COVID-19
As Broadcasters, we understand that Community Service is our Core Mission. This section will provide member stations with links to constantly-changing COVID-19 information and resources from state government and nonprofits. We encourage you to share this information with your news and public service departments, and recommend you use this content as you deem appropriate. TAB will only provide content that we think you will find helpful for relaying to your communities. The content will be updated often. We will keep the Bank open as long as necessary.
As a part of this initiative, TAB is also interested in your ideas and recommendations directed at public interest and safety. Please feel free to share ideas that can be passed along for stations to consider or use in their communities. To submit ideas for sharing, please email [email protected]. All information will be reviewed and shared at the sole discretion of TAB.
CARES Act SBA Loans – Information & Resources
The Cares Act: User’s Guide for Broadcasters – (updated December 2020)
Dec 28, 202o
Updated to reflect the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package, passed by Congress on December 21, 2020 (referred to below as “the new law”).
Expanded Broadcaster Provisions in Latest Covid Relief Package – Part 1
Dec 21, 202o
We are extremely pleased to share the following summary from Shawn Donilon of the NAB, regarding the significantly expanded broadcast Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) eligibility as part of the latest COVID relief package! This outcome is the culmination of more than nine months of sustained advocacy and collaboration between the NAB, TAB and other State Broadcast Associations, many local broadcasters, and association board members. Because of your support and these advocacy efforts, we were successful in not only obtaining the same physical-location based eligibility as restaurants and hotels under the original CARES Act, but we also ensured that all broadcasters interested in this expansion will be eligible regardless of whether they are publicly traded.
- Allows individual TV and radio stations to apply for the PPP even if owned by a larger entity if the individual TV or radio station employs not more than 500 employees per physical location;
- Permits the SBA to make loans up to $10 million total across TV and radio stations owned by a station group (consistent with current SBA regulation on account of corporate ownership structure);
- Requires newly eligible individual TV and radio stations to make a good faith certification that proceeds of the loan will be used to support expenses for the production or distribution of locally-focused or emergency information; and
- Waives any prohibition on loans to broadcast stations owned by publicly traded entities.
Additionally, we are very pleased to report that this legislation also creates a second round of PPP eligibility for a narrower group of small businesses who demonstrate significant need for which qualifying broadcasters are also eligible. This second round of PPP applies to businesses with 300 or fewer employees that have sustained a 25 percent revenue loss in any quarter of 2020, and is capped at $2 million. This second round of PPP is not only available to those qualifying broadcasters who secured PPP loans earlier this year, but also those broadcasters who were made newly eligible for first round PPP as a result of this legislation. These employee and revenue loss thresholds are measured at a local level.
Expanded Broadcaster Provisions in Latest Covid Relief Package – Part 2
posted Dec 22, 20202
More great news and information regarding additional broadcast-related items included in the COVID/ omnibus appropriations package (the full text of which is now attached).
- The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act, legislation to close the felony streaming loophole that NAB supports because it provides greater deterrence to content theft while ensuring no additional prosecution for legitimate licensees. As a reminder, NAB worked with Sen. Thom Tillis’s (R-NC) office and other stakeholders to develop consensus legislative text that struck the right balance between all of NAB’s membership while providing a path forward to finally resolve this longstanding issue.
- A 5-year, $75 million vaccine public awareness campaign managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), that lists television and radio first amongst eligible mediums. This campaign will be a national, evidence-based campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for the prevention and control of diseases, combat misinformation about vaccines, and disseminate scientific and evidence-based vaccine-related information, with the goal of increasing rates of vaccination across all ages, as applicable, particularly in communities with low rates of vaccination, to reduce and eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases.
- These new dollars build on the existing funds and programming at HHS as well as the language that we’ve secured in the appropriations committee reports governing major federal agencies encouraging them to prioritize local media in spending on public awareness advertising campaigns. All of this flows from our direct advocacy to these agencies and the oversight and engagement of hundreds of Members of Congress encouraging such use of local broadcasting platforms to inform the public on critical issues. Our engagement and efforts here will continue into the new Congress and Biden Administration, building on the forthcoming NAB and Reynolds Journalism Institute vaccine education messaging research and resources for NAB stations.
Several generally-applicable tax items that are also of interest to broadcasters:
- Tax treatment of PPP loan proceeds: Congress has overridden the IRS and clarified that deductions are allowed for otherwise deductible expenses paid with the proceeds of a PPP loan that is forgiven, and that the tax basis and other attributes of the borrower’s assets will not be reduced as a result of the loan forgiveness. The provision is effective as of the date of enactment of the CARES Act. The provision provides similar treatment for Second Draw PPP loans, effective for tax years ending after the date of enactment of the provision.
- Extension expansion of the refundable Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC): Beginning on January 1, 2021 and through June 30, 2021, the provision:
- Increases the credit rate from 50 percent to 70 percent of qualified wages;
- Expands eligibility for the credit by reducing the required year-over-year gross receipts decline from 50 percent to 20 percent and provides a safe harbor allowing employers to use prior quarter gross receipts to determine eligibility;
- Increases the limit on per-employee creditable wages from $10,000 for the year to $10,000 for each quarter; and
- Increases the 100-employee delineation for determining the relevant qualified wage base to employers with 500 or fewer employees.
- Note: Retroactive to the effective date included in section 2301 of the CARES Act, also provides that employers who receive PPP loans may still qualify for the ERTC with respect to wages that are not paid for with forgiven PPP proceeds.
TAB Sponsored SBA Seminar Recording
The TAB sponsored SBA seminar Friday was very enlightening, and full of great information. If you missed it, or want to go back and review any of the content that was covered, the following link will take you to a recorded version of that session. Open Archived Seminar »
LATEST UPDATES
ICYMI : Below is a link to the archive version of the :30 minute presentation Andrew Finlayson of SmithGeiger made to TAB members, featuring new data and insights on audience preferences during and post Covid 19. Please feel free to share this enlightening information with your key management and sales personnel, which offers new ways to think about your connection with your audience and your clients.
Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/_t0yFI3x7ENOZNLSsWeEa6UaBYv4X6a81ncf_PNcn0NcRSS6UPGA2zMM0Omzu-A
Access Password: Local2020!
100 (+/-) MONEY SAVING IDEAS FOR BROADCASTERS
From Bayard (Bud) Walters: In 1986 for NAB’s Convention I prepared a list of “money saving” ideas for broadcasters to be presented for a panel. After that meeting the list seemed to take on a “life of its own” into the early 2000s being presented at state broadcaster associations meetings and reported in a variety of publications for a number of years. This is an effort to provide discussion and up-dating of those ideas for today’s 2020 COVID 19 business environment. View PDF »
Temporary FCC Policy Exceptions amid Covid-19
NAB and individual broadcasters continue to work on a daily basis with the FCC to try to address concerns you and other broadcasters have raised during this time of national crisis. Please see update from NAB’s Rick Kaplan’s below on two newly announced exceptions by the FCC to existing policy, as we all work through this unprecedented time. read more »
COVID-19 Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact the United States, phone scammers have seized the opportunity to prey on consumers.
The FCC has received reports of scam and hoax text message campaigns and scam robocalls offering free home testing kits, promoting bogus cures, selling health insurance, and preying on virus-related fears.
A text message scam may falsely advertise a cure or an offer to be tested for coronavirus. Do not click on links in texts related to the virus, and check cdc.gov/coronavirus for the most current information. Read More »
FEATURED CONTENT
Homeland Security Letters for Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters today circulated two letters from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber-security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that should facilitate access to your studios and transmitters if/when there are government mandated closures due to COVID-19.
P1 Learning Sales Training for Uncertain Times
Free to TAB members, P1 Learning has teamed up with partners, ej4, to provide free access to a few courses to help alleviate some of the fears around the coronavirus, tips on planning for a pandemic and what to say to a client or potential client that is afraid to advertise in these uncertain times.
“How Newsrooms Can Tone Down Their Coronavirus Coverage While Still Reporting Responsibly.”
Read Here »
“AP Stylebook Tips on the Coronavirus.”
Read Here »
Tips for working from home.
Read Here »
How journalists can fight stress from covering the coronavirus.
Read Here »
Avoiding misinformation during a pandemic.
Read Here »
Sign up for a daily COVID-19 newsletter from Poynter.
Read Here »
Dr. Jerome Adams is considered a top expert in the United States and could help us identify other experts across the country.
On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak. On March 18, 2020, H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law.
On behalf of the entire Adweek team, we hope this message finds you in good health and spirits during this challenging time.
As the world adapts to this unusual situation, our team of 50+ professional journalists have been diligently covering the COVID-19 health crisis and the ramifications of this growing pandemic; delivering real-time guides tracking the current state of the industry, forecasts and crowd-sourced tips for productivity in a time when we are unable to conduct “business as usual.”
In addition to the hundreds of new articles we are writing, our team has also been developing new tools designed to help you hone your skills and inspire you in your craft. As a member of our community you have free access to these programs, including the following:
- Learning tools: The Institute for Brand Marketing™, Top of Mind video series and CMO Moves podcast
- Adweek Webinars
- Adweek Executive Mentor Program
We consider it a privilege to be your go-to resource, and do not take the responsibility lightly. Our team is available to assist you should you have any questions or feedback in the coming months, and we look forward to seeing you all in the better days ahead.
Sales Seminar from P1 and Swagger Institute – Archived
You can now access the recorded webinar from both Derron Steenbergen of the Swagger Institute and P1 Learning’s Speed Marriott. So whether you missed the opportunity to attend or you need a quick refresher, you can now view a video recording of our 45-minute webinar plus our Q&A discussion.
- Enough! Webinar Recording – View Recording
- Enough! A Webinar Recording (For Your Advertiser) – View Recording
Important PSA Messages from Government & Non-Profit Organizations
Dept. of Mental Health – TV/Radio PSA’s
Tennessee Grocers – Radio PSA :30
Tennessee Grocers – Radio PSA :60
CARES Act SBA Loans – TV PSA’s
TWRA Outdoor Family Fun amid Pandemic – Radio PSA (1)
TWRA Outdoor Activities during Pandemic – Radio PSA (2)
CARES Act SBA Loans – TV PSA’s
TN Digital – Education Resources for Teachers, Students, and Parents
COVID-19 NEWSFEED
Bottles Needed: Help OEM Distribute Hand Sanitizer to First Responders
The Office of Emergency Management is in great need of [...]
Legislative Report
Courtesy of Dan Haskell of GSRM Law At 11:30 on March 18, The Tennessee General Assembly recessed until June 1. Bills which did not pass are still in play since they did not adjourn for the year. They adopted an emergency budget and a few other bills that were emergency in nature.
FCC Takes Initial Steps to Expand Broadband Capabilities to Combat COVID-19
In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has secured pledges from a growing list of major and minor broadband players to loosen billing rules and provide free access to existing public Wi-Fi hotspots. Some carriers are also waiving data caps. With increased reliance on telework as offices send workers home, online...… Continue Reading
As Presidential Primaries Get Delayed by the Coronavirus, So Too Do Lowest Unit Rate Windows
In recent days, we have seen Presidential primaries delayed by the coronavirus in at least six states – including Ohio which was originally set to vote yesterday but has postponed its primary until June 2. We expect that additional states will be looking at extensions in the coming days. As lowest unit rate windows had... Continue Reading…
A Statement on COVID-19 from Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC
As COVID-19 continues to challenge our nation, we at Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth PLC are taking action to ensure the health and safety of our team and their loved ones. Starting tomorrow, March 18, 2020, all staff will transition to telework. FHH attorneys and staff are reachable via email and their office telephone numbers and...… Continue Reading