NJBA Weekly Newsletter, Friday, December 14, 2007

No Broadcast Sales Tax for Now

Senator Kenny from Essex County has introduced legislation in the Senate that would make the state a signatory to the multi-state Sales and Use Tax agreement. NJBA has been working with the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association to monitor the various meetings of the multi-state task force to make sure that broadcasting, both analog and digital are exempt from taxes. We are pleased to report, that although the bill makes changes to the definitions of telecommunications, we have successfully added language that specifically exempts “radio and television audio and video programming services regardless of the medium, including the furnishing of transmission, conveyance, and routing services by the programming service provider.” Another victory for the NJBA lobbying efforts. 

Search Committee Looking For New Prez

A number of very well known broadcasters and non-broadcasters both from New Jersey and elsewhere have told the NJBA Search Committee that they are interested in the position of President/CEO which will be vacated by Philip Roberts on December 31, 2008. The candidates who have expressed an interest in the position were requested to send a letter of interest, along with their resume to NJBA to be forwarded to the search committee for their consideration. The committee is presently in deliberations. 

NJ’s Newest Congressman Supports Broadcasters

Congressman Albio Sires has signed on to the concurrent resolution called the local radio freedom act. This resolution supports broadcasters in their battle with the record companies to prevent the levying of a performance tax on the streaming and broadcasting of recorded music. For years the record industry and the broadcasters have had an arrangement whereby broadcasters play records at no charge and the record companies get exposure on the radio for their new releases. Now, with the record companies not making money, they are looking to collect billions of dollars from broadcasters to make up for their shortfall. NJBA thanks Congressman Sires for his support of free over the air broadcasting. 

New Year Means New Credentials

Stations are reminded to apply now for their 2008 press credentials as well as essential personnel cards. Press credentials have a minor charge, while the essential personnel cards are free, but only to members of NJBA. To get either. Go to our web site, www.njbroadcasters.org and download the forms from the left side of the main page. Fill them out, and in the case of press cards submit along with your check. The press cards are for news personnel only, while the EPC cards are for all station personnel that must reach the station to communicate with the public during government declared emergencies. The card permits travel on otherwise closed roads. 

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