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CBA to present LPTV, Class A diversity ownership report to members of Congress

Apr 28, 2009 10:41 AM, By Phil Kurz

The Community Broadcasters Association this will meet with eight members of Congress to make the case that Class A and LPTV stations surpass the expectations the government has for broadcasters to promote station ownership by women and minorities.

The association will present a newly released report to members of Congress illustrating that Class A and LPTV stations are democratizing the airwaves. Based on the results of a Web-based survey conducted between Nov. 17 and Dec. 16, 2008, the report is intended to open the eyes of lawmakers and regulators, who regularly advocate for new laws and rules to increase ownership of broadcast stations by women and minorities, to a broadcast service that’s often overlooked or marginalized.

Greg Herman, CBA VP of technology, reviewed and discussed the report, “Diversity Defined,” April 21 with “HD Technology Update” outside during the NAB Show. Among the findings presented in the report:

45 percent of Class A and LPTV stations are owned or partially owned by a minority.
Of stations with minority ownership, 43 percent own more than half; 6 percent own 26 percent to 50 percent; and half own 1 percent to 25 percent.
In terms of the ethnicity of stations owners, 34 percent are multiracial or other; 25 percent are Caucasian; 24 percent are Hispanic; 10 percent are Black/African American; 3 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander; and 3 percent are Native American.

One of the goals of the meetings is to demonstrate to lawmakers that Class A and LPTV stations already are accomplishing the government’s goals for diversity of ownership and that without appropriate legal and regulatory relief on several fronts, the ability of these stations to remain vital and continue fulfilling this diversity goal is threatened.

Specifically, the association is seeking government help to get access to cable carriage; money to aid with the conversion to DTV service; and authorization to begin offering alternate services to conventional TV broadcasting.