The National Association of Broadcasters is losing its second-ranking
official as executive vice president Jim May announced his departure Monday to
assume the presidency of the Air Transportation Association, the lobbying arm of
the major passenger and cargo air carriers.
May, who joins the ATA Feb. 3, was a major force on Capitol Hill for local
broadcasters. He helped to pass the 1992 cable-regulation law and to secure
billions of dollars in free spectrum loans to allow every TV station to
transition to digital television.
"Under Jim's leadership, NAB government relations became a catalyst for
energizing our grassroots membership, and the NAB is regarded as one of the most
effective lobbying operations in Washington," NAB president Edward Fritts said
in a prepared statement.
May takes the helm at ATA as the airline industry struggles to recover
financially from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to integrate new
passenger-security measures and to cope with a rising labor-cost structure.
"I am honored to have been chosen by the ATA board for this wonderful new
opportunity," May said in a prepared statement. "I recognize the challenges that
lie ahead, and I look forward to meeting them head-on."
