NAB CEO Gordon Smith Addresses State Leadership Conference

Gordon Smith

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) President and CEO Gordon Smith delivered remarks Tuesday at NAB's State Leadership Conference. 

The annual gathering of 500 radio and TV station owners and executives from all 50 states is designed to educate the broadcast industry to advocate on relevant legislative and regulatory issues. This year’s conference is a virtual-only event.

Smith highlighted the NAB's lobbying efforts on issues such as allowing stations to “fairly negotiate” for their local news content with big tech companies; opposing proposals to alter the tax treatment of advertising expenses; and supporting legislation to reinstate the diversity tax certificate.

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith Delivers Remarks at State Leadership Conference https://t.co/FLX21Ngi0D

— NAB Newsroom (@NABNewsroom) May 11, 2021

Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also addressed conference attendees today, praising broadcasters’ extraordinary efforts to keep communities safe and informed during the pandemic and educating the public on COVID-19 vaccines. 

Roswenworcel said that America’s broadcasters “have shown an industry-wide commitment to using their platforms to help audiences get through the pandemic,” and pointed out that stations everywhere carried daily COVID briefings from mayors and governors. She also said broadcasters have been a godsend for small businesses struggling to survive.