education. That kit will include suggested coverage approaches, sample messaging.

NAB and Reynolds are targeting early 2021 for the toolkit.

Consulting firm SmithGeiger will conduct a nationwide survey of the challenges local and national media face with in providing vaccine information to a range of cultural and political environments in order to determine how vaccine coverage affects attitudes and actions.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, America’s hometown radio and TV stations have been on the front lines in providing accurate and trusted information to keep communities informed, educated and safe,” said NAB president Gordon Smith in a statement. “Now, with the promise of vaccines on the horizon, broadcasters will once again be a critical partner to government and health communities. We are dedicated to using our platforms to encourage the public to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors by getting inoculated.”

Reaction began to pour in Saturday after the cable and broadcast news nets reported that former senator and Vice President Joe Biden had won enough votes to become the 46th President of the United States and Sen. Kamala Harris to be the first woman and first person of color to be Vice President-elect.

Among the first was from another former senator, Gordon Smith, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, who said it was time to acknowledge Biden has been elected President.

“It has been clear for days now that Joe Biden has been on track to win the popular vote in his run for the presidency. It is decisive that today he has surpassed the threshold of 270 electoral college votes. NAB congratulates Joe Biden on becoming president-elect of the United States of America...With due respect to President Trump’s rights to judicial review of election results, it is time to acknowledge the election of Joe Biden and to allow him the chance to bind our nation back together.” 

Smith that binding potential from personal experience. 

"I was privileged to serve beside President-elect Joe Biden during my two terms as a Republican Senator from Oregon," said Smith. "I know Joe. I know his patriotic love for his country and of his good heart for all his countrymen. Working together on the Foreign Relations Committee, we routinely bridged the partisan divide to achieve important legislative accomplishments. And, during a time of personal tragedy for my family, when we lost our son Garrett, Joe was a source of support and solace. Because he too knew the pain of losing a child, he gave to me a steady, brotherly shoulder to lean on. Joe is a healer, the consoler-in-chief our nation has elected. 

"Congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on your victory," tweeted Michael Powell, "NCTA-The Internet & Television Association and the U.S. cable industry look forward to working with you and your administration."

“CCIA congratulates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their historic election and look forward to working with their Administration and the new Congress on tech policy issues that can boost innovation, create jobs, and bolster the U.S. economy," said said Computer & Communications Industry Association President Matt Schruers. "In these unprecedented times, policies like strengthening commerce and relations with our trading partners, and encouraging broadband access to overcome the digital divide, can create economic opportunity as our nation fights the pandemic and its consequences together." 

“The Motion Picture Association congratulates President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and the incoming 117th Congress on their electoral victories," said Motion Picture Association Chairman Charles Rivkin. "We look forward to working with them on a wide range of important issues, including measures that facilitate return to work for an industry that supports 2.5 million American jobs, helps finance 280,000 businesses in cities and small towns across the country, and pays over $181 billion in wages annually. We commend everyone who worked this year to ensure fair elections and preserve our nation’s legitimate democratic processes.”

Free Press was already driving some policy stakes in the ground.

"We will push the new administration, Congress and the FCC to quickly restore Title II authority, strengthen the rules protecting the free and open internet, and ensure the agency can take action to get broadband to everyone," said Free Press. "A clear commitment to Net Neutrality and strong FCC authority to protect everyone’s broadband rights is a prerequisite for anyone picked to run the FCC."

“We congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory," said Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Technology Association. “Our vibrant technology sector is the envy of the world. We look forward to working with President-elect Biden and his administration, as well as the new Congress to advance priorities that promote innovation and competition in America. Specifically, we look forward to recalibrating our trade policies, promoting free online speech by preserving Section 230 protections and ensuring all Americans have the access and benefits of high-speed broadband. We are also committed to attracting the best and brightest to work in America through meaningful immigration reform and by training the American workforce on the skills needed to compete in the tech economy. 

“We look forward to the peaceful transition of power which both parties have followed and respected and sets us apart from many other countries.” 

 “The tech industry congratulates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their historic election," said ITI President Jason Oxman. "We understand revitalizing and growing the U.S. economy will be a top focus as the world continues to grapple with COVID-19 and the economic fallout from the pandemic. Our industry can be a partner on this all-important effort, as well as on policies that maintain America’s global leadership and foster greater opportunity for American families across all communities. From closing the digital divide to investing in research and development to a renewed collaboration with allies to achieve U.S. trade, economic, and national security objectives, our industry is committed to working constructively with the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that the United States adopts policies that support the well-being of all Americans. At the same time, America’s proud tradition of a peaceful transition of power must continue..."

“We congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory, and we look forward to working with the President-elect, his Administration and the Congress to ensure broadband connections for all Americans," ACA Connects President Matt Polka. 

 “This pandemic has made the powerful case that connectivity is a priority for every family and business. We look forward to working with everyone in this new Administration to build upon the Herculean efforts our Members have made as they continue to serve their customers and communities during the ongoing pandemic," said Polka. "Our Members, who serve rural and hard-to-reach areas across the nation, will be key allies in the effort to complete the task of broadband everywhere. Our Members have and will continue to invest, innovate and deploy broadband to the most remote places in America."

“I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their historic victory," said TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore. "I especially want to congratulate Vice President-elect Harris as the first woman to hold this role in our nation's 244-year history.... At TechNet, our focus remains on advancing policies that enable inclusive job growth, empower the workforce of tomorrow, ensure our nation’s global competitiveness, and promote digital trust...."

“The results of this election are clear: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ victory is possible because women, particularly Black women, across the nation made their voices heard," said Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet. "Throughout American history, Black women and women of color have led the charge against injustice and sparked social change. Today, they changed the course of our nation."

"The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on their historic victory in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, which saw record voter turnout across the country and pivotal turnout from Native voters in the decisive states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona, among others," said NCAI, which has been pushing for closing the broadband divide on Tribal lands. "NCAI looks forward to working closely with the Biden-Harris transition team in the coming weeks to ensure that Indian Country’s key priorities are addressed, and with the Biden-Harris Administration over the next four years to strengthen the government-to-government relationship and the federal government’s fulfillment of its trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations."

The Democrat-controlled House has voted once again to approve the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act, a Democratic bill that would provide additional COVID-19 relief money to, among others, broadcast stations.

But, like the failed HEROES Act 1.0 back in May, the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate in the current form, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signaled late Thursday (Oct. 1).

“NAB applauds House passage of The Heroes Act that would expand eligibility to Payroll Protection Program loans for local media outlets, including radio and television stations," said National Association of Broadcasters President Gordon Smith. "America’s broadcasters and hometown newspapers have been providing comprehensive coverage and critical information during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they face unprecedented financial hardships that threaten local journalism."

According to NAB, the HEROES Act would "provide television and radio broadcasters, as well as newspapers, the same treatment as hotels and restaurants received under the original CARES Act-–eligibility based on a physical location basis." That means individual stations in a larger group would be considered small businesses eligible for help rather than part of a broadcast group that might be too big to qualify.

The bill would also "require a local station to fit within the SBA size standard for the broadcasting industry," and would "ensure that expanded PPP [paycheck protection program] funds would remain at the local level through additional oversight."

NAB also put in a good word for a standalone bill, the Local News and Emergency Information Act, which would also give stations access to COVID-19-related small businesses loans.

The 2021 NAB Show has been moved to October, National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith announced Wednesday.

The event, which was originally slated for April 11-14, will now take place Oct. 9-13, 2021 in Las Vegas.

"As we look ahead to 2021 and beyond, our top priority is to deliver a successful NAB Show," Smith wrote in a letter to the NAB community. "We recognize the vital role NAB Show plays as a driver of innovation and an economic engine for the global media and entertainment industry. With that in mind, it is critical we act on your behalf and in a way that will best serve the long-term interests of the industry."

Smith added: "With any difficult decision, there are trade-offs. Moving NAB Show to October means we are considering alternative 2021 dates for NAB Show New York, held annually in October. On the plus side, the 2021 Radio Show will co-locate with NAB Show in Las Vegas as will NAB’s Sales and Management Television Exchange; and there is opportunity to add additional partner events. Beyond this, we have done our best to avoid direct conflicts with other domestic and international events, and have reached out to allied organizations and partners to both share our thinking in advance and to offer to work collaboratively toward turning this into an opportunity for all."

NAB took its 2020 NAB Show online earlier this year due to the pandemic, renaming the event NAB Show Express. The organization's 2020 NAB Show New York has also gone virtual and will run Oct. 19-29, 2020.

After NAB Show New York, the organization will launch NAB Amplify, an online marketplace.

Read Smith's full letter here.

There is a definite competition problem with digital platforms vis a vis broadcasters that Congress needs to address and one that threatens a healthy local news ecosystem during the pandemic, and beyond.

That was the message from National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith in response to a request for comment from the House Antitrust Subcommittee in its ongoing investigation into Big Tech market power and how that affects "a free and diverse press."

NAB said that power has real world impacts that are detrimental to that free and diverse press. Specifically, it is the move of ad dollars to digital platforms, which despite the Justice Department's "woefully outdated view of the marketplace," NAB said definitely compete directly with broadcasters for those ad dollars, revenues that are even more critical in a pandemic-wracked economy. But it is also receiving pennies on the dollar for their news content from online providers who have the bargaining power.

Smith suggested that competitive problem is an existential threat: "[T]he dominance of the leading digital platforms significantly and increasingly impairs broadcasters’ ability to earn the ad revenues needed to support production of local news and information."

He said it was no answer to say that if broadcasters don't like the policies of Google and YouTube or Facebook they can choose not to publish content on those platforms, and thus not be available on various apps and devices. "Beyond offering OTA [over-the-air] services, broadcasters must be available on all major platforms and types of devices to remain relevant to audiences and advertisers in the digital age," he told the subcommittee.

The bottom line, he suggested: "Local journalism is now at risk due to the overwhelming competitive position of a handful of technology companies in today’s digital marketplace... The value of broadcasting and local journalism in an increasingly digital world has never been more obvious; so too, the threat that the digital platforms’ power poses to news publishing and the continued viability of local media outlets has never been greater."

National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith was hospitalized Tuesday night following a blood clot that Smith said was caught before it became a full-blown stroke.

"He is responding well to treatment, is stable and alert, and is resting comfortably," said NAB. "His prognosis is good, and he is expected to make a full recovery."

Following his hospitalization, Smith provided an update on his condition:

"To my friends,

I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you. Your prayers and kind words have meant the world to me and my family. I am delighted to tell you that after a very extensive MRI last night it was discovered that I did have a blood clot, but thanks to the quick medical intervention I received, an actual stroke was averted. As a result, my prognosis is extremely positive and there is no permanent damage. I am so grateful to Sharon for immediately jumping into action and getting me the medical attention needed in order to have this outcome, for Sue Keenom and Karen Wright for all of their help getting information to my medical team, and to the doctors and nurses who took such great care of me.

I am indeed a man blessed for all the prayers that were said on my behalf and for the love that I have felt. Even though I am not often on social media I have been forwarded the many Tweets and postings that have sent well wishes my way and to say I am humbled is an understatement. I look forward to seeing you all soon – if only on Zoom.

Gratefully,

Gordon 

Smith, a former two-term U.S. Senator from Oregon, joined the NAB in November 2009. In 2017, he extended his contract with the NAB through March 31, 2023.

He was inducted into the B&C Hall of Fame in 2017.

The July 17 death of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), longtime congressman and civil rights icon, drew salutes from industry players inside the Beltway. 

“I was fortunate to have known and worked with John Lewis during the overlapping years that we served in Congress," said National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith, former Republican senator from Oregon. "But I count myself doubly fortunate to have gone with John on his last visit to Selma and to have walked with him over the Edmund Pettis Bridge.

"John Lewis was a warrior for justice and a soldier for peace. His life was gentle, his message powerful, and his leadership historic, leading us all to a more perfect union."

Mignon Clyburn, the first Black female FCC chair and daughter of Lewis' colleague House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) tweeted: 

FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks tweeted following Lewis' death: 

”John Lewis … the conscience of the Congress … a giant among men who left an enduring legacy of tolerance and the pursuit of social justice for the world,” said Adonis Hoffman, chairman of Business in the Public Interest and former chief of staff to FCC commissioner and chairman Mignon Clyburn.

“Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.' “Those were the words of Congressman John Lewis in his 2017 memoir — and they were the words he embodied throughout the entirety of his incredible life,” said Motion Picture Association chairman Charles Rivkin. ”From his efforts as a young protester and leader in the Civil Rights Movement, to serving on Capitol Hill for 17 terms and becoming the ‘conscience of Congress,’ John Lewis was a living bridge spanning the pivotal social justice movements of our time. Over the course of his life, he stayed true to his guiding principles and never backed down from speaking up — inspiring generations of activists and leaders to follow.

“In the film, television, and streaming industry especially, we understand the importance of how words and stories can challenge our view of society, and how they can make an everlasting impact on our history. Few Americans have changed the course of history like Congressman John Lewis did through his words and actions. John Lewis was unquestionably an American hero, a true patriot, and an incomparable example of how to use our voice to make a difference.”

”Like so many issues that Lewis spent his life fighting for, the struggle for a free and open internet continues,“ Joseph Torres, senior director of strategy and engagement, wrote on the Free Press Web site following Lewis‘ death. He called Lewis a fighter for media justice, pointing out that Lewis had joined with other lawmakers to call for the Obama Administration to pass enforceable net neutrality rules. ”[I]f we had the internet during the movement, we could have done more, much more, to bring people together from all around the country, to organize and work together to build the beloved community. That is why it is so important for us to protect the internet. Every voice matters, and we cannot let the interests of profit silence the voices of those pursuing human dignity," Lewis said in 2015. 

"The congressman was known for urging everyday people to get into 'good trouble' when they witness injustice," wrote Torres. "And that’s something all of us who had the privilege to be in his presence must continue to do."  

“Our nation has lost a true leader and wonderful man," said ACA Connects president Matthew Polka. "ACA Connects mourns the loss of Rep. John Lewis and his iconic voice, but our prayer is that we will carry on with his example before us by working together, finding common ground, and respecting each other in all ways.” 

As broadcasting celebrates its 100th anniversary, the state of the industry is bloodied but unbowed, rocked but resilient, much as the nation was back in 1920 when KDKA(AM) Pittsburgh was going on the air in the wake of another pandemic, the 1918 Spanish Flu. And also as it has since 1920, broadcasters continue to keep their communities "safe, informed and connected," even as they fight for their own lives and livelihoods. 

That was the message of National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith in his address to the virtual NAB Show Express Wednesday (May 13), according to a copy of his prepared remarks.

Related: Unprecedented Backing for Coronavirus PSAs 

Smith said it was ironic, or perhaps fortuitous, that this year marked that 100th anniversary, but said that either way, throughout the intervening years, radio and TV had been providing a reassuring voice and sense of community in the nation's "most harrowing days," with the current COVID-19 pandemic certainly qualifying in that category.  

Some broadcasters have even been driven out of the business by the current crisis, he said. 

"I have talked to many of our broadcaster members during the past two months, and I have felt their pain and empathized with the very difficult decisions they are making. Some have had to take out loans to make payroll," he said. "Some have had to let go of trusted and capable staff. And some, I am very sorry to say, have had to close their doors entirely." 

Related: FCC Waives TV, Radio Ad Disclosure Rules for COVID-19 PSAs 

Smith thanked the FCC for "multiple extensions of deadlines, clarifications and exceptions to existing policies" as broadcasters coped with "likely the most challenging time local stations have ever encountered." He also said NAB would continue to urge legislators to allow local stations to qualify for forgivable COVID-19 aid small business loans--something that was included in the just-released Democratic COVID-19 aid bill--and to get the government to spend its advertising budget on local media, including radio and TV stations and newspapers. 

Smith's speech was at once a rallying cry and collective pat on the back. "We don’t know how long this pandemic will last, or what the lasting effects of it might be on our economy," he said. "But there is one thing I do know--broadcasters endure. Right now, you are in the darkest valley, but know that for most Americans, you are their beacon of light and hope. You are on the front lines of this battle, and I want you to know that NAB stands together shoulder to shoulder with you." 

NAB continues to push D.C. to help broadcasters during pandemic

He cited the donations of airtime--nearly $100 million--for COVID-19 PSAs, the news that keeps communities informed and safe, the support for local businesses, the food drives--all while fighting for their own lives and livelihoods. 

He said that is simply carrying on that 100-year legacy, but he talked about the future as well. "Our great industry has endured for the past hundred years because of the indispensable and irreplaceable role broadcasters play in every town and city across the nation. And we will endure for at least 100 more, because you are the backbone of our country. You are truly what makes America great. And we are in this together."

FCC chair Ajit Pai told a virtual NAB Show audience Wednesday that their legacy public service commitment is "showing up in spades" during the pandemic. 

Fresh from the FCC's May 13 public meeting, Pai was able to appear at the NAB Show Express virtual convention to be interviewed by NAB President Gordon Smith only a couple of hours later. 

That was at least one advantage to the move from a Las Vegas convention center to online, where that double appearance by the chairman would not have been possible. 

Related: Smith Says Broadcasting Will Endure

FCC shifted to telework March 12 and Pai told Smith it has been a challenged managing two stir-crazy kids and working work in between bike rides and hide-and-seek. Pai's appearance was punctuated from the sounds of those kids in the background--Pai cited the "eloquence" of that input. 

Smith pointed out that the NAB had not yet been able to move into its new headquarters, and asked how the FCC was doing with its move, which was to have happened about the same time. Pai said its June moving date will be delayed at least a couple of months. 

Smith asked what the FCC is focusing on at the moment. 

Pai said that while he thought the pace might slow from home, FCC's work has actually sped up during the pandemic, including administering its Keep America Connected pledge for ISPs. He also cited working with broadcasters to extend deadlines. He said the FCC's employees had really stepped up and exemplified what it meant to be a public service. 

The FCC's focus has clearly been on broadband, but Smith steered him toward all the contributions broadcasters are making. 

Smith said broadcasters had been busy, too, with coverage, and charity work. He asked about the job broadcasters had been doing. Pai said broadcasters were showing why their one-to-many platform was so important, and the FCC should "cherish and encourage it" as much as possible. 

But Smith also asked Pai about that ISP connectivity pledge and gave the chairman time to explain the pledge, which he did, as well as giving broadband providers their due for complying and, in some cases, going beyond.  

Pai encouraged broadcasters to reach out and let the FCC no how it can help, because preserving the service is vital. Smith said waiving fees during the pandemic, as some broadcasters had asked, would be welcome news.  

The FCC voted Wednesday (May 13) to proceed with collecting those fees, but did ask for input on how it might mitigate the impact on broadcasters already taking an economic hit from the pandemic. The FCC's operational budget--north of $300 million--comes from fees on regulated entities including broadcasters.

Smith asked whether Pai would continue as chairman of move on into another job. Pai said the FCC was still in a sprint and he hadn't thought about what he was going to do when he crossed the finish line. "I will continue to give this my all," he said.  

Pai called Smith a role model from whom he had learned a lot about what to say and how to say it. Smith said he would support Pai for President, "and be happy to be your vice president."  

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and association stars were aligning for another run at the STELAR compulsory copyright license bill, the battle over which has divided broadcasters and cable operators for decades.

Congress must revisit the copyright legislation every five years as key provisions come up for sunset or renewal. Cable’s chances of STELAR renewal, which it has pushed, were looking pretty good at press time, though broadcasters were trying to divide and conquer by suggesting good-faith provisions could be de-tethered from the law even as the compulsory license is retained.

STELAR is the latest version of legislation, first passed in 1988, that allows satellite-TV providers to import distant network signals into local markets. The law also requires multichannel video programming distributors, including cable operators, and broadcasters to bargain in good faith in negotiations over retransmission consent for TV stations. The bargaining provisions are what has made the license renewal a flashpoint in the carriage battleground.

Broadcasters and cable operators both want this periodic fight to go away, but by very different routes. Stations want the license eliminated, while MSOs, joined by fair-use supporters often critical of cable, want it to be permanently renewed.

“Given the importance of STELAR to maintaining competition and protecting viewers, Congress should reauthorize it permanently,” Public Knowledge senior counsel John Bergmayer said. “There is no reason for Congress to create artificial crises every few years to ensure that satellite remains a competitor.”

Adding New Meanings to ‘Bad Faith’

Cable operators want to use STELAR (which has had different names at different times) to get rid of retrans blackouts, or at least to stop TV stations from pulling signals during marquee events and forbid bundled deals involving multiple stations or TV signals and other programming. Those conditions should be considered bad-faith bargaining, operators say.

“Broadcasters thumb their noses at Congress and the FCC while jacking up rates on consumers, then brag about it on their quarterly earnings calls,” said Trent Duffy of the American Television Alliance, which includes small and midsized cable operators.

Another sore point with cable operators is when TV stations program a digital subchannel as a network affiliate, allowing that station to control multiple affiliates in a market without running afoul of FCC local ownership limits that apply only to primary signals.

Addressing the subchannel issue would entail Congress beefing up the bargaining rules, since the FCC, under both Democrats and Republicans, has not gone there.

Cable operators, which generally like the government to stay out of the market, argue that tightening the rules is necessary to better level off a playing field that Congress tilted toward broadcasters by imposing the retransmission-consent and must-carry regime in the 1992 Cable Act.

The issue got plenty of new attention as the House and Senate launched hearings into STELAR in particular and the state of the video marketplace in general.

While Republicans signaled it might be OK for the law to go away, they were not of one mind.

The top Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania, set a cable-friendly tone at a June 4 hearing, saying that while STELAR was not perfect, its sunset would create a “crisis” of lost viewership and invite bad behavior and consumer harm.

While cable operators told Congress that escalating retrans fees were hitting consumers hard — both by inflating their cable bills and siphoning off money that would otherwise go to building out rural broadband — broadcasters said that with big tech eating into their local ads, retrans was crucial to supporting all that local, and even life-saving, content legislators agreed was must-have video.

Given the competition for local ads from online platforms, National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith said at a June 5 Senate Commerce Committee hearing that free, over-the-air stations increasingly need retransmission fees. He said the fees are fair value to support stations’ investment in must-have programming — local news, weather and emergency information that legislators conceded are, indeed, must-have.

ACA Connects president and CEO Matt Polka saw it a lot differently. He told Multichannel News, as he has been telling the Hill, that huge broadcast conglomerates would only have a more outsized influence on rising cable bills via rising retrans fees if the law went away and Congress did not put more, not fewer, good faith conditions on negotiations.

NCTA-The Internet & Television Association president Michael Powell said STELAR was all about retaining the FCC as a backstop to retrans bargaining.

In any event, Doyle signaled STELAR was not likely to be relegated to the dustbin of history just yet. He said at the House hearing that though he agreed the license and bargaining components were hardly a perfect solution, allowing them to sunset would result in a “crisis,” of lost viewership and invite bad behavior and consumer harm.

Like cable operators, legislators were remiss to let the “good-faith” directive lapse.

The STELAR license and good-faith bargaining provisions have to either stay or go by the end of the year (or close to it), so Congress has a deadline to drive those key issues to some kind of resolution.

The House has made it unanimous, passing the Music Modernization Act without a naysayer among them, following the Senate's passage of the bill unanimously last week.

It now goes to the President's desk for his signature.

The bill creates a framework for better compensation of artists for digital plays of their music and makes it easier for music rights organizations to collect those fees from distributors of streamed music as they do from traditional plays on TV and radio.

Related: Federal Appeals Court Upholds Fractional Licensing

The House had already passed a version of the bill back in April, but had to revote it because of changes in the Senate version.

The legislation has been billed as the most significant change in music licensing laws in decades and has drawn praise from a chorus of stakeholders.

"The bill will result in the most significant improvement of music copyright law in more than a generation, making it easier for creators across the music industry to earn a fair living through their creativity," said Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid.

It incorporates a trio of bills. The base Modernization Act creates a single licensing entity for reproduction rights for digital uses, like those of Spotify, Pandora, Google, Apple and Amazon. It also randomly assigns judges to preside over ASCAP and BMI rate-setting cases, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The package also includes The CLASSICS (Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society) Act, which compensates artists for pre-1972 recordings that had previously not been eligible for digital royalties.

Then there was the AMP (Allocation for Music Producer) Act, which allows for direct payment of royalties to music producers and engineers.

"This critical legislation will benefit songwriters, legacy recording artists, producers, digital streaming services, and music listeners," said National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith. "The MMA is the culmination of a years-long process to find consensus solutions to music licensing problems...."

"We are particularly supportive of a provision in this legislation that ensures an enhanced congressional review of any DOJ changes to the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees. These decrees are essential to a functioning music marketplace, and any action to terminate them will now be preceded by appropriate Congressional oversight to protect the interests of songwriters, licensees, and consumers of music."

“Much has changed in the music industry in the digital age, with online streaming driving increased revenues for creators and copyright owners alike," said Digital Music Association CEO Chris Harrison. "A modern industry requires a modern solution. The MMA finally brings our music licensing laws into the 21st century and ensures greater transparency and efficiency for the entire music ecosystem."

"Creators opened my eyes to the inequities in American copyright law during my first year in Washington,": said Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), one of the legislators who introduced the original version of the bill. "Since then, I have been listening to and working with creators across the nation to make our laws work in the 21st century for the entire music ecosystem. The Music Modernization Act began with a commitment to fairness and found champions in both houses and across the aisle... It has been an honor to work alongside songwriters, publishers, digital streamers, broadcasters, artists and fellow lawmakers to make the music licensing landscape fairer and freer for everyone who’s ever loved a song."

“We’re pleased to see this updated bill pass the House," said Public Knowledge policy counsel Meredith Rose. 

"While the copyright terms in the revised bill aren’t perfect, they are vastly improved from the House’s original version, and avoid locking away pre-1972 sound recordings for many more decades than necessary. Furthermore, the bill now guarantees that old sound recordings will clearly and fully enter the public domain after the expiration of this new federal right.

Washington was waking up Wednesday (June 14) to the not-unexpected news that President Donald Trump intended to nominate Jessica Rosenworcel to fill the empty Democratic seat on the FCC.

The White House announced the intention -- it does not become official until it is sent to the Senate -- late Tuesday night.

“I congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on the announcement that President Trump will nominate her to serve another term on the Federal Communications Commission," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "She has a distinguished record of public service, including the four-and-a-half years we worked together at this agency, and I look forward to working with her once again to advance the public interest.”

“Hallelujah, better late than never,” said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), ranking member of the Commerce Committee and a big Rosenworcel fan. “The Senate should now move quickly to confirm her and fulfil the promise that was made two years ago.”

“I congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on the announcement that the President intends to nominate her to return as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission," said FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. "Jessica has been a tireless advocate for bridging the 'homework gap,' a leader in the effort to modernize our 9-1-1 call centers, and a champion for freeing up more unlicensed spectrum. I look forward to working with her in the fight for an open internet, affordable broadband and strong consumer privacy protections."


Related: Rosenworcel Could Get New Lease on FCC Life

“We congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel on the news that she will be renominated as FCC commissioner and look forward to welcoming her back to the Commission," said NCTA–The Internet & Television Association president Michael Powell, himself a former commissioner and chairman. "During her first term as commissioner, Jessica proved to be an outstanding public servant who championed policies that enable American consumers to benefit from the tremendous changes taking place in the communications and technology marketplace.

"We share Jessica’s passion for promoting policies that close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans, especially students, have access to the many benefits that the internet offers,” Powell added.

"NAB is delighted to hear that President Trump will renominate Jessica Rosenworcel to the FCC," said NAB president Gordon Smith. "Commissioner Rosenworcel is supremely qualified for another FCC term, having demonstrated her public service credentials and full command of telecommunications issues during her commission tenure. NAB strongly supports her renomination and confirmation."

“We congratulate Jessica Rosenworcel and look forward to working closely to promote competition and fairness to all Americans," said Public Knowledge President Gene Kimmelman. "At a time when we face enormous challenges to prevent the FCC from undermining fundamental consumer protections, we are pleased that Senate Minority Leader Schumer and his colleagues indicate a commitment to fight for competition, protecting consumers’ pocketbooks and consumers’ rights by promoting nominees who will support our cause.”

“AT&T is pleased that President Trump took action to ensure that the FCC will once again benefit from Jessica Rosenworcel’s considerable intellect," said AT&T senior EVP Bob Quinn. "Her service as Commission Staff, Congressional Staff and FCC Commissioner provides a depth of experience and expertise rarely matched that will serve her well as she continues to be a leading voice on communications policy.”

“We are thrilled at the prospect of having Commissioner Rosenworcel back at the FCC,” said Heather Burnett Gold, president of the Fiber Broadband Association. “If she is confirmed, we look forward to her continued support of fiber networks and the benefits that fiber brings to American families, businesses, and communities.”

“CTIA and the wireless industry fully support Jessica Rosenworcel’s nomination as an FCC Commissioner, and look forward to her swift confirmation so she can return to the agency," said CTIA President Meredith Attwell Baker. "She is a dedicated public servant who has demonstrated strong leadership and a keen understanding of the need for a modern spectrum policy, as well as promoting policies to help speed the deployment of broadband networks for American consumers and business.”

“Benton is happy to hear that Jessica Rosenworcel could return to the Federal Communications Commission," said Benton Foundation executive director Adrianne Furniss. "As a commissioner, Rosenworcel was a leader on a number of issues. She worked to give new meaning to the FCC’s public safety mandate in the Digital Age. She helped modernize the E-rate program to ensure that all students have access to the latest education tools made possible by fast, affordable broadband. She recognized that those students also need reliable, robust broadband access at home so they can complete school assignments. Rosenworcel’s experience and leadership make her an ideal candidate to help shape the future of telecommunication policy.”

"We welcome Commissioner Rosenworcel's return to the FCC," said Free Press' Craig Aaron. "She is one of the most knowledgeable commissioners ever to serve at the agency. She has a strong record of standing up for the public interest and ensuring the FCC has the legal authority it needs to stand up to the powerful industries it is supposed to monitor. We hope this renomination means the political games around her appointment are over and that she will soon be back at the commission to resist the efforts of Chairman Pai to dismantle so many of her major accomplishments."

“I appreciate the president announcing his intent to nominate my friend, former Commissioner Rosenworcel, for a new term at the Commission," said FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly. "If the Senate confirms her nomination, she will bring her expertise, insight and thoughtfulness to communications issues. I look forward to the prospect of returning to work with her on these matters.”