NEVADA WILL BE NEVADA AGAIN
CARSON CITY, NEVADA
Inauguration Week -- has been a busy and important first week of the new year for your Nevada Broadcasters Association. On Monday, Bob Fisher and Adam Sandler represented the NBA at both the Inauguration of Governor Brian Sandoval and at the public reception which followed the ceremony. Later in the afternoon, Bob and Adam were joined by Adrienne Abbott and together outlined our First Quarter priority goals for 2011.
These four goals include the Nevada Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (NABIP) which will involve the inspecting of one third of our radio and TV stations in the coming months -- stations whose compliance certificates will expire during 2011.
Bob, Adam and Adrienne will schedule an outreach trip to the two FCC field offices which oversee northern and southern Nevada radio and TV stations -- in Pleasanton, and Tustin, California. In addition, the NBA Board of Directors are scheduled to meet with the FCC at the FCC in Washington, D.C., during the NAB State Leadership Conference towards the end of February.
The second goal is increasing CAP compliance awareness for both our broadcast engineers and emergency managers throughout all 17 Nevada counties. In his Inauguration Address, Governor Sandoval said that we all have to work together to change the perception (if not the reality) that "Nevada is at the top of all the bad lists and at the bottom of all the good lists." When it comes to broadcaster responsibility for Public Warning and the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the NBA is strongly committed to ensuring that we are at the top of this important and critical list. We are currently working with our colleagues in California to be part of a CAP / EAS regional approach that will bring Nevada into the 21st Century -- transitioning from a prehistoric daisy-chain methodology of Public Warning to being part of the EDIS satellite system.
The second goal leads into the third goal, which is Broadcaster First Responder training and certification. We are ready to move forward in offering the combined on-line and in-person credentialing course in the First Quarter. The result will begin the certifying of broadcast engineers. Adrienne attended a meeting at the Department of Emergency Management with the Operations Manager at the beginning of this week; and Bob is attending a meeting at DEM with the Director this morning.
The fourth and final goal is our role in carrying Governor Sandoval's message to be delivered on January 24th -- carried live from the Assembly Chambers out into all 17 Nevada Counties, through the power of being aired over a majority of statewide radio and TV stations. A specific outline was established and would be shared with Dale Erquiaga on Tuesday.
On Tuesday -- Bob, Adam and Adrienne met together with Dale, the Governor's Senior Advisor, at the Governor's Capitol office, to finalize plans for the coordination of the upcoming State of the State Address.
After the meeting Adam flew back to Las Vegas and Adrienne went to her new home in Stagecoach. Bob continued holding meetings in both Carson City and Reno for the remainder of the week including at the DEM; with our state web master and with NCSA sponsors.
STATE OF THE STATE
1. Governor Brian Sandoval will deliver his State of the State Address from the Assembly Chamber in the Legislative Building at 6:00:30 on Monday evening, January 24, 2011.
2. It is Adrienne's responsibility to establish ongoing communication with the engineers from the participating television and radio stations carrying the broadcast. Adrienne's immediate top priority -- which she began working on two days ago, is seeking the commitment from one Reno television station to provide the satellite truck, 3 HD cameras, 3 camera operators and a floor director.
3. We already have received a commitment from C-Span that they will carry the address nationally.
4. We have already been in discussion with several television stations who have requested adding an additional half hour of coverage as an option. Thus, we will offer carrying the opening ceremonies from 5:31 to 6:00; and continuing coverage into the 6:00:30 window. The first half hour will be educational as so few people have ever seen the pomp and circumstance that leads up to the Governor's address. This additional coverage will present a clearer image of historical time and place. We are also working with the Governor's office to establish a guide to the ceremonies which can be used as a script for participating stations.
5. Dale confirmed with us that the address will offer very specific budget details and will include charts / graphics used during the address. We also have been notified that the Governor will be recognizing several special guests who will be introduced in the audience. All of this information and names will be distributed to participating stations in advance.
6. The address will run approximately 40 minutes. Assembly Speaker John Oceguera has confirmed that he will be delivering the Democratic Response. The response will be taped earlier in the afternoon on January 24th and will be distributed to all participating stations (television and radio) in advance.
7. The Governor will tentatively hold a media conference back in his office immediately following the address. |
