Overview
Historically, some groups have been left behind or ignored in telecommunications—we seek to combat barriers in ownership and employment, and to promote the fair deployment of infrastructure. MAP works with many other organizations to preserve and promote FCC rules and broadcaster initiatives to promote diversity in our media.
The FCC has released the long-awaited “Adarand” studies, which are designed to determine whether government policies lead to the unfair distribution of media ownership and control, in order to meet the legal standard for imposing affirmative action requirements developed by the Supreme Court’s 1995 decision in Adarand v. Pena. FCC Overview of Studies and Forum. (12/00)
A few years ago, Congress eliminated the Commission’s most successful program for promoting minority ownership. Referred to as “tax certificates,” this program permitted non-minority companies to defer capital gains taxes if they sold their media properties to a minority. A new movement is afoot to pass legislation to reinstate an improved tax certificate program.