NAB President Curtis LeGeyt called for the FCC to reopen the record on reclassifying virtual MVPDs and relax ownership rules in a Nov. 8 meeting with Commissioner Anna Gomez, according to an ex parte filing posted in docket 22-459 Tuesday. “The video world has continued to evolve and impact the ability of viewers to have broad access to locally-focused content,” the filings said. NAB also discussed diversity initiatives and its “eagerness to engage with the Commissioner and her staff to help foster a broadcasting industry that reflects the communities we serve,” the filing said.

The FCC shouldn’t take any action on ATSC 3.0 patents and should at least wait until a proceeding involving more patent-focused federal agencies is resolved, said NAB in a call with Media Bureau staff Thursday, according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 16-142. The International Trade Association, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office jointly sought comments in September on U.S. engagement with patents and standards new tech. “The Agencies are seeking stakeholder input on the current state of U.S. firm participation in standard setting, and the ability of U.S. industry to readily adopt standards to grow and compete, especially as that relates to the standardization of critical and emerging technologies,” said the Federal Register. The FCC shouldn’t act before that proceeding is complete to “ensure that it does not adopt rules or policies inconsistent with those of expert agencies in the field,” NAB said. Any effort by the FCC to “back into a patent oversight role” would be “virulently hostile to innovation,” said NAB. The FCC “lacks statutory authority to regulate any aspect of the patent marketplace or patent royalties.”

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated to the 10th floor a draft NPRM on prioritizing the processing of broadcast TV and radio applications from stations that provide locally originated programming, according to a news release Tuesday. The prioritization would apply to renewal applications and transfers of control, the release said. “There’s something special about when you hear a local voice on the airwaves or see a familiar face on your television set in the evening,” said Rosenworcel in the release. “We want to recognize that dedication when it comes time for license renewals and transactions and this proposal does just that.” No draft text for the item was released. Asked about the origin of the proposal, an FCC spokesperson said Rosenworcel was "inspired by her longstanding recognition of the importance of local journalism and news," and that she "continues to look for ways for consumers to receive news from trusted sources closest to them.” The FCC "is right to acknowledge the vital role local broadcast stations play in connecting and informing their communities," an NAB spokesperson said. "Especially at a time when misinformation runs rampant online and newspapers are shuttering, local broadcasting remains one of the most trusted sources of news and information. We look forward to learning more about this proposal.” United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry attorney Cheryl Leanza said FCC policies to incentivize local programming would be a positive step.

The FCC has “clear authority" to act and a “necessary role” in preventing patent licensing abuses in the ATSC 3.0 market, said ACT | the App Association in a meeting with staff from the Media Bureau and Office of General Counsel Monday. The record in docket 16-142 and experiences with other technical standards show that FCC action “is necessary to avoid the exploitation of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing commitments voluntarily made by SEP [standard essential patent] holders." Without the FCC's reinforcement and assurances on how the agency views patent license requirements, “innovators seeking to enter the ATSC market will face lockout from competing, to the detriment of American consumers,” ACT said.

Tightening the FCC’s local TV ownership rules would have “negative impacts” on small and rural television markets across the country, said Gray TV representatives in separate meetings Tuesday with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner Nathan Simington and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, according to three terse and similarly worded ex parte filings posted in docket 18-349 Thursday. One of Gray’s representatives in those meetings was former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, now an attorney with Cooley.

The FCC should retain local ownership limits on FM radio, said multiple music licensing groups and low-power FM entity REC Networks in an ex parte meeting with Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Monday, per an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-310. The meeting included representatives of the musicFIRST Coalition, the Future of Music Coalition, SoundExchange and the American Association of Independent Music. “The current numeric limits on local commercial FM radio station ownership remain necessary in the public interest to preserve and promote ownership diversity, viewpoint diversity including through music and lyrics as well as news and information,” the filing said.

“The state of minority owned broadcasting continues to deteriorate as each day of FCC inaction and indifference passes,” said the International Black Broadcasters Association in a letter calling for the agency to authorize radio geotargeting. The lack of geotargeting is “harming all of radio, but it’s especially harming minority-owned broadcasters who tend to be smaller and struggle to raise capital,” the filing said. NAB and a number of larger broadcasters have said the geotargeted radio proposal pushed by GeoBroadcast Solutions -- the company that developed the technology-- would create interference problems. GBS and other proponents say their tests of the tech show otherwise. Other media such as cable “can and do geotarget precisely because it’s good for business and is critical to attracting capital in today’s fragmented media and information marketplace,” said the IBBA filing. “But radio can’t broadcast localized content to its audience because of a relic in FCC rules that effectively bars radio broadcasters from doing so,” the filing said. “What possibly could be the public interest rationale for maintaining this disparate treatment of radio?

It isn’t possible to eliminate the interference to electric vehicles from AM radio, said Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella in a blog post Monday. The techniques for shielding EVs from AM interference add weight to the cars, reduce their range and increase costs to consumers, said the blog post. According to an October Center for Automotive Research report, reducing interference would cost $3.8 billion over the next seven years. Mandating AM in vehicles is not required for public safety, not popular with consumers “and now we know: not cheap," said the post. "It is noteworthy that the impartial Congressional Budget Office estimates the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would necessitate automakers spend a fraction of their estimate to ensure access to local AM radio stations in electric vehicles," emailed an NAB spokesperson. "We hope automakers follow Ford’s lead in reversing their decision to remove AM radio capability from their vehicles to ensure the 82 million Americans who listen to AM radio have access to this local, free service.”

Broadcasters that support geotargeted radio are confounded the FCC hasn’t approved the technology, said Roberts Radio CEO Steve Roberts in a letter to the agency posted Friday in docket 20-401. “What is the Commission waiting for? More of us to exit the market?” wrote Roberts. Consolidation is forcing smaller broadcasters out of the industry, and geotargeting technology would help them to compete by allowing hyperlocal advertising and information, he said. NAB and several larger radio groups have opposed proposed rule changes that would allow the use of GeoBroadcastSolutions’ geotargeting technology, and the docket for the proceeding has largely been quiet since 2022, until recently. Last week, representatives of the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC) and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council meeting with Commissioner Geoffrey Starks pushed for geotargeted radio. Several months ago, the USBC acquired the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, which had been a vocal proponent of geotargeted radio until November 2022, when it publicly withdrew its support (see 2210310070). Roberts is a founding member of NABOB. NABOB didn’t comment on whether the USBC letter means its stance on geotargeted radio has changed. “Time is running short for the Commission to make this change while it can still make a difference,” said the USBC ex parte filing.

America’s Public Television Stations President Patrick Butler will retire in 2024, APTS announced in a news release Wednesday. “It has been my great honor to advance the cause of America’s public television stations during a period of extraordinary challenge and opportunity,” Butler said in the release. Butler, who has headed the group since 2011, “will stay on through the selection of his successor but no later than the end of next year,” the release said. Federal and state funding for public broadcasting has reached record levels during Butler’s tenure and 40 of 50 state governments now fund public TV, the release said. Thirty-four states funded public TV before Butler took office. Under Butler, the former Association of Public Television Stations rebranded to its current name, the trade group reached record membership among public TV stations, and Congress enacted the Next Generation Warning System infrastructure program for public broadcasters, the association said. Prior to joining APTS, Butler was senior vice president of The Washington Post Company for 18 years, served as an aide to Senate Majority Leader and White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker, and was a speechwriter for President Gerald Ford.