Contact Congress about S. 4158: Broadcast VOICES Act; Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service Act

Radio and TV station owners could get tax benefits for selling or donating stations in ways that support diverse ownership. The FCC would set the rules, check compliance, and report what happens to Congress.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, 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; Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service Act is a Senate bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people who own, buy, sell, donate, or hope to manage radio and TV stations. Women and socially disadvantaged people could have more chances to buy stations or train to run them. Current station owners could get new tax options if they sell or donate in qualifying ways. The FCC and the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, would have new rules to run and enforce.

Why this matters: Radio and TV ownership helps shape which voices reach local communities, and this bill tries to widen who gets to own those stations. It uses tax incentives instead of forcing sales or donations. The biggest effect would depend on how many owners use the program and how the FCC writes and enforces the rules.

Key provisions in S. 4158

• The FCC would have to report to Congress within 180 days, then at least every two years. The reports must cover ways to increase the number and value of stations owned by socially disadvantaged people, and must count those stations using FCC Form 323 ownership data.
• The bill defines “socially disadvantaged individual” to include women. It also includes people who have faced racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because they belong to a group.
• The bill creates a new FCC tax certificate program for some broadcast station sales. It covers sales that create or preserve ownership and control by socially disadvantaged people, and some sales by investors in those stations.
• The FCC must set limits for qualifying sales. Those rules must include a sale value cap of no more than $50 million, a two- to three-year ownership period, seller caps, and management roles for socially disadvantaged people.
• Buyers would have to certify every 180 days that they still meet the rules during the required holding period. If they fail, the FCC must tell the IRS and list the failure in its yearly report to Congress.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 4158

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. 4158

What is S. 4158?

Radio and TV station owners could get tax benefits for selling or donating stations in ways that support diverse ownership. The FCC would set the rules, check compliance, and report what happens to Congress.

How do I support or oppose S. 4158?

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. 4158?

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

How does Modern Action help me act on S. 4158?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.