Bob Branson joined the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council (MMTC) as president and CEO in June 2021 and recently sat down with BIA for an episode of our Leading Local Insights podcast series. Branson brings to MMTC his deep experience from corporate, association and government tours at the FCC, Verizon, Association of Local TV Stations, NAB, Post-Newsweek Stations (now Graham Media) and most recently Empire Consulting Group.

Leading MMTC came to Branson as a great opportunity to, “give something back” to the media community, and “doing something good for the things I believe in.”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives are improving the outlook for career and ownership opportunities for many in the local media industry. Since 1986, as a leading public interest tech organization, MMTC has fought for equal access and representation in tech, media, and telecommunications through opportunity creation, awareness building, and advocacy.

One of Branson’s early actions was to outline for the FCC, MMTC’s Seven Powerful Initiatives for Racial Justice in Media. These initiatives included:

1. Access to more competitive facilities through FM geotargeting, creating a new FM station class C4, and repeal or relaxation of the Rural Radio Policy.
2. Correct the deficiency in the Radio Incubator program.
3. Ubiquitous Equal Procurement Opportunity
4. Tax certificate and tax credit
5. Include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Statements in all rulemakings of general applicability.
6. Ubiquitous Equal Employment Opportunity
7. Universal Access to multilingual emergency notification

Together, these seven initiatives set the agenda for MMTC. As Branson says, “Unfortunately, many of these initiatives relate to issues that are not new.” Still, Branson is optimistic that with the great MMTC and collaborative partnerships with groups like the National Association of Black Owned Media (NABOB) change is possible.

Hear more from this conversation in our latest podcast. Click to listen.