The FCC proposed a $9,000 fine against iHeartMedia for Equal Employment Opportunity violations.
The stations involved are WYKZ(FM), Beaufort, S.C., WLVH(FM), Hardeeville, S.C. and four Savannah, Ga.-market stations: WQBT(FM), WAEV(FM), WTKS(AM) and WSOK(AM). The agency says the facilities ailing to comply with the recruitment, job referral source notification and self-assessment requirements.
The issues came to light during the license renewal process for the six facilities. Owner iHeartMedia filled 13 full-time vacancies at the stations during the reporting periods and “failed to recruit widely for four vacancies, instead relying solely on its Internet website and walk-ins to fill three vacancies, and its Internet website, walk-ins and word-of mouth referrals to fill one vacancy,” according to the commission. The FCC says its review also revealed iHeartMedia failed to notify organizations that had asked for information about eight vacancies.
Ongoing analysis of its recruitment program would help ensure iHeartMedia is effective in its outreach to potential job applicants, says the commission in its decision. To prevent future violations of these requirements, the agency is imposing reporting conditions on iHeartMedia and any successor licensee of any of the stations.
The broadcaster has 30 days to appeal or pay the fine.
Despite the EEOC violations, however, the agency found the facilities still served the public interest, so the FCC granted renewals for all six facilities.
