Nat'l Black Chamber On Lack of Minority Media Ownership

Harry Alford
The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Decries Government Effort

NBCC President Harry Alford, left, monitors media mattters as the affect minority business. The first phase of the $7.4 billion broadband grant program was released last week and no minority businesses or associations were awarded any of these grants. Comm Daily reports that the new federal budget proposes elimination of the last of the minority ownership initiatives – the Telecom Development Fund (TDF). This disturbing news comes at a time when:

~ Minority wireless ownership is just above zero.

~ Minority commercial TV station ownership has fallen 50% since the duopoly rule was relaxed in 1999.

~ Minority commercial radio station ownership has fallen 9% just between 2007 and 2009.

~ The FCC still has not appointed a compliance officer to enforce the 2007 Advertising Nondiscrimination Rule.

~ EEO enforcement levels in 2009 were actually below the levels of 2001-2008.

~ None of the FCC Diversity Committee recommendations on minority ownership has been implemented this past year.

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