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FCC EEO filing deadline

Texas radio and TV stations have until April 1 to place their Annual EEO Public File Reports in the station public inspection file and post the reports on the station websites.

Certain Texas TV stations, as detailed below, also must electronically file the station?s EEO Mid-Term Report on FCC Form 397 by April 1.

No, it?s not an FCC April Fool?s joke!  The FCC fines for EEO compliance are hefty ? several thousands of dollars as a starting point and only going upward.  Stations should also note that the FCC is continuing its program of EEO audits.  These random audits check for compliance under the FCC?s EEO rule, and are expected to continue indefinitely.  Any station may become the subject of an FCC audit at any time.

TAB?s FCC legal counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, has prepared the following information to assist stations in preparing the necessary reports.  The Pillsbury advisory can be downloaded here.

General information

Under the FCC?s EEO rule, all radio and television station employment units (SEUs), regardless of staff size, must afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons and practice nondiscrimination in employment.  In addition, those SEUs with five or more full-time employees (Nonexempt SEUs) must also comply with the FCC?s three-prong outreach requirements.  

Specifically, all Nonexempt SEUs must: 

  • broadly and inclusively disseminate information about every full-time job opening except in exigent circumstances
  • send notifications of full-time job vacancies to referral organizations that have requested such notification, and
  • earn a certain minimum number of EEO credits, based on participation in various non-vacancy specific outreach initiatives (?Menu Options?) suggested by the FCC, during each of the two-year segments (four segments total) that comprise a station?s eight-year license term

These Menu Option initiatives include, for example, sponsoring job fairs, attending job fairs, and having an internship program.

Nonexempt SEUs must prepare and place the Annual EEO Public File Report in the public inspection files and on the websites of all stations comprising the SEU (if the stations have websites), by the anniversary date of the filing deadline for that station?s FCC license renewal application.  The Annual EEO Public File Report summarizes the SEU?s EEO activities during the previous 12 months, and the licensee must maintain adequate records to document that information.  Stations must submit the most recent two Annual EEO Public File Reports at the midpoint of the license term and with each station?s license renewal application. 

For a detailed description of the EEO rule and practical assistance in preparing a compliance plan, broadcasters can consult Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman?s guide.

SMALL STATION NOTE:  Exempt SEUs (those with fewer than five full-time employees) do not have to prepare or file Annual or Mid-term EEO Reports.

April 1 Deadline:  Annual EEO public file report for all nonexempt radio and television SEUs

April 1 is the date on which Nonexempt SEUs of radio and television stations, licensed to communities in Texas, including Class A television stations, must: 

  • place them in each station?s Annual EEO Public File Report in the public inspection files of all stations comprising the SEU, and
  • post the report on the websites, if any, of those stations

LPTV STATION NOTE:  Be aware that LPTV stations are also subject to the broadcast EEO rules even though LPTV stations are not required to maintain a public inspection file. That means if an LPTV station has five or more full-time employees, or is part of a Nonexempt SEU, it must prepare and maintain an internal copy of its Annual EEO Public File Report.

It is contemplated that these reports will cover the period from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010.  However, Nonexempt SEUs may ?cut off? the reporting period up to 10 days before April 1 so long as they begin the next annual reporting period as of the day right after the cut-off day used in the immediately prior report.  For example, if the Nonexempt SEU uses the period March 31, 2009 through March 22, 2010 for this year?s report (cutting off up to 10 days prior to April 1), then next year, the Nonexempt SEU must use a period beginning March 23, 2010 for its 2011 report.

Deadlines for performing menu option initiatives

The Annual EEO Public File Report must contain a discussion of the menu option initiatives undertaken during the preceding year.  The FCC?s EEO rules require each Nonexempt SEU to perform between two and four menu options during the two-year segment.  As detailed below, the requisite number of menu options initiative-related credits for each Nonexempt SEU is determined by its number of full-time employees and market location.

  • Nonexempt SEUs with between 5 - 10 full-time employees, regardless of market size, must earn at least two menu option initiative-related credits over each two-year segment
  • Nonexempt SEUs with 11 or more full-time employees, located in "smaller markets", must earn at least two menu option initiative-related credits over each two-year segment
  • Nonexempt SEUs with 11 or more full-time employees, not located in "smaller markets", must earn at least four menu option initiative-related credits over each two-year segment

What does the FCC consider a ?smaller market? station?  If the communities of license of the stations comprising the SEU are in a county outside of all metropolitan areas or in a county which is itself in a metropolitan area with a population of less than 250,000 persons, the SEU is deemed to be located in a "smaller market" for these purposes.  

Because the filing date for license renewal applications varies depending on the state in which a station is licensed, the time period in which Menu Option initiatives must be completed also varies:

  • For Nonexempt radio station SEUs licensed to communities in Texas, the applicable period is April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011
  • For Nonexempt television station SEUs licensed to communities in Texas, the applicable period is April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010

Deadline for filing EEO mid-term report (FCC Form 397) for Texas television stations

April 1 is the mid-point in the license renewal term of Texas television stations.  All television station SEUs licensed to communities in Texas must electronically file the 397 Report by April 1.  Television SEUs with five or more full-time employees are required to attach copies of the SEU?s two most recent Annual EEO Public File Reports to the station?s 397 Report.  Note that SEUs that have been the subject of a prior FCC EEO audit are not exempt and must still file FCC Form 397 by the deadline.  Electronic filing of FCC Form 397 is mandatory.  A paper version will not be accepted for filing unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver of the electronic filing requirement. 

Recommendations

It is critical that every SEU maintain adequate records of its performance under the EEO Rule and that it practice overachieving when it comes to earning the requisite number of Menu Option credits. The FCC will not give credit for Menu Option initiatives that are not duly reported in an SEU?s Annual EEO Public File Report and that are not adequately documented.  

Accordingly, before an Annual EEO Public File Report is finalized and placed in the public domain by posting it on a station?s website or placing it in the public inspection file, the draft document, including supporting material, should be reviewed by a station?s communications counsel.

 For more information on the FCC?s EEO Rule and its requirements, as well as practical advice for compliance, please contact the TAB staff for referral to the TAB legal hotline.


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