Sec. 14202. Findings
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Congress finds the following: One of the main missions of the Federal Communications Commission, and a compelling governmental interest, is to ensure that there is a diversity of ownership and viewpoints in the broadcasting industry. The Commission should continue to collect relevant data and conduct studies on such diversity and make appropriate recommendations to Congress on how to increase the number of minority- and women-owned broadcast stations. Data from 2014 shows that, of the over 1,700 commercial broadcast television stations in the United States, less than 6 percent are owned by women, and less than 3 percent are minority-owned.
With respect to radio stations, women owned approximately 7 percent of FM broadcast radio stations, and minorities owned less than 3 percent of such stations. Women and minority ownership is 5 to 10 times higher in other industries than in the broadcasting industry. During the 17 years that a minority tax certificate program was in place at the Commission (from 1978 to 1995), the Commission issued 287 certificates for radio stations and 40 certificates for television stations.
The Commission can also support minority- and women-owned entrants into the broadcasting industry by implementing an incubator program in which existing licensees assist new entrants in the operation of broadcast stations.