Broadcasters Stepping Up Lobbying Efforts

Local TV broadcasters supported by the National Broadcasters Association have launched a major lobbying campaign in Washington to preserve their current retransmission consent rights and protect their spectrum. Roughly 35 members of the ABC affiliates association met with key lawmakers and Federal Communications Commission officials. Over the next several days, members of the NBC, CBS and Fox affiliate organizations will also be making the rounds on Capitol Hill and at the FCC. And NAB TV board members are expected to call on their congressmen during the association's June board meeting in Washington. The broadcasters hope to counteract the cable and satellite industries' efforts to weaken broadcasters' leverage in negotiating retransmission consent fees by modifying the FCC rules governing those negotiations.