Statement of FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai on Promoting Broadcast Ownership Diversity

Throughout my time at the Federal Communications Commission, I have worked on ways for the FCC to foster diversity in the broadcast industry. And Oct 13, I had the privilege of visiting three African-American-owned broadcasters in the State of Mississippi. From these meetings, I heard about the opportunities and challenges facing minority broadcasters and gained additional insight into what the FCC can do to help them succeed.

I came away from my visits in Mississippi with a renewed appreciation for the challenges minority broadcasters face and a renewed determination to fight for policies that help them thrive. That includes the FCC enabling AM broadcasters to acquire FM translators. That means the FCC allowing pro-competitive arrangements like joint sales agreements that can promote minority ownership. And it means establishing an incubator program to make it easier for minority entrepreneurs to enter the broadcast business. I hope that these and other policies find bipartisan support in the months and years ahead.