The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has investigated Comcast’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has directed his agency to examine whether Comcast’s DEI programs violate federal employment laws.
FCC examines potential DEI discrimination
Newsmax reports that Carr’s investigation will focus on whether Comcast’s DEI efforts are discriminatory. In a statement, Carr said, “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.”
Comcast has confirmed that it is cooperating with the investigation. “We have received an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission and will be cooperating with the FCC to answer their questions,” spokesperson Joelle Terry said in an interview.
DEI scrutiny under the Trump administration
Since taking control of the FCC last month, Carr has signalled a tougher stance on media companies. He has threatened to revoke the broadcast licences of companies such as Disney and CBS for airing content perceived as unfavourable to former President Donald Trump and conservatives. Additionally, he has initiated probes into NPR and PBS for allegedly running commercials, a move that fellow FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez described as “an effort to weaponize the power of the FCC” under the Trump administration.
A Trump appointee, Carr has been vocal about his views on media regulation. He contributed to Project 2025, outlining how the FCC should exert greater control over major corporations. His recent actions align with the broader agenda of the new administration, which has been actively reviewing corporate DEI programs.
Companies scaling back DEI efforts
Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, Peacock’s streaming service, and multiple other broadcasters, is now under the spotlight.
Meanwhile, several major companies have already begun scaling back their DEI initiatives to avoid regulatory scrutiny. An executive order issued on January 20 declared DEI initiatives a “corrupting force” that fosters “a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.” Even before the order, Meta had already dissolved its diversity team, Amazon had wound down specific DEI programs, and Google followed suit just last week.
Comcast’s DEI practices will be examined closely as the FCC intensifies its scrutiny. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for other corporations navigating the changing regulatory landscape.
