NEWSReport No. DC-2658 ACTION IN DOCKET CASE October 6, 1994 FCC ADOPTS REPORT TO CONGRESS ON EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICIES (MM DOCKET 94-34) In compliance with the provisions of the Cable Television and Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, the Commission yesterday adopted a report to Congress evaluating the Commission's cable and broadcasting equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies. The Report determines that the Commission's present policies have been and are effective in promoting employment opportunities for women and minorities in those industries. However, the Report concludes that more progress can be achieved and that there is a continued need for monitoring to ensure that gains made are not lost and that the employment of women and minorities continues to grow. The Commission also states its intention to institute a more extensive analysis of its EEO programs to adapt its rules and policies to the communications marketplace and workplace of the 21st century. The Report includes an historical discussion of the Commission's EEO policies, a statistical examination of female and minority representation in broadcast and cable employment between 1986 and 1993 and a discussion of comments received in the Commission's Notice of Inquiry that sought comment on the effectiveness of the EEO rules. The Commission found that the employment of women and minorities in the broadcast and cable industries increased from 1986 to 1993 in overall and total upper-level positions, as well as in each of the upper-level job categories. In fact, the data show that most of these increases outpaced the 1.1% growth of women employees and the 2.1% growth of minority employees overall in the national workplace. This showing is particularly significant with respect to the broadcast industry, whose overall number of employees declined from 1986 to 1993. Thus, while the broadcast industry has been downsizing from 1986 to 1993, the percentage of women and minorities in all job categories has been increasing. (over) - 2 - While determining that the Commission's EEO rules are effective and should continue to be enforced, the Report also concludes that more progress can and should be made and it outlines several Commission efforts in this area. The Report notes that the Commission has established a new Office of Communications Business Opportunities (formerly the Office of Small Business Activities) which will coordinate and oversee the FCC's EEO practices within the Commission; support the creation and expansion of small, minority and female-owned communications businesses; coordinate Commission-wide EEO enforcement activities; make policy recommendations to the Commission regarding EEO matters; coordinate with other government agencies that have EEO responsibilities; promote employment opportunities for minorities and women within the communications industry; and engage in long-range planning in the EEO area. The Report also enumerates areas and concerns raised in comments that may warrant further exploration including (1) the relevance with respect to the Commission's broadcast EEO policies of market size or staff size and part-time employees; (2) how to encourage joint recruitment efforts; (3) whether the Commission's broadcast filing requirements are unduly burdensome and, if so, whether they can be streamlined; (4) suggested changes to the Commission's mid-term TV review procedures; (5) possible further in-depth analysis of the Commission's EEO Policy Statement; and (6) possible improvements to the Commission's broadcast renewal application forms and annual employment report forms. In the Report, the Commission states its intention to institute a more extensive analysis of its EEO program to adapt it to the marketplace and workplace of the 21st century. The Report states that, in response to the huge and dramatic changes occurring in the telecommunications infrastructure, the Commission plans to consider broadening its current EEO policies to include a wider range of new and emerging communications technologies and industries. The Report notes that an expansion of the policies may be warranted to achieve regulatory parity in EEO enforcement and that, in light of technological convergence, imposing separate and unique EEO requirements on different telecommunications services may no longer be warranted. The Report also states that broadening the Commission's EEO rules may be justifiable based on the national goal of promoting participation by women and minorities in the design and deployment of advanced telecommunications services and technologies. The Report directs the Commission staff to determine the best methods for addressing the EEO issues arising from technological convergence and the communications revolution. The Report states that in order to undertake a comprehensive review of its EEO policies and goals, the Commission will solicit viewpoints and data from a wide range of entities including public interest groups, consumer groups, labor groups, trade associations, think tanks, civil rights groups, academics, other government agencies and the communications industry. - 3 - Under section 22 (g) of the 1992 Cable Act, two years after enactment of the Act, the Commission was required to submit to Congress a report on the effect of amendments to the EEO provisions of the Communications Act. This report is submitted in accordance with that provision. Action by the Commission October 5, 1994, by Report (FCC 94-255). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong, with Commissioner Ness issuing a separate statement. - FCC - News media contact: Susan Lewis Sallet at (202) 418-0500. Mass Media Bureau contact: Rod Porter at (202) 418-2600 or Hope Cooper at (202) 632-7069.