BALTIMORE — The Federal Communications Commission is on a strategic mission to increase the number of minorities owning cable companies, radio stations and other telecommunications-related entities and NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood is hoping credit unions can play a part.

Hood was appointed to a two-year term by FCC Commissioner Kevin J. Martin to the Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age to make recommendations to the FCC regarding policies and practices that will further enhance the ability of minorities and women to participate in telecommunications and related industries. The committee has considered proposing an FCC diversity fair to meet with minorities and women who have completed business plans and working with members of Congress on providing incentives to those, including credit unions, that provide capital for start-ups.

"Right now, we're in the brainstorming phase," Hood said, emphasizing that while the committee comes up with suggestions, it is ultimately up to the FCC to decide whether to move forward on any of them. "The whole point of the task force is to look at barriers to ownership, which have typically been [lack of] capital."