FCC trying to demand staff demographics so they can be publicized
By Bob Unruh
A fight involving a Christian broadcaster based in Medford, Oregon, reaching out via radio and television, holds the potential now for a significant ruling that federal bureaucracies are supposed to do what Congress tells them to do – not more.
It is theDove Radio & Television that is contesting demands by the Federal Communications Commission that it start monitoring, recording, reporting and even publicizing the makeup of its employees, their race and sex.
It’s a type of fight that has come up before, and will come up again: Bureaucrats decide that Congress has given them an authority so they try to impose requirements that are not necessarily germane to that task.
The government right now is trying to delay the case at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals because other plaintiffs also have raised their concerns, but it is theDove case that would, when and if it is decided, go further.
Perry Atkinson, president and CEO of the broadcaster, told WND that his organization, unlike many avenues for communication in 2024 America, is already highly regulated.
The FCC had proposed, some time back, to monitor and record the makeup of staffs, but had delayed its plan. Now it’s on the move again.
Atkinson explained that making public the “diversity, equity and inclusion” factors about his employees could be used by detractors to create problems for the broadcaster, including when periodic license renewals are at issue.
It would end up being a “controlled speech” agenda, as the station would be required to constantly monitor all comments and issues to make sure nothing controversial would be expressed.