Month: April 2021

Sources: FEMA Plans To Bring Back National EAS Test This Summer.

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INSIDE RADIO

One year after the pandemic sidelined the now-annual national test of the Emergency Alert System, the Federal Emergency Management Agency expects to return to form this summer. Sources say FEMA is tentatively planning to conduct the national EAS test on Wednesday, Aug. 11 with a backup date of Wednesday, Aug. 25 to be used if any unforeseen circumstances – such as a hurricane – requires a two-week delay.

Insiders say FEMA is planning to conduct a national test similar to what was done in 2019. Two years ago, the government leaned on broadcasters and the daisy-chain system for distributing messages during a national emergency. It will also be a gauge of whether federal efforts to beef up PEP stations – the network of 77 mostly AM stations that have a direct connection to FEMA and act as a primary broadcast source for national EAS messages – have improved the reliability of the system. Unlike the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the PEP system does not rely on internet delivery. The addition of new stations has improved PEP’s direct coverage from 67% of the U.S. population in 2009 to more than 90% today.

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NAB Announces Leadership Transition

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Washington, D.C. — National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon H. Smith announced today his plans to transition to an advisory and advocacy role effective Dec. 31, 2021. The organization’s Chief Operating Officer Curtis LeGeyt has been named the next president and CEO of NAB effective Jan. 1, 2022.

In a video message to members, Smith said, “It has been my great honor to give the lion’s roar for broadcasters – those who run into the storm, those who stand firm in chaos to hear the voice of the people, those who hold to account the powerful – and to stand with those of the fourth estate who have the hearts of public servants.”

NAB Joint Board of Directors Chairman Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television, thanked Smith for his service to the industry. “Gordon is the ultimate statesman, bringing people together from both sides of the aisle to discuss ideas, find common ground and lead NAB to success on countless fronts,” said Wertlieb. “On behalf of the leadership of NAB, we extend our sincere gratitude for more than a decade of service to the broadcast industry. We look forward to continuing to work with Gordon and benefiting from his guidance for years to come.”

Wertlieb noted that Smith worked closely with the board leadership on a succession plan that will enable him to continue to serve NAB in a special advisory role through December 31, 2024, which includes lobbying on behalf of the broadcasters.

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Supreme Court upholds FCC move to loosen media ownership rules

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The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a move by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to relax media ownership rules, handing down a unanimous ruling that favors large broadcasters.

The decision dealt a blow to challengers who argued that laxer regulations could usher in more media consolidation at the expense of minority and female media ownership.

The justices found the FCC had acted reasonably in its 2017 regulatory rollback, which included scrapping a rule that had barred a single company from owning a radio or TV station along with a newspaper in a single local market.

Read more from The Hill: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/545957-supreme-court-upholds-fcc-move-to-loosen-media-ownership-rules

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