NEWS                                                        May 29, 1998   



              Statement from FCC Chairman William E. Kennard 
                  on the Petition for Rehearing In Banc 
           on the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod v. FCC Opinion


     Today the FCC asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reconsider
its decision to strike down our EEO rules.  The rules are constitutional.  They impose no
quotas, set-asides or preferences.  The rules merely require that broadcasters reach beyond
the "old boy network" and consider qualified minorities and women job applicants.  This is
not too much to ask of broadcasters who are entrusted with a valuable license to use the
public's airwaves.  

     The broadcasting industry should reflect the rich cultural diversity of our nation.  The
FCC has a role to play in protecting the traditionally disenfranchised voices in our nation. 
The FCC's EEO rules are one of our tools to promote inclusion in broadcasting.  Most
importantly, the rules have worked well for almost 30 years.  And our nation is better off
because of them.

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