Texas Association of Broadcasters
10/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/21/2024 13:06
15 Texas Radio Stations Face FCC EEO Audits
posted on 10.21.2024
- Reminder to Review EEO Compliance
The FCC's Enforcement Bureau last week released its latest round of EEO compliance audits covering 150 randomly selected stations across the country, including 15 AM and FM Radio stations in Texas.
The stations selected for an EEO audit have until Dec. 2 to upload their responses to their FCC-hosted online public inspection files (OPIF).
Failure to do so can have serious implications, including substantial forfeitures and potential hiccups during license renewal.
About five percent of all Radio and Television stations are audited annually.
Attorney David Oxenford with Wilkinson Barker Knauer counsels that even stations that are not scheduled for audit this round are encouraged to review their practices to ensure they're in compliance.
Oxenford's suggestions last year about the EEO requirements still apply.
Because the EEO file is a primary component of a station's online Public Inspection File, Oxenford also warns stations to be vigilant about other public file components in preparation for license renewal.
Chief among these is the timely filing of station programs/issues lists.
Oxenford has written about fines issued in 2019 to radio stations here and here for deficiencies in this portion of the Public Inspection File.
Stations are encouraged to review these two articles for guidance in this area.
Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.