PAB Newsletter - The Frequency January 2023

30 Second Spot with Joe

A Quiet Year of Stability? I Think Not

With the mid-term elections behind us and a year before the Presidential election of 2024, it might seem reasonable to expect a little less activity this year. Well, at the time of this issue of The Frequency, President Biden has re-nominated the controversial Gigi Sohn for the tie-breaking 5^th commissioner of the FCC, and the FTC will propose to ban non-competes in all levels of all businesses in the country.

Sohn seems to still be short a few votes, and questions are being raised about the authority of the FTC in non-competes and enforcement capabilities, should the regulation pass.

And the issue of medical marijuana advertising continues to be an ingredient in the regulatory brew. Moving up the Pennsylvania Presidential primary is in the forefront of legislative proposals in Harrisburg.

Hang on Pennsylvania broadcasters, it is going to be a most interesting “off” year.

Member Benefits and Services

2023 PAB Excellence in Broadcasting Awards

Deadline for entries is noon January 19, 2023

The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters cordially invites you to participate in our 2023 Excellence in Broadcasting Awards Competition. The competition encourages professional performance among radio and television stations in our state. All stations, including college stations, are encouraged to participate. Entries are $40.00 each and must be submitted online. Deadline for entries is noon January 19, 2023. All entries must have been broadcast between January 10, 2022 - January 10, 2023.

Complete entry guidelines can be found on the awards website. A “How to Enter” guide as well as category descriptions are attached.

We look forward to receiving your entries. The winners will be honored at our Awards Luncheon in Harrisburg on May 5, 2023.

If you have any questions or need help entering, please contact Gail Ponti @ email or 717-571-0376.

P1 Learning's "Rising Above" Summit - Jan 25-26

P1 Learning is thrilled to be working with the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters to bring you Rising Above this January.

This day and a half summit will be focused on management and sales training and will have trainers you know and love along with those you will want to know providing insight that will motivate and inspire you in 2023.

This year the summit will be steaming live on our new Ten-Minute Trainer Network and is FREE for all PAB members.

To learn more and register yourself, please visit risingabovesummit.com

News

Biden Resubmits Gigi Sohn Nomination for FCC Post

President Joe Biden, who at first did not succeed in getting his FCC nominee confirmed — or even voted on the the full Senate — is try, trying again, signaling he is not giving up on Gigi Sohn. Sohn has become a contentious pick, leaving the FCC at a 2-2 political tie for longer than at any other time.

The president on January 3rd again submitted the nomination of Sohn to be the fifth commissioner, and third Democrat, on the Federal Communications Commission. She has been nominated to a five-year term, but since it is retroactive to the departure of the commissioner she is replacing — Trump-era chairman Ajit Pai, whose term expired in July 2021 — it will be, at most, a three-year-plus term. nexttv.com

ATSC Marks Milestones For Deployment Of Next-Generation Broadcasting

As the consumer technology industry converges on Las Vegas for the 2023 CES later this week, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) will be showcasing new consumer accessory receivers that are in development for the U.S. and international markets. tvnewscheck.com

Seven Mountains Media-Forever Media Deal Closed Jan. 2

The father-daughter $17.4 million transaction, which has Kristin Cantrell’s Seven Mountains Media acquiring 46 signals in seven Pennsylvania markets from her father Kerby Confer’s Forever Media, will close on Jan. 2, 2023. InsideRadio

Seven Radio-Specific Takeaways From CES 2023

Electric Vehicles, voice control, Metaverse and more... InsideRadio

NAB Statement on Signing into Law of the Low Power Protection Act

In response to President Joe Biden signing into law the Low Power Protection Act, which provides eligible low power television stations a long-overdue opportunity to obtain interference protections, the following can be attributed to NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

"NAB commends President Biden for signing into law the Low Power Protection Act. This important, bipartisan legislation will allow these local broadcasters to better serve their millions of viewers by hiring more journalists, investing in new equipment and transitioning to the ATSC 3.0 standard. America’s local broadcasters thank former Senator Blunt (MO), Senator Wyden (OR) and the bill’s congressional cosponsors for their support of this legislation.”

FTC unveils proposal to ban noncompete clauses

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday rolled out a proposal to prohibit employers from implementing noncompete clauses that limit workers’ ability to change jobs.

Noncompetes, which are used in a broad range of industries, make it difficult for employees to work for a competitor or start their own business for a period of time after they leave employment. TheHill

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:

December 31 to January 6, 2023

By David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.