Government Relations

FAB Legal Consultants

Jim Rathbun

Consultant

Jim Rathbun, president of Rathbun & Associates, has served as the state government affairs lobbyist to FAB since 2000.

As owner and president of Rathbun & Associates since 1997, Mr. Rathbun represents a host of Fortune 500 companies, as well as many smaller entities and associations, through services such as lobbying, strategic analysis, issue management, and grasstop programs.

In the past, Mr. Rathbun has worked as a governmental affairs consultant for the law firm of Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal & Banker and as staff director for the House Republican Office.

Mr. Rathbun graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate.


David Griffin

Consultant

David Griffin, president of David Griffin Consulting, has served as the Florida executive branch counsel to FAB since 2003.

Prior to his service for FAB, Mr. Griffin was Florida Lottery secretary under Governor Jeb Bush from 1999 to 2003. Under Mr. Griffin’s leadership, the $2.8 billion sales and marketing enterprise achieved four straight years of record-setting sales and profits, while operating costs were reduced to under $130 million – the lowest level in the lottery’s 17-year history.

During his tenure with the Bush administration, Mr. Griffin also served as chair of the Governor’s State Agency Mentoring Initiative and as communications liaison to all executive agencies for the Governor’s Service First Initiative, which overhauled Florida’s career service system.

In addition, Mr. Griffin is immediate-past chairman of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend and is chairman of the Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board. He serves on the boards of Transforming Ministries, Florida Tax Watch and is a member of Volunteer Florida Foundation. Mr. Griffin was also a 2004 Florida elector for President George W. Bush.

Mr. Griffin received a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law, a Master’s in Business Administration from Lake Erie College and a Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Penn State University, which he attended on a full athletic scholarship. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children.


Reginald Garcia

Attorney

Reggie Garcia, partner of Law Firm of Reginald R. Garcia, P.A., has served as legal counsel and legislative consultant to FAB since 1994.

In 2004, Mr. Garcia helped write Florida’s new “Pirate Radio” law and now assists with its enforcement as FAB’s principal liaison to the FCC, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida’s sheriffs and state attorneys. Mr. Garcia has spoken at numerous FAB conventions on legislative and regulatory issues including pirate radio, legal advertising, the advertising services tax, game promotion, and GATT-Spectrum tax.

In addition, Mr. Garcia has successfully represented clients in executive clemency cases before two governors and the Florida Cabinet. He is also an arbitrator in Florida property and commercial insurance rate-filing cases and on securities matters.

Mr. Garcia is the chairman of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee scholarship program and a member of the Florida Consumer Council. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida, where he was president of Florida Blue Key and a member of the U.F. Hall of Fame.


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Political Broadcast Information - Terms Defined

Political Candidate

Legally qualified candidates must have their voice or picture on the advertisement.

Political Advertisement Citation

Every political advertisement must include the words "sponsored" or "Paid for" and must name the person or organization that actually paid for the ad.

Fairness Doctrine

No longer in effect.

Class of Rates

Class of Rates refers to the type of rates to offer. Stations are unable to create different classes based on price or for political. Each class MUST also have a unique “demonstrateable benefit” such as:

  • Scheduling flexibility
  • Varying levels of assurances of preemption protection
  • Different make good benefits

Example: Fixed-position Time

  • Non-preemptible time
  • Preemptible with notice (with different notice periods)
  • Preemptible without notice

Political Time

Stations are able to sell political time the day prior to and on Election Day.

Filing

It is recommended that stations assign one individual to set up the proper files, keep them current, and insure that all requests for time are recorded, paperwork is in order, checks have been received and all documentation is kept on file for a period of two years.

If stations have specific questions or are unsure about FCC regulations, please contact an attorney.

For government relations questions, please call our toll free number at (800) 825-5322 or to email your questions please click here.