Rehr: Radio broadcasters will certainly face some new challenges in 2009, given the economic outlook impacting every business in America. What we must not lose sight of, however, is the unique value delivered by radio everyday in towns and cities across America. In 2008, we saw 235 million Americans tune in to free, local radio every week. What people may not know is that this figure is actually three million more than in 2007. Moving into 2009, we must continue to seize upon our digital opportunities, whether it is through HD Radio, FM-capable cell phones, Internet radio, or some yet-invented technology. HD Radio gained a lot of momentum in 2008 lining up a deal with Volvo and others, while the iPhone brought new opportunities for tech-savvy radio stations. We need to build upon this momentum to have a successful 2009.

SmartBrief: Is the country prepared for the switch to all-digital TV broadcasting in February 2009? How would you evaluate the job done by government and the private sector in alerting viewers to the change?

Rehr: As every TV broadcaster in America knows, informing Americans about the transition to digital TV is a Herculean lift, and we'll continue to explore every means necessary to get the message out in the final stretch of this unprecedented informational campaign. The DTV transition has united broadcast affiliates, networks, cable and satellite operators, TV set manufacturers and consumer groups, as well as federal, state and local governments – all working toward one common goal: To ensure no American loses their broadcast signal due to a lack of information. The broadcast industry alone has mounted a billion-dollar marketing campaign around this effort in an attempt to leave no stone unturned.

SmartBrief: There has been much speculation about the priorities of the incoming Obama administration when it comes to media and marketing. What do think an Obama administration will mean for broadcasters?

Rehr: We're confident that an Obama administration will recognize the value of free and local broadcasting during these challenging economic times, and will appreciate the lifeline role that radio and TV stations play in providing communities with timely local news, information and public service programming. Our top priority is a successful DTV transition, and we will be working tirelessly with President Obama and his team to ensure that the February 17 end of analog television goes smoothly.