The FCC has just announced another of its regular EEO audits, though this time it’s just for cable and satellite television systems, which also have EEO obligations (see the FCC Public Notice and list of affected systems here). The FCC will audit 5% of all broadcasters and cable companies each year to assess their EEO compliance, so be prepared in case you are next. Broadcasters were last audited in June (radio stations only), so don’t be surprised to see another group of broadcasters required to submit their information for FCC scrutiny before the end of the year. 

This audit also serves to remind broadcasters of their obligation to annually prepare and file an EEO Public File Report, detailing information about hires made and employment recruiting sources used in the prior year, as well as on the “supplemental efforts” that they have engaged in to educate their communities about opportunities in broadcast employment. Station employment units in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, the Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands should have placed these reports in their public file by October 1.  Stations in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont need to have their reports in their public file, and on their website, by December 1.  Our Broadcast Regulatory Calendar here, has dates for EEO reporting obligations for other states.