NAB faulted FCC for crafting its newest set of proposed EEO rules...

faulted parties that came out in favor of rules, saying their evidence “consists largely of dated, isolated anecdotes, irrelevant data concerning a supposed lack of programming content diversity, and pure speculation on broadcasters’ attitudes to hiring minorities and women.” Reply comments to FCC were due Wed. NAB said agency’s authority to re-regulate in that area was far from certain and Commission should be cautious in crafting new rules in order to avoid another rejection by U.S. Appeals Court, D.C. NAB again offered its own plan, which is based on broad, general outreach rather than job-specific recruitment, as best solution: “NAB thus believes that its plan is far superior to the Commission’s EEO proposal, and would be far more likely to withstand court scrutiny.” FCC’s proposal would require broadcast licensees to widely disseminate information about job openings to various segments of community and ask cable entities to conform to same principle as much as possible. Proposed rules would require, among other things, selecting from menu of general outreach activities, including job fairs and internship programs. National Organization for Women, Feminist Majority Foundation and others said in their reply comments that broad outreach still was essential because of continuing underrepresentation of women and minorities in upper levels of management. Groups said NAB idea of relying on Internet wouldn’t achieve broad outreach and frequent public reporting requirements were necessary to ensure recruitment efforts.