Here’s When You Can Trash FCC Form 397

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On February 14, the FCC adopted a Report and Order that eliminates for good its Broadcast Mid-Term Report, which used Form 397.


When can radio and TV stations stop using the form for good?

Today.

On May 15, a copy of the Order was published in the Federal Register. This made the Order effective, and officially puts an end to Form 397.

Why is the Commission no longer requiring broadcast mid-term reports using this form?

The information collected in Form 397 is or will be otherwise available via broadcasters’ online public inspection files. As such, the Commission found that the requirement to file Form 397 is outdated and unnecessary.

EEO staff will instead rely on publicly available information in its statutorily required mid-term reviews of broadcasters’ equal employment opportunity practices.