WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In response to passage of the MEDIA Diversity Act of 2021 (H.R. 1754) and a resolution reaffirming Congress's commitment to media diversity and pledging to work with the private sector on solutions eliminating barriers to media diversity (H.Res. 277), the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith:
“NAB applauds the bipartisan passage by the House of Representatives of legislation promoting solutions that address barriers to entry into the media industry for underserved populations. We thank Reps. Val Demings (D-FL) and Billy Long (R-MO) for their leadership on today’s advances and will continue working with lawmakers on legislative proposals that would help achieve a media industry that better reflects our nation.
"As a longtime advocate for market-based approaches to address media diversity, NAB supports additional legislation championed by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) reinstating the tax certificate program to create new opportunities for diverse voices to own local radio and TV stations.”
On background: The tax certificate program would provide a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to minorities. The program was previously implemented by the Federal Communications Commission in 1978 and increased minority ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent before its repeal in 1995.
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.