FCC Enforcement Bureau Issues EEO Audit Clarification and Extends Response Deadline

The FCC Enforcement Bureau extended to October 17 the deadline for broadcast stations included in the current random EEO Audit to complete and upload responses to their online files. In addition, the extension notice clarified a few important items.

Based on feedback the FCC received from over 50 attorneys on a recent zoom call that our firm participated in, mainly focused on three new EEO audit questions related to Diversity/Equity/Inclusion practices, the notice includes clarifying language that certain internal information in the new audit questions can be submitted to an email address instead of uploaded to the OPIF. That change solves concerns over privacy issues.

In addition, the notice changed the Bureau’s earlier audit requirement that stations with fewer than five full-timers had to respond to the new questions.  With the change, stations with fewer than five full-timers do not have to respond to the new audit questions.