HBO’s new series Small Town News pulls back the curtain on life at a privately owned TV station in the small desert town of Pahrump, Nev., revealing a colorful cast of characters in front of and behind the cameras! Tune in and you’ll get to meet Vern and his team! This is a big boost and shines a spotlight on local stations!

Far away from the cactus and desert there are some developments that should benefit LPTV stations around the country! One issue is communications security. The other focuses on support for local media faced with the ongoing erosion of their advertising base to digital media. Legislation in the pipeline providing tax credits for local broadcast advertisers and $12,500 for hiring local journalists. We'll keep you updated.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act recently introduced by Sens. Kelly, D-Ariz., Cantwell, D-Wash., and Wyden, D-Ore., and comes five weeks after a similar bill was introduced into the House. It proposes $250 tax credits for subscribers, as well as tax credits for advertisers on broadcast stations. In addition, the bill would provide local media tax credits of $12,500 for hiring "local" journalists who spend at least 100 hours per year on reporting local news. READ MORE HERE

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The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 allocated $1.895 billion (that’s with a B) for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The aim – to remove China’s Huawei and ZTE equipment or services from certain sized wireless networks. The 64 Billion dollar question – will this legislative approach migrate to the world of broadcast too? And if yes, when? The FCC has been very clear about the importance of securing America's critical communications infrastructure from potential security threats. READ MORE HERE