FCC removes broadcaster employee demographic reporting requirement

The FCC Media Bureau has officially updated its rules to remove the requirement for broadcasters to report employee demographic data, such as race, ethnicity, and gender. This regulatory change follows a May 2025 decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which vacated a previous attempt to reinstate the reporting mandate, ruling that the FCC lacked the statutory authority to require such disclosures.

The requirement, originally established in 1969 and suspended in 2001, had been reinstated by a 3-2 vote in 2024. That reinstatement was challenged by groups including the National Religious Broadcasters and the Texas Association of Broadcasters, who argued the mandate violated First and Fifth Amendment rights.

While the annual employment report requirement is being eliminated, the FCC noted that this does not affect other Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) rules. Specifically, EEO audits remain in effect; the Enforcement Bureau has already issued 2026 audit letters to randomly selected stations, which include questions regarding diversity policies and internal bias complaints.