Civil Rights, Housing, and Media Groups Representing Millions Sign On
March 9, 2010 — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, One Economy and ZeroDivide submitted a sign-on letter in support of the broadband adoption and utilization recommendations issued this morning by the FCC. The Commission is preparing to deliver the first-ever National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 17th.
The letter is signed by 40 organizations representing a broad range of the American public: from the National Urban League and Communication Workers of America, to the National Black Programming Consortium, Connected Nation and the Benton Foundation.
The letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reads:
National Broadband Plan Working Recommendations for Broadband Adoption
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
We are pleased to express our support for the working recommendations for broadband adoption and utilization announced today by the FCC as it prepares to deliver its National Broadband Plan to Congress next week.
We appreciate the intensive fact gathering and numerous public workshops conducted by the Commission as it sought to better understand the issues facing non-adopters of broadband. The Commission’s field hearings and the extensive opportunity for comment through public notices and blogshave provided the American people with many opportunities to contribute to the Plan. You have said that while broadband alone is not the solution to any of the major challenges facing ourcountry, it is part of the solution to almost all of them. We agree. We also agree that in order to maximize the country’s benefit from broadband, we must work to increase the level of broadband adoption, particularly among low-income populations, minority communities, older Americans, people with disabilities and other groups which have low rates of broadband adoption.
The Commission’s research, which helped frame the Plan’s recommendations, has proven invaluable as it identified critical barriers to adoption that must be addressed: cost, digital literacy, and lack of awareness of relevant content.
The plan’s adoption and utilization recommendations are targeted, collaborative, and local: a focus that is required to produce meaningful results. We are heartened that the FCC clearly understands that government alone cannot solve the nation’s adoption gaps. The non-profit and foundation communities, state and local governments, and the private sector all have an interest in increased adoption, and all must play a constructive role.
Leaving one-third of America without broadband at home is not acceptable in an era when high-speed access is a pathway to education, self-improvement, civic participation, and economic growth. We look forward to working with the FCC and other stakeholders in bringing life to these recommendations.
Respectfully submitted by:
Access Humboldt
Alliance for Community Media
Appalshop
Asian American Justice Center
Bay Area Video Coalition
Benton Foundation
California Center for Rural Policy
Center for Asian American Media
Center for Economic Progress
Center for Rural Strategies
Center for Working Families (Atlanta)
Common Sense Media
Communication Workers of America
Connected Nation
DB Consulting Group, Inc.
Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
Housing Assistance Council
iKeepSafe
Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention (IAACP)
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Lawndale Community Wireless Network
League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture
National Association of Counties
National Black Programming Consortium
National Coalition Black Women’s Roundtable
National Public Lightpath
National Urban League
Neighborhood Technology Resource Center
Older Adults Technology Services
One Economy Corporation
Open Technology Initiative
Progressive States Network
Rainbow PUSH
Rural Broadband Policy Group
Southern California Tribal Digital Village
Strategic Health Resources LLC
Wireless Philadelphia
Woogi World, Inc.
ZeroDivid
