Movies

FCC launches effort to ‘root out’ DEI programs, beginning with Comcast

BBG News

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a probe into the employee practices of Comcast Corporation, intensifying their attempts to identify and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that might potentially breach equal employment regulations.

Comcast becomes the initial media corporation under scrutiny by the FCC. In response, they’ve declared they will collaborate with the Federal Communications Commission to respond to their inquiries.

The action takes place within a mere few weeks following Brendan Carr’s assumption of leadership at the Federal Communications Commission, an organization responsible for regulating communication policies and issuing broadcast licenses.

Under President Trump’s administration, Carr assumed leadership and swiftly eliminated the agency’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This move resulted in cutting funding and reducing staff members whose primary role was to foster and advocate for a more inclusive environment.

In a missive penned to Brian Roberts, Chairman of Comcast, on Tuesday, Carr articulated his intention to verify that the company’s actions do not encourage prejudicial practices, which could potentially breach Federal Communications Commission guidelines and civil rights legislations.

Hollywood Inc.

Brendan Carr’s action as FCC Chairman brings attention to concerns that President Trump might utilize his authority to intimidate media outlets that aren’t in agreement with him.

In his letter, Carr emphasized that, under the Communications Act and FCC guidelines, it is prohibited for companies to practice discrimination based on factors such as race, color, religion, national origin, age, or gender. He also highlighted that the ongoing investigation was part of a larger initiative aimed at examining workplace incentives within these regulated firms, with the ultimate goal of eradicating the issue of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) which he referred to as a persistent problem.

Under the Trump administration, a strong focus has been placed on discontinuing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Instead, the president has issued an executive order encouraging a system of opportunities based solely on merit throughout the private sector.

This week, it was announced that The Walt Disney Company has decided to make adjustments to certain aspects of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies. One change involves phasing out the “diversity and inclusion” metric from how they calculate executive compensation.

The FCC review is starting at Comcast.

One plausible explanation is that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) holds significant influence over Comcast’s business operations. This extends to key areas such as their traditional cable and high-speed internet services, mobile phone services, and NBC-affiliated television stations. The latter necessitate FCC licenses for operation.

In his writing, Carr expressed his belief that the probe into Comcast’s NBCUniversal activities would help strengthen the commission’s mission to uncover and eliminate hidden biases in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters across all industries under its purview.

Hollywood Inc.

Disney Communications announced they will adjust their internal evaluation metric for diversity and inclusion within executive remuneration, emphasizing the impact these initiatives have on the company’s overall performance.

Carr took aim at Comcast’s statements about its embrace of diversity programs.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’d like to highlight that companies like Comcast and NBCUniversal place a strong emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). For instance, Comcast openly acknowledges DEI as a ‘fundamental aspect’ of their operations on its official website. Their dedication is evident through an established DEI structure, which includes annual DEI events, training programs for key executives, and numerous other initiatives designed to foster inclusivity. Similarly, NBCUniversal has a team of executives solely focused on promoting DEI across their TV and programming sectors, demonstrating their commitment to this essential cause.

Comcast has a page on its website that outlines its philosophy on inclusion:

Our conviction is that a company thriving on diversity, fairness, and inclusivity breeds greater creativity and success. In all aspects of our work, products, and communications, we celebrate the richness of diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, cultures, and experiences. Alongside our partners, we are committed to tackling inequalities related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or military status.

Hollywood Inc.

During Donald Trump’s campaign, shows similar to ‘The Apprentice’ had difficulties securing distribution. Now, it appears that Melania Trump’s documentary has secured a deal with Amazon.

In response to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd in 2020, high-ranking executive at NBCUniversal, Cesar Conde, aimed to achieve a staff composition of 50% non-white employees within the NBC News division.

At a given point, Conde expressed his desire to enhance diversity and inclusivity not just in the on-screen roles but also behind the scenes, aiming to gain the faith of every American community that looks to us for top-notch journalism.

Previously, Carr resurfaced criticisms suggesting a left-leaning bias in networks like CBS, NBC, and ABC. During his election run, Trump frequently expressed discontent towards specific broadcasters, proposing that the FCC could revoke their broadcasting permits.

Critics accused NBC of bias for showcasing Vice President Kamala Harris in a “Saturday Night Live” skit just four days before the November election, arguing that they weren’t giving fair coverage to Trump. Similarly, concerns were raised over ABC News’ management of the September debate between Trump and Harris, with Trump claiming that the anchors at ABC were unfairly biased towards him.

The investigation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has intensified a separate conflict between Trump and CBS. Trump and his allies have expressed discontent over the Harris interview on “60 Minutes” in October, noting inconsistencies between Harris’ responses in the two segments. CBS has maintained its position, stating that it often shortens quotes for editorial purposes.

Trump is taking legal action against CBS for twenty billion dollars, and Shari Redstone, Chairwoman of Paramount Global, has recommended resolving this lawsuit. This dispute has caused some uncertainty regarding Paramount’s proposed $8-billion acquisition by David Ellison’s Skydance Media company, a deal that depends on the approval from Ajit Pai, the FCC’s chairman.

Read More

2025-02-12 22:02

Previous post Pebbles Vs. Herring – Which Horse Is Better In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2?
Next post Freja is the next Overwatch 2 DPS hero — here’s a first look!