Minutes of the last White House Correspondents Association meeting held June 10 indicate five major broadcast networks had been double-billed for Internet access in the press centers on several presidential trips.

“The board received a report from Pete Newell of the White House Travel Office, who had asked to meet with the board on an urgent matter. Newell revealed that he and CNN officials had figured out in the previous 48 hours that the five major broadcast networks had been accidentally double-billed for Internet access in press filing centers for a series of domestic and international trips. The double-billing occurred during the first 18 months of the Obama administration, meaning the TV networks had overpaid thousands of dollars, though the precise figure was still being figured out,” the minutes, obtained by Media Matters, stated in part.

“Newell, who was very diligent about trying to work out a fair way to correct the problem amid financial difficulties in the industry, stressed that the company involved -- AT&T -- had not made extra money. It was a billing problem in which TV networks were over-paying for Internet access while other media organizations had underpaid their share. Newell consulted with the board on a plan, details still being worked out, in which print, radio, and other organizations will help reimburse TV networks for the difference.”

The minutes also noted Fox News remains the prime outlet to get Helen Thomas' front row seat at White House briefings, but other changes may be made to the briefing room make-up that could prompt some news outlets to lose seats.

" ... while various media have written stories focusing on the front row seat opening, there will likely be more wholesale changes in the briefing room. One organization moving to the front row will spark many changes, including some media organizations who currently have seats losing their seats since they no longer attend briefings on a regular basis."

It also indicated no decision on Thomas' seat is likely until a new WHCA board convenes next month.

See the entire WHCA memo on the minutes below:

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Minutes of meeting of the board of the White House Correspondents Association

June 10, 2010

President Ed Chen opened the meeting at 4:07pm. The board unanimously agreed that the next board meeting would be July 16, the day after board election results are certified, so that the newly constituted board could meet immediately to begin tackling important issues facing the board.

NEW BUSINESS

Chen reported that an aviation company in Atlanta read the NY Times story about less frequent press charters and offered up its services to the WHCA. Since the media spent approximately $14 million on aviation last year, the company is offering that if the media collectively pays the same sum for one year, the company will keep several planes at the ready for the WH press corps for unlimited travel. The board decided to take the offer under advisement to see what WHCA members think.

Ed Henry asked that the board consider hearing a presentation from Frank Sesno about a mentoring program for DC public school students that is looking for participation from WH reporters. The board agreed to invite Sesno to the next board meeting on July 16 for a brief presentation about the charitable program.

Chen reported that Kevin Sheekey of Bloomberg LP has offered free office space in DC for the WHCA at the Bloomberg headquarters near the White House. Julie Whiston noted the WHCA already leases office space at a fair price from Atlantic Media in DC and the current lease lasts for almost two years, so the board decided it would be prudent to stick with the current arrangement.

Chen reported that a former board member, Johanna Newman, is leaving journalism and has written to the WHCA asking if we could create a special honorary membership to the association so that former board members could still purchase tickets to the annual dinner. David Jackson, incoming WHCA president, said the next board will consider the proposal.

SPECIAL REPORT ON TRAVEL ISSUE

The board received a report from Pete Newell of the White House Travel Office, who had asked to meet with the board on an urgent matter. Newell revealed that he and CNN officials had figured out in the previous 48 hours that the five major broadcast networks had been accidentally double-billed for Internet access in press filing centers for a series of domestic and international trips. The double-billing occurred during the first 18 months of the Obama administration, meaning the TV networks had overpaid thousands of dollars, though the precise figure was still being figured out.

Newell, who was very diligent about trying to work out a fair way to correct the problem amid financial difficulties in the industry, stressed that the company involved -- AT&T -- had not made extra money. It was a billing problem in which TV networks were over-paying for Internet access while other media organizations had underpaid their share. Newell consulted with the board on a plan, details still being worked out, in which print, radio, and other organizations will help reimburse TV networks for the difference.

FRONT ROW SEAT

After Newell left, the board moved on to its primary focus of this board meeting: Putting together a process to decide which news organization will move to the front row of the White House briefing room in the wake of Helen Thomas' sudden retirement.

Chen noted that while various media have written stories focusing on the front row seat opening, there will likely be more wholesale changes in the briefing room. One organization moving to the front row will spark many changes, including some media organizations who currently have seats losing their seats since they no longer attend briefings on a regular basis.

Jackson suggested the board send out a statement after this board meeting urging media organizations to send in written proposals, prior to the next board meeting on July 16, making their case for why they should get an improved seat in the briefing room. There was broad consensus on crafting such a statement.

Henry, who has the TV seat on the board, presented a letter written by FOX News Channel officials making their case for a front row seat and noted that a previous board in 2007 had suggested to FOX that it was next in line for a front row seat. Steve Scully, who currently has an At-Large Seat on the board but had the TV seat in 2007, largely backed up FOX's account of what transpired in 2007. But many board members, including Caren Bohan and Julie Mason, noted the current board is not bound by the wishes of a previous board, and it's important not to rush into a decision on new seating assignments.

There was also broad consensus that it should be the incoming board that votes on the new seating assignments, instead of the outgoing board. It was agreed that the board would put out a statement inviting media organizations to submit written proposals for new seating assignments prior to the next board meeting on July 16, so that the proposals can be carefully considered. The board also agreed that a final vote on said proposals will occur soon afterwards, though the board did not commit to a specific date for that vote.