NEWS
Report No. MM 98- 4              MASS MEDIA ACTION                      March 16, 1998 

       FCC CHANGES EMPLOYMENT DATA REPORTING DATE TO SEPTEMBER 30
        TO SIMPLIFY DATA COLLECTION FOR BOTH FCC AND EEOC REPORTS
                                      
     The FCC, as part of its regulatory streamlining initiatives, today changed the filing
date to September 30 for broadcasters, cable television operators and multichannel video
programming distributors to submit annual employment reports with the FCC  in order to
match the filing date for similar reports filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission.

     The FCC said this change simplifies the data collection process for licensees and
regulatees by enabling them to collect and report employment data for both Commissions'
reports at the same time, using the same payroll period records. This action was originally
proposed to the Commission on January 13, 1998, at the Mass Media Bureau's Biennial
Review Public Forum.

     Under current FCC reporting requirements, broadcast stations with five or more full-
time employees must file employment data before May 31 each year from any payroll period
in January, February or March. Similar reports for cable and multi-channel video
programming distributors are due before May 1.  The EEOC requires companies with at
least 100 employees to file a report by September 30 reflecting any payroll period in July
through September.  To be consistent with the EEOC reporting cycle, the new FCC rules
allow FCC filers to collect data from any payperiod in July, August or September and to file
the FCC report at the same time, September 30, as the EEOC report.  

     Action by the Commission March 13, 1998, by Memorandum Opinion and Order
(FCC 98-39), Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and
Tristani.
 - FCC-
                                    
     Press Contact: David Fiske (202) 418-0513
     Mass Media Contact: Kathy Harvey (202) 418- 1450