EEO Audit Time!

Oh, fun! The FCC has announced its latest round of EEO audits for broadcasters, targeting about 190 radio stations to provide paperwork and proof of their EEO compliance. The public notice includes the text of the letter those stations received. Responses are due July 25, 2014 unless a station asks for and receives an extension.

The notice also reiterates the website posting requirement for stations required to prepare annual EEO public file reports, and confirms that the website posting requirement will be examined as part of the audit and that stations are subject to forfeiture for not complying.

Audited or not, this is your station’s opportunity to do an EEO compliance “checkup.” This is the first of two annual random audits of broadcasters. The second round usually comes later in the year.

Anyone responding to the audit should exercise special care to ensure that documents submitted do not contradict statements or reports prepared. If you need assistance with an EEO audit response, or are just doing an internal compliance check, let us know.