FCC Removes Broadcaster Employee Demographic Reporting Rule After Court Ruling
The FCC's Media Bureau has formally deleted a rule that required broadcasters to report their employees' race, ethnicity, and gender each year. The move follows a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that found the FCC lacked the legal authority to require this data, so the rule had no effect. The deletion takes effect November 3, 2026.
This summary was generated by AI; the official source prevails.
What does it mean?
Broadcast companies no longer have to send the FCC yearly counts of their staff by race, ethnicity, and gender. A court said the FCC did not have the power to require that report, so the government is removing the rule from its official book.
Who is affected?
TV and radio broadcasters that had been expected to file the annual employee data report.
What changes?
Before, broadcasters were required to file yearly employee demographic reports under Section 73.3612; now that rule is deleted from the Code of Federal Regulations.