FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION August 15. ~O I~ JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings U.S. Ilouse of Representatives 2235 Rayburn House Office Building Washington. D.C. ~0515 Dcar Congressman Cummings: Thank you for your letter concerning the proposal devcloped by the 13roadcast Compliance ervices (I3CS) to modif) the Commission's equal cmployment opportunity audit program for radio and tele\ ision broadcast stations. I appreciate) our intcrest in this mattcr and have directed the Chief of the Media Bureau's OrJicc of Communications and Indu"tr) Information to respond. I am pleased to provide the enclosed correspondence discussing this matter. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance. please do not hesitate to contact me. .Iuliu" Genacho",,"i Enclosure 445 12TH STREET S W WASHINGTON, DC 20554 • 202-418-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 August 15.2012 IN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1200915 The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings U.S. House of Reprcsentatives 2235 Rayburn Housc Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Cummings: Thank you for your letter concerning the proposal developed by the Broadcast Compliance Services (BCS) to modify the Commission's equal employment opportunity (EEO) audit program for radio and television broadcast stations. I appreciate the opportunity to update you concerning the status of this matter. The Commission's EEO obligations and program are longstanding and, as you know, serve very important purposes. BCS has rccommended that the Commission revise its EEO policies so that broadcastcrs who provide vacancy announccments to a spccified number of recruitment sources would no longcr be required to file copies of their job noticcs with the Commission when responding to an EEO audit. While the EEO recordkeeping requirements are intended to ensure that the Commission is able to verify whether the broadest possiblc numbers of pcople have an opportunity to seek employmcnt attclevision and radio stations, we are always interested in reviewing proposals that, consistent with the Commission's ongoing regulatory reform initiatives, are designed to eliminate or revise obsolete or unduly burdensome rules. Media Bureau staff has communicated with BCS representatives on sevcral occasions to discuss the company's proposal. The staff also is exploring other options to reduce the administrative burdcns associated with EEO audits while ensuring that the sources used to recruit potcntial job applicants are as broad and effective as possible. Atthis time, Media Bureau staff anticipates that a determination regarding the BCS proposal will be made before the next broadcast audit letters are issucd in thc first quarter of 20 13. Page 2-The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings 1 trust this information is helpful, and please do not hesitate to contact me if 1can be of further assistance. Sincerely, ~~~~~~( ~. T:?~ Michael S. Perko Chief, Office of Communications and Lndustry Information Media Bureau cc: Mr. Chip Weinman Broadcast Compliance Services 106 Old Court Road Suite 300 Baltimore, Maryland 2 I208-4076 JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION August 15. 2012 The Honorable C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger U.S. I louse of Representatives 2453 Rayburn Iiousc Ortice l3uilding Washington. D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Ruppersberger: Thank you for your lettcr concerning thc proposal developed by the I3roadcast Compliance Services (BCS) to modi f) the Commission's equal employment opportunity audit program for radio and tek\ ision broadcast stations. I appr.:ciate \ our interesl in this mall.:r and have directed the Chief of the Media Bureau's OrIice of Communications and Induslr) Information to respond. I am pkasedlo provide the enclosed correspondence discussing Ihis matter. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance. please do not hesitate to eontacl me. Julius Genacho\\s\..i Enclosure 445 12TH STREET S W WASHINGTON, 0 C 20554 • 202-418-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 August 15.2012 tN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1200915 The Honorable C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger U.S. House of Representatives 2453 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Ruppersberger: Thank you for your letter concerning the proposal developed by the Broadcast Compliance Services (BCS) to modify the Commission's equal employment opportunity (EEO) audit program for radio and television broadcast stations. I appreciate the opportunity to update you concerning the status of this matter. The Commission's EEO obligations and program are longstanding and, as you know, serve very important purposes. BCS has recommended that the Commission revise its EEO policies so that broadcasters who provide vacancy announcements to a specified number of recruitment sources would no longer be required to file copies of their job notices with the Commission when responding to an EEO audit. While the EEO recordkeeping requirements are intcnded to ensure that the Commission is able to verify whether the broadcst possible numbers of people have an opportunity to seek employment at television and radio stations, we are always interested in reviewing proposals that, consistent with the Commission's ongoing regulatory reform initiatives, are designed to eliminate or revise obsolete or unduly burdensome rules. Media Bureau staff has communicated with BCS representatives on several occasions to discuss the company's proposal. The staff also is exploring other options to reduce the administrative burdens associated with EEO audits while ensuring that the sources used to recruit potential job applicants are as broad and effective as possible. Atthis time, Media Burcau staff anticipates that a determination regarding the BCS proposal will be made before the next broadcast audit Ictters are issued in the first quarter of 20 13. Page 2-The Honorable C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger I trust this information is helpful, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, ~ll~C-l( Jj.~ Michael S. Perko Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau cc: Mr. Chip Weinman Broadcast Compliance Services 106 Old COUll Road Suite 300 Baltimore, Maryland 21208-4076