TIME IS RUNNING OUT…
The Registration deadline for the January 27th IBA Mid-Winter Meeting at the West Des Moines Marriott is January 20 and fast approaching! This year's sales seminar "A Brand New-High Revenue Sales Plan" is being presented by sales consultant, Jim Taszarek from 10:00am-3:00pm. Taz is back by popular demand and space is limited…so register today! FOR MANAGERS…All radio/TV managers should attend the morning sessions planned for January 27th from 10:00-Noon at the West Des Moines Marriott. "Forecast 2005: Inside Washington" is being lead by NAB's John Orlando and will take look at the new 2005 regulatory/ legislative landscape inside Washington. Then, from 11:00am-Noon…FCC's Bob McKinney will present an important rules and regulatory compliance session… "Staying Fine Free." Don't Miss It!
IOWA LEGISLATURE CONVENES MONDAY
The 2005 Iowa General Assembly convenes on Monday, January 10. Legislators will again be tackling a tight state budget and dealing with number of issues important to all business. During the 2005 legislative session, you can find Senate and House daily bill actions on the web at: www.legis.state.ia.us. Keep current on bills introduced, study bills filed, votes taken, and committee actions, along with a complete list of legislators and their e-mail addresses, as well as home city contact information.
ALTERNATIVE INSPECTIONS
The three-year grace period for the IBA Alternative Inspection Program expires in October and another round of inspections will be offered again beginning this fall. The Alternative Inspection program is a service of the IBA to help keep you and your station(s) in compliance with the FCC. Stations found in compliance through this special program are given a 3-year exemption from Routine/Random FCC inspections. Only one round of IBA Alternative Inspections is held every three years, so Please Note... If you participated in this program back in 2002…2005 will be your ONLY opportunity to be Re-Inspected…after fall/winter 2005, the next round of inspections will not be held in Iowa until 2008. Plan to participate…All information and registration materials will be available and mailed out to all GM's and Chief Engineers later this Summer …watch your mail this summer and respond!
NATIONAL AMBER OBSERVANCE SLATED FOR JANUARY 13
Great strides have been made in recent years to safely recover abducted children through AMBER Alert. Broadcasters play a vital role in relating critical information when an AMBER Alert is issued. Several months ago, the DOJ, along with John Walsh and Ed Smart prepared three AMBER Alert PSA's. In an effort to educate the public and keep AMBER foremost on the minds of Americans, we would like to ask for your help in a nationally coordinated effort, recognizing the day Amber Hagerman was abducted, January 13th. In remembrance of Amber, we would encourage you to air the AMBER Alert PSA's on January 13th and make abducted children the focus of the day. On January 11th, the NAB will be sending a special feed of the AMBER Alert TV PSA's to stations. The Radio PSA's are available to download from the AMBER Alert Web site at www.amberalert.gov or the NAB Public Service Website at www.nab.org/publicservice/Amber_Plan.asp. Contact sroberts@nab.org or call (202) 429-5448 if you have any questions. NAB will be sending out more information in their newsletters and in a special fax to all stations early next week. If you are unable to download or air the PSA's…any mention your station(s) could provide through on-air interviews, public affairs programs or news stories on January 13th to help in this observance would be greatly appreciated. Contact Iowa AMBER Alert Coordinator, Capt. Todd Misel at the Iowa State Patrol, 515-281-5824. Your support continues to make a significant impact on this very important program!
BY JANUARY 10
All Stations place the Quarterly Issues/Programs List for the 4th Quarter - October 1-December 31, 2004 calendar quarter in your local Public Inspection Files. Also…All Commercial TELEVISION stations must electronically file the Children's TV Programming Report (FCC Form 398) for the October 1-December 31, 2004 calendar quarter. Place a copy of the form AND documentation regarding children's programming commercial time for the October 1-December 31, 2004 calendar quarter in your public file.
BY JANUARY 15
Reminder…2005 IBA membership dues are due January 15th.
NATIONAL GUARD COMMITS TO 2005 CAMPAIGN
Thanks to your support, the National Guard has committed to a new NCSA campaign for 2005. The anticipated start date is January 17th … however, schedule dates and more information will be sent out to stations shortly. Due to budget constraints, the U.S. Coast Guard will not be renewing their IBA/ NCSA campaign for 2005. Coast Guard had been an NCSA partner since 2001.
