Released:  August 7, 2000

           FCC DISTRIBUTES ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT REPORTS

On August 7, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission  (FCC) will begin mailing Annual
Employment Report Form 395-B to broadcast stations, Form 395-A to cable operators and
satellite master antenna television systems (SMATVs), and Form 395-M to multi-channel video
programming distributors (MVPDs).  The Commission reinstated the requirement that broadcast
stations file Form 395-B in Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment
Opportunity Rules and Policies and Termination of the EEO Streamlining Proceeding, MM
Docket Nos. 98-204 and 96-16, 15 FCC Rcd 2329 (2000).  The FCC will use the Annual
Employment Reports' data only in aggregated form for trend reports and reports to Congress.  

Annual Employment Report forms and instructions for completing the forms are also available by
accessing the FCC's web site at http://www.fcc.gov and clicking on the "Forms" link.  
     
In addition to paper filing, entities may also file the forms electronically by using the FCC's Radio
and Television Broadcast Station Consolidated Database System (CDBS) online electronic forms
filing system.  Users can access CDBS via the Internet from the Mass Media Bureau's web site at
http://www.fcc.gov/mmb.  Instructions for use of the electronic filing system are available in the
CDBS User's Guide which can be accessed from the electronic filing web page.  Special attention
should be given to the details of the applicant account registration function and the form filing
function.  Internet access to the CDBS public access system at the FCC's web site requires that
the user have, at a minimum, a browser such as Netscape version 3.04 or Internet Explorer
version 3.51.  For technical assistance in running CDBS or to report technical problems with the
system, please contact the CDBS Help Desk at (202)418-2MMB.  

Regardless of size, all broadcast stations, cable operators, SMATVs and MVPDs must file the
appropriate Annual Employment Report form with the FCC.  Broadcast station employment units
with fewer than five full-time employees must send in the form, but only certify that they
employed less than five full-time employees.  Cable, SMATV and MVPD employment units with
fewer than six full-time employees must also send in the form, but only certify that they employed
less than six full-time employees.  Broadcast station employment units with five or more full-time
employees and cable, SMATV and MVPD employment units with six or more full-time
employees are required to complete the entire form.  Two copies of the form must be filed with
the FCC by October 2, 2000.

Mass Media Bureau Contact:  EEO Staff (202)418-1450