EPISODE SUMMARY: David Donovan shares his extensive experience in broadcasting policy, from his early days at the FCC to leading the New York State Broadcasters Association. He discusses the evolution of media regulation, the digital transition, and the importance of local broadcasting in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Donovan will be among those honored as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2026 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 17th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to David Donovan about:

1. His shift from real estate law to communications at the FCC
2. How regulatory changes have shaped broadcasting
3. What goes into the FCC’s negotiations and regulations process
4. His contributions to policy fights over must-carry retransmission consent, satellite carriage, ownership rules, and the financial interest, syndication rules and more
5. The transition from analog to digital TV, and the engineering and policy challenges it brought on
6. His local television advocacy at the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association and the New York State Broadcasters Association, and the importance of   work at the state level
7. His work strengthening federal enforcement against pirate radio and why it’s a public safety issue
8. The state of AI and content training legislation, and what the future of broadcasting policy looks like

And More!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Broadcast industry veteran David L. Donovan is president and executive director of the New York State Broadcasters Association. Donovan came to Albany in 2011 with more than 25 years of broadcast regulatory experience in Washington, DC.

He served two terms on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Spectrum Management Advisory Committee as well as the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council. He is on the advisory board of the James H. Quello Center for Communications at Michigan State University.

From 2001 to 2011, he served as president of the Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc. (MSTV), the leading engineering and technical trade association of the television industry.  During his tenure, MSTV guided the industry through the digital transition.  It developed and implemented the DTV channel selection process.  MSTV helped design the technical specifications for the government-subsidized digital-to-analog converter box. Working with Sprint he helped coordinate the broadcast industry’s reallocation of broadcast auxiliary spectrum, which is essential for electronic news gathering. Since 2004, he led the fight to prevent unlicensed devices from interfering with television transmissions.

Donovan served as the vice President for legal and legislative Affairs for the Association of Local Television Stations (ALTV) from 1990 to 2000.  He worked with the NAB and successfully lobbied for a TV station’s right to must-carry and retransmission consent. He successfully lobbied for the carry one-carry all rules that govern satellite carriage on television stations. Donovan helped relax the TV duopoly rules for large markets ,and was involved in the reshaping of the financial interest and syndication rules.

Joining the Federal Communications Commission in 1983, Donovan occupied a number of important legal positions at the agency. He was directly involved in revising content regulations as well as the ownership rules for radio and television. Donovan served as the chief media advisor for the Honorable James H. Quello for three years.

An attorney, Donovan is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and before several federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He earned his JD from the Suffolk University Law School in Boston. He received an MA in communications and BA in political science from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst).

Donovan and his wife, Jackie, live in the Albany area. He has three adult sons and a little dog.

ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio and broadcast industry and beyond as they share their unique career paths. Hear how a variety of innovative leaders grow businesses, develop iconic brands, and entertain audiences in this in-depth interview podcast.

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