NJBA Weekly Newsletter Friday, May 29, 2009

NJBA Welcomes New PEP Sponsor:

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Authority

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Agency (HFMA) begins their six month run as NJBA’s newest PEP sponsor! The HFMA’s spots will premiere this week and are available on our web site www.NJBA.com for radio stations to use in their PEP rotation. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), is dedicated to increasing the availability of and accessibility to safe, decent and affordable housing to families in New Jersey. A 30-year fixed interest rate is offered to first-time and urban target area home buyers. Down payments of as little as three percent are required.  The HMFA is making up to $5000 of the federal stimulus rebate available immediately, as part of their Pre-Fund Stimulus Program.  The First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit Loan (“TCLP”) Program provides a zero percent, non-amortizing loan to buyers to use as down payment and/or closing costs along with the HMFA Home Buyer Program for first-time home buyers who meet the requirements of the Program and who are eligible for the federal tax credit as permitted by the federal law. In addition, the HMFA offers Reverse mortgage programs for seniors and up to one-hundred percent loans for eligible borrowers.  In every situation HMFA is committed to make quality housing available at costs affordable to New Jersey residents. Check out their web site, at www.nj-hmfa.com for more information;  or call their toll free mortgage hotline: 1-800-NJ-HOUSE. 

NJBA Prez Appointed to NASBA Anti-Performance Tax Task Force

NJBA President Paul S. Rotella, Esq., has been appointed by NASBA President Christine Merritt to the newly created Anti Performance Tax Task Force, which is charged with reviewing and analyzing all advocacy and awareness programs from across the country to create an action plan that best uses our collective resources against this anti radio proposal. The work product will be presented to NAB and NASBA, not as an added bureaucratic layer, but as a forum for the careful and thoughtful consideration of all ideas. Any suggestions or comments are most welcome. 

The Day the Music Died?

The Performance Rights Act, a brainchild of the Recording Industry Association of America, would levy a new fee on local radio stations that air music  free to listeners, costing NJ Radio over $30,000,000 in Royalty Fees. Visit our web site www.njba.com for PSAs explaining the Performance tax produced courtesy of the NJBA and Matt Ryan at Millennium Radio’s New Jersey 101.5 and SoJO, 104.9 FM. They are available for you to supplement or use as your primary means of getting the word out regarding the terrible effect the Performance Tax will have on our industry, if passed into law.  New radio spots thanking our supporters, and educating those Congressmen not so enlightened, are available on our website. And Check out www.NoPerformanceTax.org and log on to the Broadcaster Resource Center for sample scripts your station can use to fight the Performance Tax threat today. Special thanks to Bill Saurer, Eric Johnson and Matt Ryan of Millennium for the use of their facilities and all of the Millennium staff for their constant support of the NJBA!  

Important Reminder: any spots stations air that are considered "issue advocacy" must comply with all FCC and FEC requirements, including on-air sponsorship identification and public file disclosure. NAB recommends that stations fill out a Performance Tax Public File Form and place it in their public file. Please consult your station counsel with any questions.

Millennium Station Switched Formats

South Jersey’s WXKW, Millville (97.3) is dropping its simulcast of “New Jersey 101.5” and going all-sports. That begins next Monday, June 1. WXKW is picking up the ESPN brand, and that could shake up some listening habits in South Jersey. It’s been mostly simulcasting Millennium sister WKXW, Trenton (101.5) since November 2004, but the company feels there are opportunities to do more with the full Class B signal, sales-wise.

NJBA Nominating Committee Proposes 2009-2010 Slate
The Nominating Committee of the NJBA has nominated the following NJBA members to serve as Officers and Directors for the upcoming year: Chairman: Robert McAllan; First Vice Chairman: Dick Taylor; Second Vice President: Scott Taylor; Treasurer: Joseph Bilotta; Secretary: Bill Saurer; Board Members:  Dan Finn, Charles McCreery, Dick Irland, Dan Spears, Art Camiolo, Dick Swetits, Pat Delsi, Elizabeth Christopherson, Robert Maschio, Andrew J. Santoro, Jr. and John Mozes. The election of officers and Board members will be held on June 23, 2009 at the Association's Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for June 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM at Forte Restaurant, 2154 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach Borough, NJ.

NJBA Board of Directors Proposes By-Laws Amendments

The Board of Directors of the NJBA is recommending amendments to the association’s by-laws, which may be found in an attachment to Quick News and viewed on our website. The amendments were recommended to codify many long standing policies and practices desired by the Board and Association. The amendments to the by-laws will be voted on at the Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for June 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM at Forte Restaurant, 2154 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach Borough, NJ.

The Trenton Report from The Marcus Group

Last Thursday, the Assembly passed a resolution urging counties and municipalities to purchase communications equipment in conformity with certain standards to promote local, county, State and federal interoperability.  The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness requires that any radio equipment purchased with Homeland Security Grant funds should meet these standards. Interoperability of communications equipment would allow emergency responders to work seamlessly across professional disciplines and jurisdictions.

DTV Nation-wide Transition Set for June 12^th

Well, it’s finally here: The DTV transition, originally scheduled for February, will occur two weeks from today! Coupons are still available for converter boxes and most of NJ’s population is ready for the switch. But, if you have any audience members lagging behind, tell them to go to www.DTV2009.gov for more information and to apply for coupons to help defray the cost of obtaining converter boxes. What are you going to do with all of the old TV sets that aren’t hooked up to a converter? The EPA suggests that they be recycled. You can find more information on their web site www.EPA.gov.

FTC to Take Closer Look at Media

Inside radio reported this week that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) will be scrutinizing all media because of the significant economic pressure placed on them by the current business climate.

QuickNews is provided for general information purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal or tax advice pertaining to any specific factual situation. Legal and tax related decisions should be made only after proper consultation with a legal professional of your choosing.