FCC Diversity Committee Members Push FCC To Include TV in Incubator

Some members of the Federal Communications Commission's diversity advisory committee want to make sure TV does not get left out of the FCC's proposed new diversity incubator program. The commission, which is planning to vote on the incubator Report and Order (R&O) Aug. 2, said it planned to start with a radio version of the program because "the costs of obtaining and operating radio stations make the radio sector a significantly more accessible entry point than television for entities with limited capital resources and operational experience." The program, as outlined in the draft R&O, would pair established broadcasters with new or eligible entrants, the former providing resources for a three-year period to help those new entrants improve struggling stations or become a station owner. But in a recent meeting with FCC Media Bureau staffers, Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) members Diane Sutter, James Winston, DuJuan McCoy, said it was vital that TV be included ASAP (in this case, "as soon as practicable")