MMTC offers twelve recommendations for changes in telecom policy

(July 21, 2008) On the second day of its annual conference in Washington, DC, The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council put forth twelve recommendations it hopes the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies will adopt. FCC Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein, Robert McDowell, Michael Copps and Deborah Taylor Tate were among the speakers at the conference.

"This Road Map for Telecommunications Policy seeks nothing less than the complete eradication of racial discrimination and its present effects from the nation's most influential and important industries -- mass media and telecommunications," said MMTC Executive Director, David Honig.

Some of the recommendations have long been on the MMTC's agenda, such as re-instatement of the tax certificate policy which preceded the biggest period of growth in the number of minority-owned broadcast outlets. Since its repeal in 1995, ownership numbers have dropped.

Here are some of  the MMTC's major recommendations:

Restore and Expand the Tax Certificate Policy. The tax certificate policy did more to advance minority broadcast ownership than any other policy in the history of the FCC. MMTC supports legislation that would restore the tax certificate policy and extend it to telecommunications.
 
Remove Market Entry Barriers in the Communications Act. Several provisions of the Communications Act undermine the FCC's mandate to foster diversity in media and telecommunications. Provisions on localism, designated entities, foreign ownership and EEO should be clarified and revised to promote diversity.
 
Authorize the Federal Trade Commission to Prohibit Racial Discrimination in Advertising Placement and Terms.  Advertisers routinely discriminate against minority-owned radio and television stations in the placement and terms of advertising. Congress should revise the FTC Act to assist the FCC in ending advertising discrimination in broadcasting.
 
Reauthorize the Telecommunications Development Fund. The TDF, which provided much-needed loans to businesses owned by minorities and women, should be reauthorized and funded with auction proceeds, rather than solely from interest derived from auction upfront payments.
 
Hold an Annual Diversity Census. The FCC does not currently collect annual statistical diversity data, even though it is empowered and certainly capable of doing so. Congress should direct the FCC to collect annual data on EEO, procurement, transactions and advertising.
 
Reinstate the Telecommunications Development Fund. The Telecommunications Opportunity Program ("TOP") was administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA") to introduce digital applications in underserved areas. Although TOP was extremely successful, the Bush administration ended the program. MMTC proposes that Congress reauthorize TOP as a means of closing the race- and income-based digital divide.

For further information visit www.mmtconline.org.


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