WASHINGTON—Two-term Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith stepped in to lead the National Association of Broadcasters as president and CEO in late 2009, and has since become known for his deliberate, measured and non-confrontational approach. In addition to his tenures on Capitol Hill, Smith is co-owner of a major frozen foods business as well as a published author. His book, “Remembering Garrett: One Family’s Battle with a Child’s Depression,” relates the story of the Smith family’s personal experience with suicide, and reveals the motivation behind Sen. Smith’s efforts to elevate awareness about mental illness and depression through the power of media.

Here, Sen. Smith obliged TV Technology with regard to questions about the NAB Show, his views on technology and policy, and the role of broadcasting in the culture and democracy.

TV Technology: How many NAB Shows does this make for you as president & CEO?
Smith: This was my seventh NAB Show.

TVT: Did you attend the Show before taking over the organization?
Smith: I served on the Senate Commerce Committee during my two terms representing the state of Oregon and became very familiar with the many issues impacting broadcasters. I always viewed NAB as one of the pre-eminent trade associations in Washington, but unfortunately I never made it to NAB Show.

TVT: What was the most exciting technological development you have seen at an NAB Show, including this year’s?
Smith: I’m always amazed by the displays showing crystal-clear pictures delivered using 4K, UHD and high dynamic range technology. I firmly believe consumer demand will continue to grow as more viewers experience this amazing picture quality.

TVT: Was there one moment more than any other in your tenure that you felt a profound sense of community at the NAB Show?
Smith: A few years ago, we came to the show after recently fighting back an attempt by the record industry to get Congress to pass a performance royalty bill on local radio. The bill had passed the House Judiciary Committee and had support from the Speaker of the House.
We put together an ad campaign and convinced our television members to join the fight and run the ads along with our radio members. Those combined efforts managed to swing the tide in the fight and we defeated that bill.
That was a testament to the power of broadcasters when all our oars pulling in the same direction. We’ve since has similar success with an ad campaign regarding the retrans fight and the STELAR bill, with our radio members assisting TV broadcasters in reminding members of Congress about the importance of free and local television.

TVT: In terms of technological development, what did you see as the overarching themes of the show this year?
Smith: Next-gen television has been in development for years, but I think it became a reality at this year’s NAB Show. We also saw exciting developments in virtual and augmented reality capabilities that create astonishing immersive experiences for consumers; while sophisticated advertising technology is offering a broader range of targeting opportunities for content owners and distributors. And drones were back, empowering content creators with a variety of applications from filmmaking to newsgathering.

TVT: What are some examples of these themes?
Smith: Just before the show, we announced a petition was filed by NAB, along with consumer electronics, public safety and public television advocates, asking the FCC to approve a next-gen TV standard for those who voluntarily choose to adopt it. (See, “FCC Puts ATSC 3.0 Out for Comment,” April 27.)
At the Futures Park exhibit, we present a wide variety of ATSC 3.0-related demos—most shown for the first time anywhere—including live transmissions using the next-gen TV standard. The ATSC 3.0 Consumer Experience showcased exciting offerings on the consumer side.
NAB Show offered a deep dive into other emerging trends with a variety of new programs, conference sessions and exhibit areas including the new Kaleidoscope VR Showcase, Virtual Reality Production Summit, Advanced Advertising Theater and Aerial Robotics and Drone Pavilion.

TVT: Technology and policy have operated somewhat like church and state at the NAB Show. Do you see this changing?
Smith: We’ve certainly tried to showcase the intersection of technology and policy at the show. We saw some of that this year. Chairman Wheeler gave a shout-out to next-gen TV. Commissioner Pai moderated a panel about the post-incentive auction repack. Commissioner O’Rielly delivered a speech at a session on the set-top box issue.* Being at the show, the commissioners could also get a glimpse of advances in broadcast tech, such as next-gen TV.
It is true that technology tends to develop faster than public policy can keep up with, especially in such a divisive Congress, even though these issues aren’t partisan. That might be why there’s a perception that technology and policy are separated at NAB Show—the technology is more advanced than the current state of the policy. For example, we’re waiting on rules from the FAA on the use of drones and letting news outlets use them for newsgathering operations.

TVT: You delivered an impassioned keynote about the community service provided by local broadcasters, “not Google, not Apple, not Pandora, not cable or satellite.”
Were you aware of this dynamic when you served in the Senate?
Smith: I knew about broadcasters’ localism when I was in the Senate, but I gained a greater appreciation for the role broadcasters play in local communities after joining NAB. It’s easy for members of Congress and the FCC to take broadcasters for granted, since we’ve been serving our communities for decades. It’s not something you think about often because it happens on a day-to-day basis. That’s why I encourage broadcasters to reach out to lawmakers and make them aware of what they do day in and day out for our audiences.