LIVE TORNADO TEST PLANNED FOR MARCH 30
March 28-April 1 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. During the week the National Weather Service will promote severe-weather safety and issue a Live Tornado Warning Test on March 30th between 10:10-10:30am at approx.10: 15am. Again…this will only be a TEST-- though it will be sent through the EAS like a real Tornado Warning-using the "TOR" code and does count as your weekly test. If your EAS is set to the automatic mode and programmed to pass the "TOR" then the test should go through automatically -However if your EAS equipment is set in the manual or semi automatic mode, you'll need to pass the test through according to the EAS box you have. Severe weather in Iowa is a serious matter and this year marks the first live tornado-warning test from NWS. Thanks for your voluntary cooperation.
SCHOLARSHIP PROMOS TO END - MARCH 19
Important Reminder… all IBA Scholarship Promos currently running are to stop on March 19. Thanks for helping spread the word!
KEEPING AN EYE ON WASHINGTON
The voice of local Iowa broadcasters have been heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill this month. Our IBA delegation, with Rick Sellers, KMRY, Cedar Rapids; Jim Field, KJAN, Atlantic; Bill Wells, Saga Communications, Des Moines; Russ Crawford, KGRN, Grinnell; Tony Coloff, KIOW/KMCH, Forest City/Manchester; John Phelan, KCRG AM/TV, Cedar Rapids; Bob Day, KCCI-TV, Des Moines and IBA Executive Director Sue Toma met with Iowa Members of Congress and staff on March 3. Issues including Satellite Radio, Spectrum Fees, Indecency, and the transition to DTV were the topics highlighting our conversations. IBA is proud to serve all Iowa broadcasters through this strong lobbying effort.
WHILE IN WASHINGTON
State broadcasters heard from some of the most predominate Members of Congress while attending this year's State Leadership Conference in Washington including, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV); Senate Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK); Senate Commerce Committee Member, Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and House Commerce Committee Chair Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX).
LATHAM & LEACH SIGN ONTO SATELLITE RADIO BILL
Iowa Reps. Tom Latham (R-4th) and Jim Leach (R-2nd) have both signed on as co-sponsors of the Satellite Radio bill--H.R. 998 - the Local Emergency Radio Services Preservation Act of 2005. Please be sure to thank Reps. Latham and Leach for their support of local radio broadcasters and if you haven't already done so…Contact Reps. Boswell, Nussle and King and encourage them to sign on as well. Contact numbers for the Iowa Delegation can be found on the IBA web site at: http://www.iowabroadcasters.com/congress.htm
RADIO BROADCASTERS GAIN VALUABLE SALES TRAINING
20 Account Execs from 25 Iowa radios stations attended the 3-day RAB Sales Academy in Des Moines February 28 - March 2. Thanks to the generous support of the Q-Mac/IBA Endowment Fund, IBA provided its members with a $300.00 per student discount for those attending. A special note of thanks to all Managers who made the time and financial commitment to send staff to this valuable event.
TV SALES TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN APRIL/MAY
The IBA is offering two TV Satellite Sales Training Workshops in April and May. The 90 minute workshops," Making Your Advertising Accountable " and "Creating Value with Superior Customer Service" will be presented via satellite beginning at Noon on April 26 and May 3. Registration materials will be mailed to all TV GMs and Sales Managers shortly. Plan to participate!
KEVIN MARTIN NAMED FCC CHAIRMAN
Ending weeks of speculation, President Bush has announced his intention to name Kevin Martin chairman of the FCC. Martin, a Republican commissioner at the agency, succeeds Michael Powell, who departs this week. Martin has been a member of the FCC since 2001. Previously serving as Legal Advisor to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Since already a commissioner, his appointment as chairman can take effect immediately.
EEO AUDIT LETTERS
The FCC sent out another round of EEO audit letters on March 7th. No Iowa stations were on the list to receive letters this time around.
