Join the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters

OAB is a statewide organization of radio and television stations working to promote, protect, and enhance the Oklahoma broadcast industry. Our members are FCC-licensed commercial and non-commercial/educational radio and television broadcast stations whose market or service areas include Oklahoma counties. We also have Associate Members from organizations interested in broadcasting.

Station Member Benefits

The OAB is committed to serving its members through information, training, legislative action, recognition and advocacy.

The OAB...

  • Is your primary resource for questions about Advertising, Regulation, Legislation, Recruiting, and Education. If we don’t have the answer, we’ll find it!
  • Provides scholarships and faculty fellowship awards through the OAB Education Foundation.
  • Presents an annual Convention featuring outstanding industry speakers, student seminars, exhibits, workshops, and recognition programs.
  • Plays an active role in state and federal legislation affecting broadcasting.
  • Provides free on-line sales training from LocalBroadcastSales.com
  • Serves as a resource on matters pertaining to daily operations.
  • Works with associated industries in developing closer relations with broadcasters.
  • Recognizes distinguished Oklahoma broadcasters through the “Hall of Fame” program.
  • Annually recognizes members’ accomplishments with the Outstanding Achievement Awards Banquet.
  • Provides an FCC Alternative Inspection Program.
  • Coordinates State Emergency Alert System.
  • Provides a Free Legal Hotline.
  • Offers an On-Line Job Service for member stations and job seekers.

Associate Member Benefits

OAB has a diverse group of Associate Members from companies and organizations that are interested in developing closer relationships with broadcasters.

As an Associate Member of the OAB....

  • You are supporting an industry which is important to your business.
  • You are supporting an Association whose efforts can benefit or impact your company.
  • You may attend the OAB Annual Convention.
  • Your company is listed in the on-line OAB Directory under Associate Members.
  • You can access the Members-Only pages of the OAB Website, including the searchable Membership Directory.
  • The services of the OAB Office are available to you.

OAB Education Foundation

The OABEF is a separate non-profit corporation established for the purpose of providing financial assistance to broadcast education throughout the state of Oklahoma. This is currently accomplished through two programs:

Lisa John Faculty Fellowship
Each year the OABEF awards a $3,000 grant to a college or university faculty member. Any faculty member of an Oklahoma school offering a broadcast curriculum is eligible to apply. One applicant is selected to receive the grant and to serve a four-week summer work program at an Oklahoma radio or television station. The purpose of the program is to provide the faculty member with better insight of today’s broadcast operations.

Student Scholarships
Annually, six $2,000 scholarships are awarded to deserving students in Oklahoma colleges and universities. Applicants must carry at least a 3.0 grade point average. Selection is based on extracurricular activities, broadcast experience, employment, financial need, and career goals.

Student Assistance
Through the Ken Greenwood Student Assistance Fund, the Foundation provides $1,000 annually to students in temporary financial need.

Free FCC Legal Hotline

The OAB has contracted with the Washington law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP to offer a Legal Hotline to our membership. As an OAB member, you may call attorney David Oxenford with questions about legal issues at no cost to your station.

WBK will provide general answers to routine legal questions facing broadcasters, including such matters as political broadcasting, EEO requirements, contests and lotteries, filing fees and other routine FCC filing requirements, children's television, ownership matters, and other issues that can be answered in a single telephone call without putting the firm into any adversary position with another station. The firm will also give you up-to-the-minute updates on the status of general regulatory changes at the FCC and provide you with copies of FCC Forms or other documents. If a question proves to be too complicated to handle in a single call, arrangements can be made to employ the firm to assist you. This OAB service allows you to obtain direct service on bothersome little regulatory issues. Remember, inquiries must be on matters that can be addressed in a single telephone call. Calls should be directed to:

David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
(direct number provided to members)

Identify yourself as an OAB member and your questions will be answered.

Legislative Program

The OAB takes an active role in state and federal legislation affecting the broadcast industry. OAB has assumed a leadership role in coordinating Oklahoma broadcasters' efforts to inform our Congressional delegation on broadcast issues, including campaign reform, spectrum fees, and digital broadcasting.

OAB is also active on the state level, working to defeat the legislature's efforts to place a tax on advertising, helping to prevent legislation that would limit access to 911 and open records, working to secure the manufacturers sales/use tax exemption for broadcasters, and assisting with the development and implementation of the state Amber Alert system.

OAB Membership Dues

Commercial Radio Stations

Market ClassificationSingle StationEach Additional Station
1$495$220
2$275$135
3$165$85
4$110$25

In determining market classification for single or multiple station operations, the OAB considers the geographic closeness of the cities (approximately 15–25 miles), studio and programming origination, station’s own market designation and primary concentration for solicitation of advertising. The annual dues for additional stations apply through ownership or lease management agreements.
(See below for multiple operation rates.)

Non-Commercial, Educational, and Low-Power Radio Stations—$110

Commercial Television Stations

Oklahoma City/Tulsa$2,250
All other markets$1,000

Annual dues of 50% of the applicable market rate will be charged for an additional station in the market through ownership or lease management agreement.

Special note: the operators of the station are responsible for payment of annual dues under a lease management agreement.

Broadcast Education Schools under OBEA Blanket Membership—$150

Colleges and universities that offer a broadcast curriculum and are members of the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association automatically become Educational members of the OAB.

Associate Membership—$225

Organizations or businesses providing products or services to the broadcast industry or have direct relationships with broadcast stations through advertising, news, or promotion are eligible for OAB membership. Applications must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Market Classifications

ClassMarket
1Oklahoma City, Tulsa
2Lawton, Norman
3Ardmore, Bartlesville, Enid, Muskogee, Ponca City, Shawnee, Stillwater
4All Others