{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024022004/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-promotes-diversity-ownership-media-telecommunications-industries", "Rep. Johnson promotes diversity of ownership in media & telecommunications industries", "2014-10-23", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) recently sent a letter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, urging him to identify and eliminate market-entry barriers for small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially helping to create more diverse ownership in every area of media and telecommunications. \n\u201cThe media industry still suffers from an extreme lack of diversity, especially in broadcast ownership,\u201d Johnson\u2019s letter states. \u201cThere are less than 50 full-power TV stations owned by people of color and every year the list grows smaller. Diversity in ownership is crucial in enhancing competition and benefitting consumers. [I strongly encourage the Commission] to seriously consider innovative proposals submitted by minority-owned entities.\u201d\nIn addition to encouraging the Commission to uphold its important obligation to promote diversity, Rep. Johnson\u2019s letter also calls for the FCC to release a Triennial Report on market-entry barriers for small businesses and entrepreneurs.\nThe Commission continues to fall behind in its timely release of these reports, Johnson said.\n\u201cMinorities and women continue to face unique market-entry barriers. Timely reports and current data would empower the Commission to eliminate these barriers through practical solutions for facilitating full participation.\u201d\nThirteen colleagues signed Rep. Johnson\u2019s letter, including Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters of California, Bobby Rush of Illinois, Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C., and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin.\nTo read the FCC\u2019s response, click HERE.\nAs the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law (RRCAL), Rep. Johnson has focused on a lack of diversity in media ownership and importance of diverse ownership.\nWhile the FCC\u2019s response was much appreciated, Rep. Johnson will continue to advocate for minority-owned businesses and the elimination of barriers for small businesses as both are essential to marketplace competition.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024022004/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-promotes-diversity-ownership-media-telecommunications-industries"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9838188998401165, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}