Starks Calls for FCC Data Collection on Diversity and EEO
The FCC should take up the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals directive to collect diversity data and “redouble” equal employment opportunity efforts, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks told the Media Institute at the group’s Free Speech America Gala Monday night. African-American…
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owned TV stations -- 12 -- is such a small portion of the 1,300 total U.S. TV stations that it’s closer to zero percent than one, Starks said, making similar points to those he struck last week at the National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters (see 1910030059). “No longer can it rely on bad data and analysis while ignoring its obligations,” Starks said of the commission. “Given the historic problems we’ve had with broadcast diversity, new research like disparity studies identifying past discrimination in licensing could be critical.” The FCC can design programs based on race, ethnicity and gender “so long as we are careful and provide a well-supported reason,” Starks said.