Media Contact: 
Janice Wise, (202) 418-8165
janice.wise@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE BROADCAST MID-TERM 
REPORT FILING REQUIREMENT
Proposal Would Reduce Regulatory Burdens for Broadcasters
WASHINGTON, February 22, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today 
proposed to eliminate a broadcast filing requirement and instead rely on publicly available 
information in its periodic reviews of broadcaster employment practices.  Currently, the 
Broadcast Mid-Term Report (Form 397) requires certain television and radio stations to submit 
information to the FCC about their Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) practices which 
they largely already provide in their FCC-maintained online public files. 
The information is used to conduct the statutorily-required review of the broadcast stations’ 
employment practices at the mid-point of their eight-year license term.  Because most of the 
information collected in Form 397 is now otherwise available to the Commission and the 
public via the online public file, the Commission has tentatively concluded that the requirement 
to file Form 397 is outdated and unnecessary for the Commission to conduct its mid-term EEO 
reviews.     
This is the fifth rulemaking stemming from the Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative 
that the FCC launched in May 2017 to reduce unnecessary regulation that can stand in the way 
of competition and innovation in media markets.  
Action by the Commission February 22, 2018 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 18-
20). Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly, Carr and Rosenworcel approving and 
issuing separate statements.
MB Docket Nos. 18-23; 17-105
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes 
official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir 1974).