“This is the worst time to impose additional fees on minority-owned radio stations that are already dealing with layoffs, salary cuts and sinking revenues anywhere between 10-50 percent under the current economic crisis.”

The letter, signed by Reverend Anthony Evans and more than 190 other leaders in the African-American community, represents a very serious concern in the locally- and minority-owned broadcasting community.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, the performance tax  to local radio broadcasters could be “substantial”.

Four percent of radio stations in the United States are owned by African-Americans and the performance tax would “disproportionally harm minority radio broadcasters,” according to the letter.

“Minority-owned and church-owned radio stations speak directly to our communities, often carry our Sunday morning church service broadcasts and are a cherished resource to our communities and culture that must be nurtured and protected. Silencing our voices on the airwaves when African-Americans are already underrepresented could be an unintended consequence if this legislation were allowed to pass.”

Click here to read the letter in full (PDF 4MB).  Become a member of the Free Radio Alliance and join in the fight to protect minority-owned broadcasters.  It’s free and easy.