A proposed bill in Congress reinstating a tax certificate for women and people of color looking to invest in radio and television station ownership groups has received a strong show of support from Broadcasters Associations from each state.
In a letter co-signed by all 50 state broadcasters associations, alongside the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico urged Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to pass the bill.
“Broadcasters provide an invaluable resource to all communities, serving as a local and trusted source for news and information across the country. Our strength is in our ability to cover diverse community experiences and tell stories from an authentic perspective. The tax certificate program will help us build a local media landscape that reflects our communities on the air, both in the control booth and boardroom,” the letter read.
“Additionally, the Broadcast VOICES Act will help with building a pipeline for a new generation of broadcast station owners that is inclusive of women, people of color and other underrepresented individuals. We therefore urge Congress to act swiftly and pass H.R. 8072 and S. 4158 to make sure that all voices are accurately represented in the broadcasting industry.”
According to the state associations, from 1978 to 1995, the Minority Tax Certificate program saw an increase of 550%. However, in 2024, women make up 6% of TV station owners and 7% of radio owners, while people of color make up 3% of TV owners and less than 3% of radio owners.
