Contact Congress about S. 2123: Broadcast VOICES Act

This bill uses FCC rules and federal tax breaks to encourage more broadcast station ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals. It also requires repeated FCC reports and studies on station ownership and viewpoint diversity. Some benefits can be clawed back later if ownership or management rules stop being met.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Broadcast VOICES Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Latest action on S. 2123: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Who this affects: The bill mainly affects people and organizations involved in buying, selling, owning, donating, regulating, and training for broadcast stations. Its incentives and compliance rules would matter most to current station owners, prospective buyers from covered groups, nonprofits that could receive stations, and federal agencies that would have to run and enforce the program.

Why this matters: This bill matters because it tries to change who owns broadcast stations by using tax incentives and FCC oversight instead of just making general policy statements. That could affect who has a financial stake and leadership role in local radio and TV businesses, and it could influence how some sales and donations are structured. The bill also matters because it requires the federal government to gather more data on station ownership and study whether ownership diversity is connected to diversity of viewpoints on the air, but the bill itself does not settle that question.

Key provisions in S. 2123

• Defines "socially disadvantaged individuals" to include women and people who have faced racial, ethnic, or cultural bias as members of a group.
• Requires the FCC to send Congress two separate reports at least every two years: one with recommendations for increasing the number and value of qualifying stations, and one listing how many such stations exist.
• Tells the FCC to write rules for a new tax certificate program covering certain broadcast station sales that create or involve ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals.
• Caps the value of any single sale that can qualify for an FCC tax certificate at $50 million.
• Requires new qualifying owners to keep ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals in place for at least 2 years and no more than 3 years, with compliance certifications sent to the FCC every six months.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 2123

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 2123

What is S. 2123?

This bill uses FCC rules and federal tax breaks to encourage more broadcast station ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals. It also requires repeated FCC reports and studies on station ownership and viewpoint diversity. Some benefits can be clawed back later if ownership or management rules stop being met.

How do I support or oppose S. 2123?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 2123?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 2123 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.