WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives has passed a bill that reaffirms Congress’ commitment to media diversity and strategy of working with media organizations to better represent the American people.

The bill, H. Res 549, was introduced in 2019 by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). It’s official wording is: “[A] resolution reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to media diversity … and pledges to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.”

The resolution passed the House with a voice vote.

“Over the past year we have heard the growing calls for diversity in positions of power and listened to the millions of Americans who know, as we do, that representation matters,” said Energy & Commerce Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Communications & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) in a joint statement. “We must eliminate barriers to media diversity and provide all Americans the opportunity to engage with more independent and local media outlets that reflect the people of our diverse nation. Today’s resolution reaffirms our commitment to seeing that done, and we thank our colleagues for their strong, bipartisan support.”

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith provided the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:

“NAB applauds today’s passage by the House of Representatives of a resolution pledging lawmakers’ support for working with media organizations to increase diversity within the media industry …. America’s broadcasters thank Rep. Val Demings and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) and Sens. (R-Fla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) for their leadership on this issue, and reaffirm our commitment to creating a more diverse media landscape.”

Smith’s statement also touched upon legislation sponsored by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) that would reinstate the Minority Tax Certificate Program, which NAB believes would create more opportunities for diverse radio and TV station ownership, including among women and people of color. 

When the tax certificate program was in place between 1978 and 1995, NAB says that minority ownership in broadcast stations increased by more than 550%.

WASHINGTON—A new bill has been introduced in Congress that looks to support the growth of minority broadcast station owners through a pair of FCC programs. The Expanding Broadcast Opportunities Act of 2019 was introduced by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) and would reestablish the Minority Tax Certificate Program from the FCC and expand the commission’s incubator program to encourage investment in minority and women owned broadcast stations.

“Media outlets play a critical role in the messaging and perspectives that are voiced and revealed; and ownership of media broadcast stations should be just as diverse as our nation,” said Butterfield. “Women and racial minorities deserve more than a seat at the table, they deserve equal access to leadership and key decision-making positions in the media, including broadcast station ownership.”

Butterfield points out that the number of minority-owned broadcast stations in the U.S. has never been higher than 3.1%. A reestablished Minority Tax Certificate Program could assist with this, Butterfirled argues, by providing broadcast station owners a tax incentive for selling to women or racial minorities.

FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Jessica Rosenworcel, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith and Jim Winston, president of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters shared their support for the proposed bill.

“NABOB has been seeking restoration of the tax certificate program ever since it was eliminated by Congress,” said Winston. “The tax certificate helped significantly increase minority broadcast station ownership from 1978 to 1995. We are very grateful to Congressman Butterfield for taking the first step toward its restoration. We look forward to working with him, other members of Congress and other industry organizations to obtain passage of this very important legislation.”