KBA'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

September 9, 2021

REGULATORY FEES DUE BY SEPTEMBER 24TH

By Scott R. Flick | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Each year with the end of summer comes an announcement from the FCC as to how it is divvying up its operating costs to then charge its regulatees in the form of regulatory fees. This annual ritual, required by Congress, makes the FCC virtually unique among federal agencies in funding its operations by passing the hat among those it regulates (and then charging them a fee to process each application to boot).

Being told how much broadcasters must pay to be regulated is never welcome news, but this year there is at least some upside, as broadcasters' fees will be nearly 10% less than originally proposed, with most broadcasters' 2021 fees being the same or less than last year's. The FCC's Public Notice announcing the fee deadline and procedures is available here.

Here are the highlights:

Annual regulatory fees are due by September 24, 2021.
Annual regulatory fees must be filed electronically at fcc.gov/feefiler.
Annual regulatory fee increases originally proposed for broadcasters were rolled back under intense lobbying pressure from trade associations representing broadcasters.
The FCC has commenced a proceeding to examine how it can more equitably implement the congressionally-mandated obligation to collect its entire appropriation from those that benefit from its operations.

Taking these points in turn, it is imperative that regulatees who owe more than $1,000 in regulatory fees file and pay those fees, or seek a waiver or exemption from doing so, by September 24. Late or unpaid fees incur a 25% late penalty, plus interest and fees. Those whose total regulatory fees are $1,000.00 or less are exempt. Payments must be made in a single transaction. Remember that the FCC's daily limit on a party's credit card transactions is $24,999.99, so payors that owe more than that amount must use one of the other methods available, including VISA/Mastercard Debit cards, ACH or wire transfers. Wire transfers must be initiated early enough that they are credited by September 24 or they will be considered late. Payors who cannot make their regulatory fee payments may seek a waiver or deferral of the fee payment obligation, which requires a showing of financial hardship.

The regulatory fee payment process involves two steps. Payors must first sign into the FCC's Fee Filer database using their Federal Registration Number ("FRN") and password and electronically submit information about the fees they are paying. This information may pre-populate with data from prior years' payments and the FCC's information about the facilities associated with the FRN. However, payors are responsible for verifying that the information is accurate, including adding any facilities that may be missing. Fee payors must then pay the fee amount indicated using one of the permitted online payment methods via the Fee Filer database or by wire transfer.

KBA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON OCTOBER 20, 2021 @ 9AM EDT

The annual membership meeting of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 9:00 AM EDT. Active KBA members must register in advance to attend the meeting.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Midwest Broadcast & Multimedia Technology Conference

For broadcast engineers, there is no such thing as an ordinary day. Some challenges are solved with a little duct tape. Sometimes it takes a whole lot more. That’s why we’re excited to welcome everybody back to Columbus on Nov. 17 for the MIDWEST BROADCAST & MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE for a full day of learning and networking – designed specifically with broadcast engineers in mind – providing you with an opportunity to explore best practices, compliance guidance and the latest technology and equipment available.

The Ohio Association of Broadcasters, the Indiana Broadcasters Association and Kentucky Broadcasters Association are excited to build on the success of previous conferences with nearly 50 exhibitors and more than 200 attendees. The 2021 conference will feature:

The latest updates on broadcast regulatory issues and cybersecurity. Plus, more hot topics for radio, television, and IT staff.
Designated time to explore the Exhibit Hall and check out the latest equipment from our growing list of exhibitors.
Opportunities to network with colleagues from three states.

This is the perfect time to brush up on the latest happenings in the field, hear industry updates, catch up with old friends, and explore our Exhibitor Showcase.

Free registration for active KBA member stations

Use promo code: KBACOMP21

LBS WEBINAR: SEPTEMBER 14TH @ 12PM EDT

FREE FOR KBA MEMBER STATIONS

Attention Broadcast Sellers and Managers:

Why "Engagement" is the Social Media Metric That Matters First!

Presented by Lori Lewis, President of Lori Lewis Media

"Engagement is the tell-tale sign from the audience that your content is accomplishing two main goals: 1) Capturing Attention & 2) Converting It Into Action. But let’s dig deeper into why engagement is the metric that matters.”

- Lori

LEVERAGE: Engagement rates need to be monitored because healthy engagement is how we influence fans to invest in us with their time & actions. This is way more important than vanity metrics (the number of fans or reach).
LONGEVITY: The longer someone spends engaging with your content (viewing, reading, captions, commenting, etc…), that engagement extends the life of the content, opening opportunities to be seen by more.
LOST: Without engagement - we’re like a ghost ship - floating around the social space; no one manning the ship, no one caring about our ship. So, don’t just give engaging content - be responsive and interact with the community too.

Don't miss this wonderful Broadcast Social Media learning session! Lori Lewis has an extensive background with broadcasters including VP Social Media with Cumulus Media, VP Social Media with Westwood One, VP, Social Media & Digital Audience Growth with Jacobs Media, Director of Social Media and Digital Fan Growth with Midwest Communications, and Brand Marketing Manager with iHeartMedia. She is the joint creator of "This Is What Happens in an Internet Minute".

POYNTER WEBINAR:

REPORTING ON DEATHS BY SUICIDE

SEPTEMBER 15TH 12:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, in fact far more people die of suicide than homicide, yet it gets a fraction of our media coverage. This workshop will help you find ways to cover this epidemic of preventable deaths by boosting your awareness, knowledge and skills in covering this vital topic.

This workshop is led by The Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins and Kelly McBride who have taught thousands of journalists worldwide how to ethically cover difficult issues.

This webinar is provided as a free service to KBA member stations.

JEFF SCHMIDT'S SALES TIP OF THE WEEK

STOP SELLING

Retail therapy is a term that describes the practice of buying something to make yourself feel better. In discussions with big-ticket-item retailers lately, they talk about the pent-up demand as a result of COVID. Some are having record selling months now as a result. The COVID buzz word is “revenge spending.” Let’s face it; we love to buy.

Why then, does it sometimes seem so difficult to sell?

My friend Kevin Malone is a former Regional Vice President of Sales for a large company. Kevin used to tell some sellers, “You haven’t been selling, you’ve been witnessing purchases.” His intent was to indicate that the seller wasn’t working with the client correctly but was simply taking an order. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a brilliant statement, but in a very positive way. The RAB teaches the Seven Steps To Selling Success. If you do the work effectively you will always witness purchases instead of having to sell. I like to refer to it as facilitating a buying decision.

Here are 8 steps to stop selling and instead facilitate a buying decision:

Start with why. Why are you doing your job besides the money? If it’s not to help improve the lives of your customers and help them achieve THEIR goals, you will struggle hitting your goals. The attitude must be: “How can I help improve their business?” In short, you have to CARE about your customers.
Identify the true need or objective of your customers. This is done through questioning, analysis, and research. Find out what they are trying to accomplish.
Build trust and credibility as a resource that can help them meet their objectives or solve their problems. Actively listening and engaging in discussions about your customers’ needs and desires goes a long way to building credibility.
Present ideas and solutions to their problems. Position those ideas to help them reach their objectives.
Provide value BEYOND your product or service. This means looking for other ways to serve your customers that don’t cost them money. It could be as easy as sharing information.
Present your product or service in a way that clearly ties the value of doing business with you back to solving the customers’ problem or providing them with what they want.
Show your customers the emotional benefits of solving their problems or fulfilling their needs.
Don’t pressure them to buy. If you’ve worked effectively through the process and provided them adequate information, you won’t need closing techniques.

I’ve always believed that closing was the natural progression of a business relationship built on trust, mutual respect and an understanding of needs. When you identify the problems your customers have, and you create the right solutions for them, getting the order is simply the next logical step.

We all love to buy. (And some of us don’t like to “sell”) Help your customers come to the conclusion that your products or services will help them meet their goals and objectives, and you’ll have the true pleasure of witnessing purchases or facilitating a buying decision.

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can also connect with him by email JSchmidt@rab.com or on Twitter and LinkedIn.