The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said on Friday that he had opened an investigation into Disney's diversity, share and inclusion programs in the last attempt under the Trump government to stop such efforts.
In a letter to Robert A. Iger, the Chief Executive of Disney, Brendan Carr, the chairman, said the company's programs to promote the diversity in hiring and to promote racing affinity groups, violating the provisions for employment.
“I want to ensure that Disney ends all discriminatory initiatives in content, not just the name,” said Mr. Carr in the letter, which was sent on Thursday. “For someone else I want to determine whether Disney's actions – whether or not have been terminated continuously or recently – have always complied with applicable FCC regulations.”
A Disney spokesperson said the company was viewing the letter from the FCC. “We look forward to participating with the committee to answer its questions.”
Mr. Carr, an experienced Republican regulator, started his term of office as chairman of the FCC in January by starting a major campaign to investigate the media, in an attempt to row accusations of the left -loving bias and policy by the president.
Last month he started a similar investigation into diversity and inclusion into Comcast, the parent company of NBCuiversal. Mr Carr also said that merger reviews carried out by the agency will now include investigations from the Dei programs of companies.
The investigations follow an executive order by President Trump on his first day in the office that prohibits “illegal and immoral” Dei programs in the federal government. A day later, Mr. Carr announced that he would put an end to every promotion of diversity and fairness in the strategic plan, budget and economic reports of the FCC.
It is unclear whether the FCC, which usually broadcasts licenses to broadcast television and radio stations and plays the role of Watchdog for cable television, has the power to punish a media company for its diversity initiatives. Mr. Carr has argued that the agency can apply a broad 'public interest' standard in investigating companies such as Disney, which ABC and ESPN owns, as well as television stations throughout the country.
Mr. Carr's investigations can be challenged before the court, said FCC experts.
“This is all about bullying and intimidation,” said Andrew Schwartzman, senior counsel from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. Mr. Carr's most powerful tool is his voice about the committee to approve mergers and acquisitions, he said.
Mr. Carr, who was nominated by Mr Trump, has started questions since he took over as chairman from several news organizations, including PBS and NPR, who accused them of left -wing political bias. He investigated an interview that the “60 minutes” of CBS were performed with former Vice President Kamala Harris, and he announced a study of KCBS, a radio station in San Francisco, for the coverage of enforcement actions for immigration.
Mr. Carr publicly agrees with the promises of the administration to lower the regulations, go after Big Tech and to punish TV networks for political bias. Mr. Carr reforms the independent agency, expands his mandate and uses it as a political weapon for the right, telecommunications lawyers and analysts.
Brooks Barnes Reported report from Los Angeles contributed.
