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Letter from the Editor
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Good morning <<First Name>>,
The trailer for the film Alien is famous for saying “in space no one can hear you scream.” Luckily for us, on the internet, just about everyone can hear us scream (or politely advocate).
On our most recent trip to advocate for you in Washington, the NAB made a strong case for taking our advocacy efforts online. By using strategic hashtags, mentioning key politicians, FCC staff and talking about the issues that are important to us, we can extend our reach beyond an occasional visit or email.
In addition to educating politicians about our efforts, using social media to reach your viewers and listeners to work on your behalf can also be important – like when we activate our radio listeners to contact their wireless carriers, Congress and the FCC to unlock FM chips in cell phones through FreeRadioOnMyPhone.org. For television, when we aired spots on television pointing to KeepMyTV.org during our most recent retransmission negotiation fight.
When we use our airwaves to inform our listeners and viewers we make phones ring in Washington and by adding a social element, we can be even more effective. That’s why we have begun work on a new page on MassBroadcasters.org that will be a resource for you and your digital teams. We will keep an updated list of Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation, FCC Commissioners, important NAB staff members and more. We hope you’ll use it to become more active in the digital space. Please feel free to call or email with suggestions and we will let you know when the page is active.
Sincerely,
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| Spring 2015 |
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vol 3 • No. 1 |
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In This Issue
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| The MBA in Washington on your behalf |
In their annual trip to Washington DC, members of the Massachusetts Association of Broadcasters took to Capitol Hill to educate our Congressional delegation about ongoing issues facing radio and television broadcasters.
On the table this year were discussions on retransmission consent negotiations, the threat of a radio performance tax as well as potential harm from changes to ad tax deductibility. All of our members of Congress were highly engaged during our visit and we look forward to ensuring the future of our over-the-air television and radio members by continuing to educate and advocate on your behalf. Read on about our most recent trip.
... READ MORE ABOUT OUR TRIP >> |
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| FCC plan calls for drastic cut to staff and offices |
| Could go from 24 to 8 offices across U.S. |
A plan to close up to 16 Federal Communications Commission field offices, including the office in Boston, has many in the radio and television industry worried. Broadcasters fear that the FCC’s ability to investigate and solve interference disputes as well as combat pirate radio stations will be greatly slowed and diminished if the proposed changes go through.
... READ MORE >> |
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| Families in Broadcasting Scholarship window is open! |
The Massachusetts Broadcasters Association is proud to bring back the Families in Broadcasting Scholarship, created to specifically benefit the children of broadcasters! The MBA is offering up to ten, one-time, $1,000 scholarships to the children of MBA members attending college in the Fall of 2015.
You can download an application here.
READ ON TO Learn MORE about FBS>> |
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| MBA Job Fair to be held at Emerson College 4/22 |
Reserve your space today for the MBA Job Fair, taking place on Wednesday, April 22 in the Bordy Theater at Emerson College in Boston. The Fair will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The deadline to reserve space is Friday, April 17!
gET MORE INFORMATION ON THE JOB FAIR>> |
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| Radio continues to push for unlocked FM chips |
| Time to take advocacy online |
For years, the radio industry has advocated for the universal unlocking on FM chips in smart phones that would allow consumers to listen to free, over-the-air FM radio. While the notion of a Congressional mandate for unlocking the chips has passed, Congress can still use its influence on the Federal Communications Commission and wireless companies to push the movement forward.
Some members of Congress are beginning to understand the value an unlocked FM chip can have in times of emergency. As reported in Radio World last month, Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Transportation Committee ranking member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) urged FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to “take every possible action to ensure the public has every tool in the public alerts and warnings toolbox at its disposal.”
... Learn what you can do to help >> |
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