At its meeting in Washington this week, the NAB Radio Board heard about HD Radio from its member Caroline Beasley, EVP and CFO of Beasley Broadcasting, who updated the board on NAB initiatives to support the rollout.
Peter Ferrara, president/CEO of the HD Radio Alliance, briefed the broadcasters on IBOC marketing and public relations initiatives, according to an NAB summary.
On other topics, the association EVP of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Marsha MacBride discussed the status of an NAB request that the commission allow AM stations to use FM translators. MacBride and NAB Director of Government Relations Mike Mullen updated the board on NAB actions related to the satellite radio merger proposal.
NAB EVP/CFO Mike Williams talked about the recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board to increase rates paid to record labels and artists for music streamed over the Internet; Williams noted legislation offered by Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., to roll back the rate hikes and said it has attracted more than 100 House co-sponsors, according to the information sheet on the meeting provided by NAB.
Radio Board Member Bruce Goldsen, who chairs its Performance Tax Task Force, briefed the board on how NAB will oppose RIAA on what broadcasters are calling a performance tax.
Joint Board Chair Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Bonneville International, talked about association accomplishments, including what NAB feels was a successful spring convention in Las Vegas. Reese also discussed NAB’s aggressive initiatives related to the proposed satellite merger. NAB SVP of Legal & Regulatory Affairs Jane Mago discussed developments regarding Emergency Alert System regulation.
After its Service to America Awards Monday night, NAB board members met this week in Washington.