The voice of broadcast media Inside the Beltway has released an overview of what it considers to be the most important policy issues facing local television and radio stations during the 117th Congress.
What’s the No. 1 policy priority for the NAB?
The advocacy group on Friday released its 2022 Broadcasters’ Policy Agenda, and the top agenda item is “Preserving Local Journalism in the Age of Big Tech.”
“As Congress considers the competitive challenges and antitrust concerns raised by digital platforms and their impact on local news and information, it should support laws and policies that recognize and uphold broadcasters’ unique and essential role in democracy and a free press,” the NAB says.
The No. 2 item: the Local Radio Freedom Act, the concurrent resolution of House and Senate members to oppose any proposed legislation — including the musicFIRST-supported “American Music Freedom Act” — which would impose a new royalty fee scheme on broadcast radio. In the House, the LRFA has 211 co-sponsors; in the Senate, the LRFA enjoys support from 23 co-sponsors.
The NAB comments, “Strong congressional support for local radio was also made clear in the 2018 enactment of the Music Modernization Act, legislation that did not contain a performance tax and benefited songwriters, legacy recording artists, producers, digital streaming services and music listeners. Broadcasters stand ready to work with Congress and the music industry on a balanced music licensing proposal that promotes innovation and recognizes the benefit to artists and listeners of radio’s free, locally focused platform. Congress should stand up for local radio station listeners by opposing a performance tax.”
Also on the priority list: increasing diversity in broadcasting, and “preventing harmful changes to advertising tax treatment.” On the latter topic, the FCC says, “Under the U.S. tax code, advertising is treated as an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible in the year it is incurred. In the last few years, some in Congress and in state legislatures have proposed changes to the tax treatment of businesses’ advertising as a means of raising revenue. These modifications would have a devastating impact on radio and television stations, as well as local newspapers, by discouraging businesses from advertising. Local media rely on ad revenue to serve their communities with essential news, emergency information, sports and entertainment programming. The proposed changes also raise significant First Amendment concerns and ignore the important consumer benefits that advertising provides.”
Thus, the NAB believes Congress should oppose legislation that modifies the tax laws to make advertising more expensive for businesses.
Lastly, the NAB wants congress to dedicate itself to “ensuring broadcast ownership rules reflect the competitive marketplace.”
“Broadcasters urge policymakers to support the FCC’s modernization of radio and TV ownership rules to reflect the current marketplace and account for the rise and increasing influence of digital media,” the NAB says.
