The NAB has endorsed the renomination of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
Martin, whose current term ended June 30, had his nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday.
Although Martin has pushed an indecency enforcement regime that has angered and confused some broadcasters, he also went to bat for them on the key issues of multicasting must-carry and ownership deregulation.
But during the hearing, Martin conceded he had some concerns over media consolidation, and no immediate plans to bring multicasting must-carry up for a vote again. He pulled the item after failing to secure his new Republican majority, and said he still doesn't have the votes.
NAB President David Rehr had nothing but praise for Martin, saying "broadcasters applaud the great job and balanced approach that the chairman has taken on public policy regulatory issues."
NAB also backed the nomination of John Kneuer (pronounced "newer") as head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which will be administering the digital-to-analog subsidy program to keep broadcast-only analog sets working in the digital age.
