MAB Signs 50 State Tax Certificate Letter; Thank You Sen. Gary Peters

Sen. Gary Peters

Your MAB has joined 49 other state broadcast associations in signing a letter to Congress in support for the Minority Tax Certificate Program.  During the 117th Congress, the Expanding Broadcast Ownership Opportunities Act (H.R. 4871) was introduced in the House, by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04).

Additionally, Sen. Gary Peters (MI) and Sen. Robert Menendez (NJ) introduced S.2456, the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service Act (Broadcast VOICES Act) in the Senate. MAB President Karole White expressed the gratitude of Michigan Broadcasters to Senator Peters for introducing the VOICES Act, saying “Thank you Senator Peters.”

In 1978, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the Minority Tax Certificate Program, which provided a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to minorities. From 1978 to 1995, the program was highly effective in leveling the playing field for underrepresented broadcasters, increasing diverse ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent.

Congress repealed the program in 1995 with broadcasters opposing the repeal because of the program’s dramatic and positive impact on increasing ownership of broadcast stations for people of color.

Read the NAB’s issue sheet on the issue and see the letter to Congress here.