Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Fee, has requested his company to launch an investigation into Comcast’s DEI insurance policies — setting off alarm bells for different media conglomerates with variety packages.
On Tuesday, Carr warned Comcast CEO Brian Roberts that the FCC will likely be trying into whether or not the cable large — which owns NBCUniversal — is breaking federal legislation, particularly the Equal Employment Alternative Act, by operating DEI packages, in keeping with a letter obtained by The Publish.
“Every single business that’s regulated by the FCC … I trust that they have now got the message that the time to end their invidious forms of DEI discrimination is now,” Carr informed The Publish.
The probe comes as President Trump has cracked down on DEI packages, banning the insurance policies on the federal stage on his first day in workplace and calling for personal corporations to observe swimsuit.
The company will likely be evaluating Comcast’s and NBCUniversal’s many DEI practices, together with DEI days and coaching packages, Carr wrote within the letter.
“We have received an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission and will be cooperating with the FCC to answer their questions,” a Comcast spokesperson informed The Publish in a press release. “For decades, our company has been built on a foundation of integrity and respect for all of our employees and customers.”
Carr mentioned the company was beginning with Comcast as a result of the corporate “touches so many of our sectors.” The corporate operates cable, wi-fi and web companies, and owns broadcasters like NBCUniversal and the streaming service Peacock.
The FCC chair mentioned he expects each single entity overseen by the company to finish any discriminatory DEI insurance policies — and hinted that firms that fail to take action might face regulatory hurdles with regards to dealmaking.
“I have a very hard time seeing how a business is going to get FCC approval while maintaining invidious forms of discrimination,” Carr informed The Publish.
He didn’t affirm whether or not all FCC-regulated firms with DEI insurance policies ought to count on to be slapped with investigations, however mentioned there are “lots of different options on the table,” together with letters and enforcement warnings.
“If they haven’t already, they need to be doing their due diligence,” Carr mentioned.
Since taking the helm on the FCC final month, Carr has reinstated bias complaints lodged in opposition to ABC, NBC and CBS, which accused them of being a fan of Democrat Kamala Harris of their protection of the presidential marketing campaign.
The DEI clampdown comes as a lot of firms — together with Walmart, Goal, Meta and Amazon — have backtracked on their variety insurance policies.
Most lately, Google and Disney have walked again a few of their DEI packages after Trump took workplace.
