Byron Allen, CEO for Entertainment Studios Network, has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Charter Communications for racial discrimination against media owned by African-Americans.
"President Obama and the Democratic Party have completely excluded the African-American community when it comes to economic inclusion," Allen told TheWrap Wednesday.
"Everyone talks about diversity, but diversity in Hollywood and the media starts with ownership. African Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does business with us in a fair and equitable way."
Entertainment Studios Networks and the National Association of African American-Owned Media (NAAAOM) claimed in the lawsuit, which was filed at the Central District Court of California Wednesday, that Charter Communications committed racial discrimination for not signing African-American-owned media, violating the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. section 1981.
The same lawsuit was filed against the FCC "for approving mega-media mergers, such as Comcast/NBCUniversal, that discriminate against African American-owned media," according to Electronic Urban Report.
The lawsuit that Allen has recently filed marks the second lawsuit that he and NAAAOM have filed against several telecommunications giants.
Time Warner and Comcast were sued by Allen and NAAAOM on Feb. 23, but it was dismissed on Aug. 7 by U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. before it was revived by Allen on Aug. 19, according to News Oxy.
