FCC Commences 2013 EEO Audits

On February 26, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission mailed the first of its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audit letters for 2013 to randomly selected radio and television Stations. The FCC’s EEO rules, the FCC annually audits the EEO programs of randomly selected broadcast licensees.

Each year, approximately five percent of all radio and television stations are selected for EEO audits. This year we have modified the audit letter in certain respects to reduce audit burdens on stations while at the same time encouraging broader job outreach. Although we are requesting fewer job notices, on-air ad logs, information on initiatives that go beyond our requirements, and some other items, we will still be thoroughly auditing programs for compliance with our rules. We intend for reduced response burdens to encourage stations to have vigorous recruitment without needing to provide as much detail as before in audit responses.