Soon to be head of NAB David Rehr was briefed on challenges facing radio and TV as he sat in on NAB board meetings late last week. Marsha MacBride, NAB EVP/Legal & Regulatory Affairs, briefed the board on streaming copyright fees, pending FCC action on streamlining FM allocations and commission vacancies, according to notes of the meeting released to press.
Ibiquity Digital President/CEO Robert Struble said the HD Radio roll out is accelerating, with 40 stations multicasting digital signals. Lynn Claudy, NAB SVP/Science & Technology, briefed the board on two methods of identifying multicast signals on a receiver (traditional numbering or ‘new band’ numbering) and stated there is no consensus on a preferred approach.
Board member Bill Hendrich stated that Cox Radio would begin conducting consumer focus groups on the issue in November.
John Orlando, NAB EVP/Government Affairs, told the board Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has introduced a bill that would repeal 3rd adjacent channel protections and increase FCC licensing of low-power FMs. He noted H.R. 998, the bill sponsored by Reps. Chip Pickering, R-Miss. And Gene Green, D-Texas, designed to block satellite radio from transmitting local programming, has 85 co-sponsors.
NAB is planning an event on March 1, to honor outgoing 23-year president and CEO Eddie Fritts.
NAB Board, Rehr, Briefed on Streaming Fees, Digital Radio, LPFM, Satellite Radio
NAB Board, Rehr, Briefed on Streaming Fees, Digital Radio, LPFM, Satellite Radio
