SEARCH FOR NEW NAB PRESIDENT BEGINS
Eddie Fritts, President & CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters since 1982 notified the NAB Board of Directors on Wednesday his desire to begin the succession process that leads to the selection of a new President/CEO at the trade association. Fritts, who has a contract as President / CEO that runs until April 2006 and will continue as a consultant thereafter, told the NAB Board that filling the top position of a major Washington, DC trade association requires a thorough review and selection process. He wanted to time this announcement to best facilitate the search committee's effort at finding a successor. Co-chairing the search committee to identify a successor will be NAB Joint Board Chairman Philip Lombardo, CEO of Citadel Communications; and Immediate Past Joint Board Chair David Kennedy, President / CEO of Susquehanna Media Co. Lombardo and Kennedy said they will begin the process of retaining an executive search firm to identify potential NAB presidential candidates. Fritts will remain at NAB through the presidential transition. Eddie owned a broadcast company based in Mississippi before being elected NAB President & CEO in 1982. Under his leadership, NAB scored a string of major regulatory and legislative successes including; passage of the 1992 Cable Act; the 1996 Telecommunications Act; and elimination of the Fairness Doctrine. Fritts is an "Ole Miss" Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, an inductee in to the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and was the "2000 Golden Mike Award" honoree by the Broadcasters' Foundation.
FCC FINES
A Licensee of a Kentucky FM station was fined $3,000 for Failing to Register Antenna Structure. A Licensee of a Florida AM station was fined $7,000 for Ineffective Tower Fencing. A South Carolina FM was fined $4,000 for Improper Broadcast of Telephone Conversation. An Arizona Class A TV Station was fined $12,000 for Main Studio / EAS Rule Violations and the licensee of a Tennessee AM station was fined $7,000 for Violation of Main Studio Rule and $4,000 for Failing to Maintain Authorized Power. This according to the latest edition of the FCC Enforcement Monitor, a publication of our Washington Law Firm, ShawPittman, tracking the latest FCC enforcement actions taken around the country.
HELPING TO SAY THANK YOU!
In the last two months Americans have been extremely generous in their support of Red Cross relief efforts due to the tsunami disaster in south Asia and the hurricanes that devastated Florida last year. Because of this, the American Red Cross would like to thank the people of Iowa for their generosity. As local radio and television stations, they are asking for your help. The project, supported by the IBA is asking you to consider giving any available public service time on one day, February 26 from 6am to 6pm, to thank the public for their donations. They are calling this effort "The Midwest Broadcasters Thank-A-Thon." and have chosen the February 26th date because it is the two-month anniversary of the tsunami disaster. We would encourages your participation. The Red Cross will be sending all stations further information.
2005 MEMBERSHIP
2005 IBA Membership Dues were due on January 15. Second notices will be mailed out…if you have not already done so, please send in your 2005 IBA dues and become a member in good standing TODAY! Remember…2005 IBA Alternative Inspections will begin this fall. Inspections are available to all stations, however non-member stations do pay 50% more per inspection.
TV SALES TRAINING
This April / May IBA is again hoping to offer two Satellite TV Sales Workshops to Iowa television stations. TV sales trainer Gary Moore an associate of Ron Steiner's will present a 2-part series; Part I: "Making Your Advertising Accountable" and Part II: "Creating Value with Superior Customer Service." The workshops will be fed live via satellite to participating TV stations and presented on April 26 and May 3. Plans are still being finalized and more details should be available in the weeks ahead.
IBA IN WASHINGTON
The IBA will be in Washington…PLEASE NOTE: the IBA office will be closed February 25-March 3. Members needing to reach the IBA Legal Hotline should call 515-288-2500 or E-mail: gene.lasuer@lawiowa.com or sharon.malheiro@lawiowa.com.
