A group of senators from both sides of the aisle is urging
Congress to see that more local news outlets are eligible for small business
aid in any upcoming coronavirus stimulus package.
Sens. Amy
Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Maria
Cantwell (D-Wash.) wrote a letter to Senate leaders Saturday
lamenting that some outlets were left out of aid from the Paycheck Protection
Program. “Up to several thousand newspapers and hundreds of local radio and
television stations across the country were cut out of existing programs by the
U.S. Small Business Administration’s affiliation rule, which restricts
assistance to companies owned or controlled by larger entities. Even though
these news outlets may be owned by larger groups, they operate independently,”
the letter said.
“We urge
you to ensure that any future stimulus package makes more local newspapers and
radio and television broadcasters eligible for small business assistance under
the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the letter read.
Reps. David
Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) are leading a
push on the issue in the House, The Hill reported.
The News Media
Alliance, National Association of Broadcasters, National Newspaper Association
and America
The $349
billion set aside for the Paycheck Protection Program was depleted last week.
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