NAB’s chief legal officer is stepping away. Rick Kaplan, who led the association through a decade of courtroom and regulatory battles, will depart at the end of 2026. His responsibilities will move into a new combined structure under a Chief Advocacy Officer.
Effective January 1, NAB will bring its Government Relations and Legal teams together under Shawn Donilon, who will take the top advocacy role for broadcasting’s top advocacy group. The NAB reports the combined structure is meant to strengthen coordination between NAB’s advocacy on Capitol Hill, across the Administration, and at the FCC.
During his more than 14 years with the association, Kaplan led NAB through a decade of court wins, including a unanimous Supreme Court victory removing outdated restrictions on broadcast ownership. He also oversaw a victory for the radio industry before the Copyright Royalty Board that lowered streaming rates for broadcasters and paved the way for a settlement in the most recent webcasting proceeding.
His portfolio also included ATSC 3.0, retransmission consent, the FCC’s broadcast spectrum incentive auction, music licensing, sponsor identification rules, and reducing broadcasters’ regulatory fees by millions of dollars annually.
Ahead of his departure, Kaplan is scheduled to join the “Broadcast on the Docket” session at Radio Ink’s Forecast 2027 on November 12 at the Harvard Club of New York City.
NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt stated, “In an association as diverse as ours, Rick’s ability to understand member concerns, build consensus across differently situated groups, and develop creative and impactful solutions will leave an indelible mark on our industry for years to come. His tireless advocacy — no matter how big or small the issue — has significantly benefited our members. I am deeply grateful for his 14 years of leadership, service, and the talented team he has built that will ensure NAB’s success well into the future.”
Kaplan commented, “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve America’s broadcasters and be part of NAB for the past 14 years. I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together, but what I will value most are the relationships I have built and the opportunity to work alongside such extraordinarily talented and dedicated colleagues.”
LeGeyt added, “Shawn is a trusted leader and a skilled strategist who knows how to turn broadcasters’ priorities into results. He has earned the confidence of our members and policymakers through his ability to build support across the political spectrum. Bringing our Government Relations and Legal teams together under his leadership will strengthen NAB’s ability to shape policy in Washington and deliver for broadcasters across the country.”
