Sinema-Backed Bill Helps Arizona Local News Access Coronavirus Relief

Jul 15, 2020

Sinema’s bill expands the Paycheck Protection Program to include small newspaper publishers, radio stations, and television broadcasters

WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Local News and Emergency Information Act—legislation making local Arizona newspapers, radio, and television broadcasters newly eligible for coronavirus relief under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
 
“Arizona’s local newspapers, radio, and television broadcasters provide important information, emergency alerts, and more to Arizonans during the coronavirus pandemic and they need access to critical resources to continue these services,” said Sinema.
 
Sinema’s Local News and Emergency Information Act expands the PPP to include eligible, small newspaper publishers, radio stations, and television broadcasters. Individual physical locations of eligible local media companies cannot exceed Small Business Administration size standards of up to 1,000 employees for newspaper publishers and $41.5 million in gross receipts for radio and television broadcasters. Additionally, eligible companies must use the loans to support the continued provision of local news, information, content, or emergency information, and to keep local reporters and those who support them on the job.