Broadcast VOICES Act
Sponsored By: Senator Gary Peters
Introduced
Summary
Boosts broadcast ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals. The bill directs the FCC to promote transfers and creates tax tools to make it easier for women and members of protected groups to own and operate TV and radio stations.
Show full summary
- Owners and sellers: The law defines eligible owners as those with more than 50 percent ownership and control by socially disadvantaged individuals and creates a tax-certificate pathway that can change the tax treatment of qualifying station sales.
- Training organizations and contributors: A new tax credit (Section 45BB) lets donors receive a credit equal to the fair market value of a station or interest given to FCC-certified training entities. The recipient must hold the contributed station for at least 2 years and donors cannot claim a separate charitable deduction for that same gift.
- FCC rules and oversight: The FCC must issue implementing rules within 1 year and requires periodic certifications every 180 days and biennial reports to Congress to track ownership counts and values.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tax credit for donated broadcast stations
This bill would create a tax credit equal to the fair market value when you donate a broadcast station or an interest in one. The receiver must be a section 170(c)(2) charity that is FCC-certified and trains socially disadvantaged people. The recipient must hold the station or interest for at least two years. If you claim the credit, you could not also take a charitable deduction for the same gift. The credit would apply to taxable years after enactment.
FCC certificates to help diverse station owners
This bill would direct the FCC to run a certificate program to help socially disadvantaged people buy or keep TV and radio stations. A station would count as owned by socially disadvantaged people if they own more than 50% and run day-to-day operations. The FCC would set rules that require management participation, limit qualifying sale value to $50 million, and set a 2-to-3 year holding period for some sales. Buyers would need to certify compliance every 180 days. The FCC must issue implementing rules within one year and report certificate activity to Congress.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gary Peters
MI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov