TAB Presses Congress for More Emergency Aid to Local Stations
posted on 4.20.2020- Crisis Forces Cancellation of 2020 TAB Show; Technical Academy Postponed
TAB is urging the Texas Congressional delegation to expand access to the CARES Act PPP loan program to more local broadcasters and to consider avenues for directing federal advertising dollars to local media as ad revenues continue to plunge.
A bipartisan group of four U.S. Senators urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, to quickly address a significant shortcoming in the disaster relief measure that left thousands of newspapers and hundreds of local Radio and Television stations across the country ineligible for assistance.
The measure bars companies owned or controlled by larger entities that have more than 500 employees from the participating in the program, though exceptions to the so-called affiliation rule were made for hotels and restaurants.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, was joined by her Democratic colleague Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Republican Sens. John Boozman of Arkansas and John Kennedy of Louisiana.
Time constraints related to the rapidly evolving negotiations between Senate and House leaders on additional financial relief for businesses prevented advocates from requesting support from additional members of the Senate.
Expanding eligibility for the PPP is our top priority, but TAB and counterparts across the country, along with the NAB, also secured support from a majority of House members for a recommendation to the White House that federal ad dollars be directed to local media.
Of the 240 lawmakers signing on, 19 are Texans. Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Dallas, and Bill Flores, R-Waco, were two of the four lead co-authors of the letter. Supporters are noted in the following document which also contains contact information for all offices that you can use for all ongoing requests such as expanding the PPP.
TEXAS MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE
Pandemic Takes Toll on TAB Events
The continuing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic forced TAB to cancel the 2020 TAB Show planned for July 29-30 and postpone the Technical Academy training slated for the week of May 18.
SHOW CANCELLATION ANNOUNCEMENT
The Technical Academy’s week-long Certified Radio Operator and Chief Operator class will be rescheduled for later this year.
Questions? Contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.
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