NAB's Rick Kaplan to Depart at End of 2026

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 3:14pm CT

Rick Kaplan

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Rick Kaplan will depart at the end of 2026, concluding more than 14 years with the organization.

During his tenure, Kaplan led NAB through numerous legal and regulatory challenges, including a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court victory that removed longstanding restrictions on broadcast ownership. He also oversaw a significant victory for radio broadcasters before the Copyright Royalty Board that reduced streaming royalty rates and helped establish the groundwork for a subsequent settlement in the most recent webcasting proceeding.

Kaplan's work also encompassed ATSC 3.0, retransmission consent, the FCC's broadcast spectrum incentive auction, music licensing, sponsorship identification requirements and efforts to reduce broadcasters' annual regulatory fees by millions of dollars.

"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," said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

"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 reflected on his tenure, saying, "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."

Effective January 1, 2027, NAB will consolidate its Government Relations and Legal teams under Shawn Donilon, who will assume the title of Chief Advocacy Officer. The restructuring is intended to strengthen coordination of the association's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, within the administration and before the FCC.

Kaplan and Donilon will work together during the transition to ensure continuity of the association's legal and regulatory initiatives.

"Shawn is a trusted leader and a skilled strategist who knows how to turn broadcasters' priorities into results," LeGeyt said. "He has earned the confidence of our members and policymakers through his ability to build support across the political spectrum."

LeGeyt added that combining the two departments under Donilon's leadership will strengthen NAB's ability to influence federal policy and represent the interests of radio and television broadcasters nationwide.