In a continuation of his aggressive stance against what he perceives as “invidious discrimination,” Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Comcast and its subsidiary, NBCUniversal. This action marks the latest in a series of moves by Carr, appointed by President Donald Trump, to scrutinize media companies’ practices under his regulatory oversight.
On Tuesday, Carr sent a formal letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, announcing that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau would delve into how Comcast and NBCUniversal implement their DEI policies. “I am writing to inform you that I have asked the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal,” the letter stated. The primary concern, according to Carr, is to “ensure that your companies are not promoting invidious forms of discrimination in violation of FCC regulations and civil rights laws.”
In a statement to Cord Cutters News a Comcast Spokesperson confirmed this news “We have received an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission and will be cooperating with the FCC to answer their questions. For decades, our company has been built on a foundation of integrity and respect for all of our employees and customers.”
Carr justified starting this investigation with Comcast and NBCUniversal due to the companies’ significant involvement in multiple sectors regulated by the FCC, including cable, high-speed internet, broadcast TV, and mobile services. “Therefore, I expect that this investigation into Comcast and its NBCUniversal operations will aid the commission’s broader efforts to root out invidious forms of DEI discrimination across all of the sectors the FCC regulates,” he explained.
This move follows Carr’s previous actions against media entities. Last October, he demanded CBS News provide unedited footage and transcripts from their interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to check for alleged “news distortion.” CBS complied by publicly releasing the unedited transcript, which confirmed the integrity of their reporting.
The investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal’s DEI initiatives also aligns with broader political actions under the Trump administration. Following Trump’s executive order earlier in the year to dismantle DEI programs within federal agencies and in federal contracts, many corporations, including Disney, have adjusted their DEI strategies. This executive order is part of a larger conservative pushback against what they term as “woke” corporate policies.
Moreover, in late January, Carr had already initiated probes into the funding mechanisms of NPR and PBS, questioning the legality of on-air donor acknowledgments and hinting at potential revocations of federal funding, a strategy suggested in Project 2025. This document, which outlines a conservative transformation of U.S. government policies, includes contributions from Carr himself, particularly in communications policy.
As of now, neither Comcast nor NBCUniversal has responded to requests for comment on this investigation. Newsmax was the first to report on this latest action by Carr, indicating a continued focus on media practices under his leadership at the FCC. This investigation could have broader implications for how DEI programs are viewed and managed in industries regulated by the FCC, potentially setting a precedent for other companies in similar sectors.
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