Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Division Commences Equal Employment Opportunity Reviews in 2025
FCC Announces 2025 Equal Employment Opportunity Audits for Broadcast Stations
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced its 2025 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audits for radio and television stations. Approximately 300-400 stations will be selected for review of their compliance with EEO recruitment and reporting requirements over the last two years.
The audits, which are being conducted by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, will focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the stations' hiring and employment evaluations. This represents a shift from prior audits that focused more broadly on recruitment and EEO compliance.
Stations must upload their last two years of EEO Annual Public File Reports and supporting evidence by September 22, 2025, via the FCC's online public inspection files. Stations previously audited in 2023 or 2024, or those renewing licenses after June 1, 2023, may request exemption.
The FCC is actively scrutinizing DEI programs to identify any that may favor or discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or gender. This new emphasis reflects the FCC's recent stance against certain DEI policies as discriminatory. The agency has successfully gotten companies like Verizon Communications and Paramount to abandon DEI policies as part of merger reviews.
Some analysts had expected the FCC to drop the EEO audits due to its aggressive crackdown on DEI initiatives. However, the FCC has not yet revised the EEO rules or put enforcement of the current rules on hold. Attorney David Oxenford expressed surprise that the audit was released, expecting the FCC to revise the EEO rules or put enforcement of the current rules on hold.
Stations are advised to take the audits seriously, as broadcasters have been fined in the past for not supplying the required information. Stations seeking further information should contact the Enforcement Bureau at [email protected] or 202-418-1450.
The Biennial Ownership Reports have been put on hold by the FCC, but this does not affect the 2025 EEO audits. The FCC's first EEO audit of the Carr administration was recently released, according to a recent post by attorney David Oxenford.
[1] FCC Announces 2025 EEO Audit [2] FCC's First EEO Audit of the Carr Administration [3] FCC's DEI Focus in 2025 EEO Audits [4] FCC's New Emphasis on DEI in 2025 EEO Audits [5] FCC's 2025 EEO Audit Deadline
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the deadline for its 2025 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audits, which will focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within radio and television stations.
- The FCC's Enforcement Bureau will conduct the audits, reviewing compliance with EEO recruitment and reporting requirements over the last two years.
- Stations must upload their EEO Annual Public File Reports and supporting evidence by September 22, 2025, via the FCC's online public inspection files.
- The FCC is actively scrutinizing DEI programs to identify any that may favor or discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or gender, reflecting the FCC's recent stance against certain DEI policies as discriminatory.
- Stations that were audited in 2023 or 2024, or those renewing licenses after June 1, 2023, can request exemption from the audit.
