Diversity Rule Plea Rejected by High Court

The Supreme Court refused to revive Federal Communications Commission rules set up to prod television, radio and cable companies to hire more women and racial minorities.

Rejecting pleas by civil rights groups, the justices let stand a federal appeals court decision that struck down the rules as violations of the Constitution’s equal-protection clause.

The lower court decision marked the second time a panel of judges had said the FCC went too far in promoting diversity at such media companies as Viacom Inc. and AT&T; Corp.

The FCC is taking its third stab at the issue. Its latest proposal relieves companies of any obligation to collect race and ethnicity data on job applicants and reduces the number of reports firms must file.