Yesterday the Federal 5th Circuit Court struck down an FCC requirement implemented in 2024 that required broadcasters to file an annual form with race, ethnicity, and gender data for employees within specified job categories. Chairman Carr celebrated the decision, as he previously voted against the measure as a commissioner in the previous FCC administration.
Carr was known during the previous administration to periodically release statements ranting about FCC “overreach”, but hypocritically has shown no restraint during his brief tenure as Chairman in having the FCC’s hands meddling in private business, such as in the recent Verizon / Charter merger in which he required Verizon to end any “DEI” practices in human resources. Verizon, undoubtedly eager to get the transaction completed and accurately reading the room, filed with the FCC a letter agreeing, rather than pushing back and risking the loss of an FCC Boot-licker of the Year award and stockholder punishment for a failed acquisition. The Chairman has cleverly and deviously framed his efforts against “DEI” as one against discrimination, but as a contributor to Project 2025 and a loyal Trump acolyte, it’s clear these moves are to further his personal political ideology, and he has no problem with FCC overreach in these instances where it benefits him politically.
While most hams could care less about this, and many undoubtedly applaud the recent FCC efforts to misuse its regulatory muscle in order to further an ideology they agree with, and many wrongly believe advancements for people (especially minorities and immigrants) is a zero sum game which hurts them, this ideology may gore our ox someday, in an unexpected way.
Radio Artisan 