Texas Association of Broadcasters

Sept. 21 Cruz / O’Rourke U.S. Senate Debate Feed Coordinates

posted on 9.20.2018

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Houston, will debate U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, in the first of three planned debates on Friday, Sept. 21 at 6pm.

TAB’s September Political Broadcast Webinar Available for Viewing Online

posted on 9.17.2018

The recent TAB webinar on the FCC’s political broadcast rules has been archived online and is available for viewing.…

FCC Delays National EAS Test by Two Weeks

posted on 9.17.2018

With the remnants of Hurricane Florence still battering the Carolinas as first responders continue to pluck people from flooded homes and businesses, the FCC announced a two-week delay in the National EAS Test. Instead of taking place on Sept. 20, the test will now be held on Wed., Oct. 3, at 1:18 PM (CDT). The delay gives broadcasters that hadn’t prepared additional time to get ready. Stations that fail to take the necessary steps could be fined.

TAB Gearing Up for Contentious Legislative Session

posted on 9.10.2018

Texas broadcasters will convene in Austin on Jan. 22 for TAB’s biennial legislative conference which prepares station managers and news directors for one-on-one advocacy with state lawmakers during the five-month session. Our continuing effort to restore the state’s Open Government laws to ensure all Texans know how their tax dollars are being spent will take center stage, but we must also prepare to safeguard TAB’s hard-fought successes on a wide range of tax policy and newsroom protections.

Stations Have Until Oct. 17 to Meet FCC’s C-Band Registration Call

posted on 9.04.2018

The FCC has called on Radio and TV stations to register their current unregistered C-band earth stations by October 17 or risk losing interference protection from new 5-G broadband services that will be sharing the band. This costly process includes certifying that any registrations made prior to April 19, 2018, are accurate. SES, a satellite company that wants to use the C-Band for 5G, is offering to reimburse stations for their registration costs, but there are important limitations.

Media Sales Academy Aims to Build Next-Gen Sales Experts

posted on 8.20.2018

TAB is partnering with the NAB Education Foundation to build a new generation of multi-screen marketing experts as competition for skilled business and sales professionals increases. The partnership begins this fall when TAB hosts the Media Sales Academy Nov. 8-11 at its facility in downtown Austin.

TAB2018 Convention Photos Now Available

posted on 8.17.2018

Photos from TAB's Annual Convention & Trade Show are now available.

TAB Board Elections Bring New Officers, Directors

posted on 8.13.2018

This summer’s TAB Board elections yielded a new slate of officers and a handful of new Radio and TV directors.

Golden Mic Club Elects New Officers

posted on 8.06.2018

The Golden Mic Club Banquet was held on August 1, in conjunction with TAB's 65th Annual TAB Convention and Trade Show.

TAB Honors Several Stations for Public Service Contributions

posted on 7.30.2018

Both in service to local communities and influencing major public policy affecting our industry, Texas broadcasters showed up in a BIG way over the past year!

Holding Local Government Accountable for Open Government

posted on 7.30.2018

The Texas legal system has had two recent notable developments in a little-enforced or contested area of Texas law – the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act.

FCC Issues Aug. 27 EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) Form One Requirement

posted on 7.16.2018

The FCC issued notice this month that all EAS participants must file EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) Form One by Aug. 27. While no date for a 2018 national test of EAS has been set, Section 11.61 of the FCC’s rules, EAS Participants must renew their identifying information required by ETRS Form One on a yearly basis.

FCC Releases Proposed 2018 Regulatory Fees

posted on 5.25.2018

There was a bright spot in last week’s FCC release of the 2018 Regulatory Fee Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM is the proceeding that starts the discussion and formal adoption of the FCC’s annual regulatory fees that are assessed to broadcast licensees.

TAB introduces Omnia Staffing Profiles

posted on 4.12.2018

The instant reports can dramatically improve your hiring process, enhance employee motivation and communication, increase retention and support most of your specific developmental initiatives.

TAB offers vast resources for 2018 political season

posted on 1.12.2018

With the political window for the March 6 primary election opening Jan. 20, member stations should be sure to take advantage of all the resources TAB provides for campaign season advertising, including required disclosure forms, legal guidance and LUR calendars.

Mayes makes historic gift to scholarship foundation

posted on 5.08.2017

A lifelong learner who secured advanced degrees in his 70’s and 80s, Wendell Mayes Jr. has witnessed first-hand the soaring, punishing costs of higher education.

TAB Joins Media Coalition Arguing Texas Anti-SLAPP Law Should Apply in Federal Court

posted on 9.17.2018

The Texas Association of Broadcasters is one of 39 media organizations that have joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in an amicus brief in support of the Texas anti-SLAPP law and its application in federal cases.

Political Window Now Open for November General Election

posted on 9.10.2018

The FCC’s 60-day political window for the Nov. 6 general election opened this past Friday. The start of the political window is important to note as most of the FCC’s political rules come into play during this period, such a Lowest Unit Charge, equal access, etc.

TAB Political Advertising Webinar Slated for Sept. 13

posted on 9.04.2018

This past Labor Day weekend and the opening of the FCC’s general election political window this Friday, Sept. 7, are the traditional markers of the start of the fall political campaign season.

Music Streaming Bill Languishing in Senate

posted on 8.27.2018

Two months have passed since the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the Music Modernization Act but there’s still no indication when the Senate will vote on the bill. The measure includes significant reforms to songwriter compensation by on-demand streaming services, payments to pre-1972 recording artists and producer royalty shares. It also retains language relating to the ASCAP-BMI rate courts that NAB negotiated before it passed the House earlier this year on a vote of 415-0.

Sept. 19 Deadline for TV Shared Service Agreements to be the Station Public Inspection File

posted on 8.27.2018

An important FCC regulatory deadline for TV stations on Sept. 19 may go unnoticed by some, so here’s a quick reminder as we head into the Labor Day weekend. Stations may recall FCC action in 2016 to define and create public availability requirements for shared service agreements (SSAs) entered into by commercial television station stations.