News media information  202 / 418-0500
                                            Fax-On-Demand  202 / 418-2830
                                            Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov
                                                        ftp.fcc.govPUBLIC
                                                                   NOTICE
                                                                         
                                        Federal Communications Commission
                                                       445 12th St., S.W.
                                                   Washington, D.C. 20554
                                                                                 
   
                                                                                                                         August 13, 1999              
                                                                         
                                                                         
                      1998 CABLE EMPLOYMENT REPORT


The Commission today is releasing the attached five-year (1994-1998) minority and female
employment trend report for the cable industry.  The data are compiled from the Annual
Employment Reports that cable operators file showing the composition of their staffs by gender,
race, and/or national origin.

Unlike previous years, the Commission has not created a minority and female employment trend
report for the broadcasting industry for 1998 because the Commission suspended the use of the
broadcast annual employment reports as of September 29, 1998.  As the Commission announced
at that time, the action was taken in response to the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
D.C. Circuit in Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod v. FCC  invalidating a portion of the
Commission's broadcast EEO Rule.  The cable rules were not part of that decision and cable
annual employment reports were filed and data were compiled.  The Commission is currently
considering adoption of new EEO rules for both cable and broadcast.  

Overall cable industry employment increased at units having more than five employees from 
127,927 in 1997 to 133,705 in 1998.  Total female representation decreased from 42.0% to
41.7% while minority representation increased from 29.1% to 30.9%.  Among the total full-time
employees in the upper-level job categories, females decreased from 29.4% to 28.9% and
minorities increased from 20.9% to 21.7%.

The 1998 national labor force included 46.3% women and 26.0% minorities.

Complete reports may be inspected either in the FCC Library, Room TW-B505, or in the Public
Service Division, OPA, Room CY-B501, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC.  Copies may
be purchased from the FCC's duplicating contractor, International Transcript Services (202) 314-
3070.  For additional information concerning the data contact the EEO Branch at (202) 418-
1450.


                              -FCC-