Rosenworcel Praises Local Broadcasting, Keeps Close on Future Proceedings
LAS VEGAS -- FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel kept her cards close on future FCC broadcasting policy during a Q&A at the NAB Show 2022 Monday but pleased many broadcasters by repeatedly emphasizing her admiration for local broadcasting. “Your power is that you’re not like everyone else,” Rosenworcel told NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt and the broadcasters. “What makes you unique is that you’re local.” Her “appreciation for local was apparent,” said Salem CEO David Santrella in an interview after her remarks: “When two parties get together to negotiate something, if one has no appreciation for what the other brings to the table, the negotiation rarely goes well.”
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Rosenworcel noted ongoing proceedings on ATSC 3.0 multicasting, geotargeted radio and equal employment opportunity data collection, but she didn’t indicate when or if orders in any of those matters could be issued. She also didn’t appear to concede any ground to NAB’s position on any of those issues. Rosenworcel said the FCC would work with broadcasters on issues of privacy on EEO data collection but didn’t elaborate after LeGeyt said broadcasters didn’t believe collected EEO data should be used punitively. “We’re going to work on it together,” she replied. She said if broadcasters are making strides toward more diversity, that will be reflected in collected EEO data. “We recognize you guys are taking it seriously; we think it would be super great if we could quantify how seriously you’re taking it,” said Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer in a separate panel.
On ATSC 3.0, Rosenworcel said broadcasters should have freedom to experiment with the new standard but also “the framework the FCC has for ATSC 3.0 is the right framework for now.” Some broadcasters at NAB 2022 asked the FCC to relax aspects of the 3.0 requirements (see 2204250021). She said the agency is working with broadcasters on ATSC 3.0 multicasting but gave no indication an order is imminent. She said the agency would have to address ATSC 3.0’s lack of backward compatibility. The agency will pay attention to the device marketplace and the availability of low-cost converter boxes, Saurer said.
Broadcast officials appeared to react positively to Rosenworcel’s speech, and everyone we interviewed mentioned her emphasis on local broadcasting. Former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who now represents broadcasters as a partner at Cooley, said Rosenworcel’s respect for the importance of broadcasting could mean she might be open to deregulation. “A boy can dream,” he said. “For me, the things that stood out the most were her support for local broadcast,” said Hawaii Association of Broadcasters President Chris Leonard. America's Public Television Stations CEO Patrick Butler said Rosenworcel’s caution about ATSC 3.0 made sense because the FCC has a responsibility to ensure viewers are protected and he has faith she won’t hinder the new standard. “I don’t think she’ll be a laggard on these issues,” he said.
Broadcasters we interviewed at the convention also all expressed satisfaction with how the first NAB Show held during the COVID-19 pandemic has gone. “I think everyone is really glad to get together in person again,” said Sherman Kizart of Kizart Media Partners. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 diagnosis was required to enter the event, and masking was optional. Broadcasters told us the proof of vaccination process didn’t create additional hassles. The vast majority of attendees didn’t wear masks, which Kizart said helped make the convention feel more like a return to normal. “It’s gone just as well as we hoped,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb, an NAB executive committee member. “I think there’s a lot of positive energy and it feels like a return to whatever our new normal is gonna be,” said Leonard.
In a speech before Rosenworcel took the stage, LeGeyt laid out NAB policy priorities that include urging lawmakers to modernize media ownership rules to reflect advertising competition with large tech companies and reorienting the FCC’s approach to broadcasting to consider broadcasters’ financial viability and work together on diversity issues. “If we remain bogged down in all that could go wrong instead of all that could go right, we will not succeed,” he said.
LeGeyt also emphasized NAB’s opposition to performance royalties on radio stations and pressed Congress to “rein in the gatekeeping ability of tech giants” through the Journalism Competition Protection Act (see 2203090076). “Allow us to jointly negotiate the value of our content,” said LeGeyt. "There’s no long-term business model for local news if we don’t solve this”