Report: Some Lawmakers Annoyed With NAB

GOP, Dems At Odds With NAB?

The NAB has always enjoyed a position of influence in WASHINGTON, D.C., but a POLITICO.COM article indicates that relationship could be strained. The website writes, "The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS is pinching the nerves of some lawmakers on CAPITOL HILL, where tensions are already flaring with the end of the session fast approaching. Some Democratic and GOP staffers say their bosses are tired of negotiating with the NAB on lingering policy issues because the trade association seems unwilling to hammer out a compromise."

The two pieces of legislation causing the friction are a bill that would allow the FCC to create more licenses to noncommercial, low-power local radio stations -- and the other -- HR 848, the Performance Rights Act.

"There’s frustration on both sides of the aisle," a GOP House aide told POLITICO. "Both sides have seen them as unreasonable."

"Are they going to defend their business and their members when it matters or fight tooth and nail on things that don’t matter?" said a senior Democratic House staffer.

The LPFM issue may be the easier of the two to solve. Said NAB EVP/Communications DENNIS WHARTON, "We offered up a compromise that will allow thousands of LPFM stations to come on the air. We hope the other side can compromise and get this off the table."

The Performance Rights Act was placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 405 by the House Judiciary Committee on TUESDAY (NET NEWS 12/15). Whether Congress acts upon it before new members are sworn in soon is unknown.

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