FCC OKs Ownership Diversity Incubator Program, More Money For Reimbursing FMs For TV Repack

Meeting

The FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE's Open Meeting TODAY (8/2) included approval of an incubator program for minority and female ownership of broadcast radio stations and additional funding to broadcast radio stations for the TV post-spectrum-auction repack.  The incubator proposal raised the ire of Commissioner JESSICA ROSENWORCEL, who opposed the measure on the grounds that the Commission's increased acceptance of ownership consolidation makes the incubator proposal "too little" to have a positive effect; Chairman AJIT PAI retorted that no progress towards greater diversity occurred under a Democratic majority in the previous Commission, which let the diversity committee dissolve when its charter ran out.

The incubator program would pair existing radio station owners with smaller new entrants or "struggling stations" for three years, with the established broadcasters getting waivers to exceed broadcast caps (whether in the same market or another "comparable" market); the "incubation" would include financial, engineering/technical, operational, sales, programming, and management support.  The smaller entities would have autonomy over programming.

The repack reimbursement offers $1 billion in additional money for FM stations (full-power and translators) that were licensed and transmitting on APRIL 13, 2017 which must permanently relocate, temporarily or permanently modify their facilities, or buy or modify auxiliary facilities to stay on the air while the repack work is being done to move TV stations at the licensed facility.

NAB EVP of Communications DENNIS WHARTON said of the incubator plan, “NAB applauds the FCC for creating an incubator program that will help new entrants realize their dream of radio station ownership. Incubators are key to breaking down financial and operational barriers to entry for underrepresented communities interested in media ownership. NAB encourages the FCC to extend this initiative to local TV station ownership as well.”

WHARTON said of the repack funding, “Earlier this year, Congress wisely authorized additional funding to ensure that tens of millions of Americans will not lose access to news, entertainment and lifeline information during the broadcast industry ‘spectrum repack.’ NAB is encouraged by the FCC proposal adopted today that closely mirrors the intent of Congress. NAB will be actively engaged during the rulemaking process to preserve live and local broadcasting on hometown radio and television stations, low power TV stations and TV translators.”

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