Coalition Asks FCC to Focus on Diversity in Quadrennial Ownership Rule Review

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has written the Federal Communications Commission to ask that it focus on diversity in its quadrennial media ownership rules review.

In its letter, the conference (a coalition of 200-plus diversity groups) said that the FCC currently has "no meaningful policies to address racial and gender inequities in media ownership" and has "ignored the impact of its media ownership rules on those inequities." It pointed to the Third Circuit remand the court's admonition that the FCC was "punting yet again" on diversity. "As media consolidation grows, people of color and women become less significant players in the media ecosystem. The Commission must acknowledge that fact and take action to remedy it," the coalition said. Groups also signing on to the letter included the Communications Workers of America, National Urban League, NAACP, NOW and the UCC Office of Communication.

In addition, on Dec 1, more than 50 groups representing a wide range of women’s, media and social justice organizations, including Free Press, sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to make diversity issues a priority in its upcoming review.