The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working to collect better data on minority and female ownership of television and radio stations.

In an order issued yesterday, the FCC increased the number of broadcast stations that are required to file ownership reports to the FCC. Previously, many small stations, as well as some owned by individuals rather than corporations, were not required to file, thereby overlooking a potentially significant group of minority and female owners.

"The sad truth is that we simply do not know the precise state of minority and female ownership in this country," acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps said in a statement.  "The official term for it is 'we don't have a clue.' We will never get to where we need to go unless we know where we are."

According to the FCC, the new requirements will help the agency assess and promote diversity of ownership in the broadcast industry.

Copps, who was named acting chairman by President Obama in January, has for years expressed his dismay that past efforts to increase diversity in broadcast ownership had been hindered by a lack of accurate data on minority and female ownership.

The deficiencies in the FCC's data collection methods had previously been identified by the Government Accountability Office, as well as by media reform and civil rights organizations.