<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3nrHN0_0wFHrkVK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3nrHN0_0wFHrkVK00" width="375" height="325" ></figure>Letters are on their way to 150 radio and television stations, alerting them that they have been randomly selected for an audit to ensure they comply with the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) rules. The list includes two dozen AMs and 76 FMs. Stations that are audited will have until Dec. 2 to provide information about their recruiting practices to the Enforcement Bureau.The FCC is giving a break to broadcasters impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Stations that require extra time in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia will automatically get until Jan. 16, 2025, to put the documents in their online public file. The FCC also says that stations in the impacted areas may contact the Enforcement Bureau to discuss options and unique circumstances that might prevent them from responding to their audits by the extended deadline.By the deadline, stations with five or more full-time positions have to place the most recent EEO public file reports in their online public file. For any full-time positions filled, stations must include details of how they recruited to fill the positions, such as copies of any advertisements. Stations also need to supply the FCC with details of any outreach initiatives they have taken part in, such as job fairs, events with educational institutions, or mentoring and training programs for staff. For on-air job announcements, stations must share copies of station logs. The FCC also needs to see any pending or resolved complaints filed against a station.Stations operated by a religious broadcaster with an employee that must meet a religious qualification need to disclose specific information. In those cases, stations will only need to provide the job title, date filled, and recruitment sources used to fill the opening.The FCC announced last year that it would be providing less transparency to stations about the EEO audits. The Commission said it would no longer send letters to stations telling them when the audit has been completed. That remains the case this year. “If questions arise during staff review, the Enforcement Bureau will contact the licensee,” it said in a public notice issued Friday.Under the FCC’s rules, the Enforcement Bureau randomly audits 5% of all radio and television stations each year to ensure they are complying with the agency’s EEO rules related to staff recruitment.There are a couple of ways stations can be exempted from the 2023 EEO audit. Those include if it was selected for an audit during 2022 or 2023 or if the station’s most recent license renewal application was granted after Oct. 1, 2022. Stations with fewer than five full-time employees are also exempt, but they must still provide some information to the FCC. That includes a list of full-time employees identified only by job title — no names are supposed to be included — as well as the number of hours they work per week. Other information, such as employee Social Security numbers, home addresses, and personal data, should be left out of the report.In addition to the radio stations, the FCC also sent audit letters to 50 television stations. See a list of all the stations selected for the second round of 2024 audits HERE.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Southeast Stations Get Extra Time As FCC Sends Second Round Of 2024 EEO Audits.

Letters are on their way to 150 radio and television stations, alerting them that they have been randomly selected for an audit to ensure they comply with the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) rules. The list includes two dozen AMs and 76 FMs. Stations that are audited will have until Dec. 2 to provide information about their recruiting practices to the Enforcement Bureau.