CWA and Sierra Club Join Forces on Broadband Expansion

Margrete Strand, the Sierra Club's Director of Responsible Trade, praised a collaborative effort between the Communications Workers of America and the Sierra Club to promote the expansion of broadband Internet at the 72nd CWA Convention and Legislative-Political Conference in July.

The Sierra Club understands that an open and free Internet is an integral part of a sustainable America; broadband allows communities to thrive, create jobs, and protect the environment.

According to Strand Rangnes, sustainability must encompass the well-being of both people and the environment:

Sustainability is more than reducing emissions it's also about making sure that the economic benefits are shared by the many rather than the few, that there are good jobs in rural and urban America that allow workers to support their families.

As Strand also noted, universal broadband will also have a real and tangible impact on America's carbon footprint; the use of information technology, including broadband, can produce a 13 to 22 percent reduction in annual C02 emissions by 2020 and can lead to a reduction of one billion tons of greenhouse gases over 10 years.

Strand's call to action underscored that strong and sustained alliances are the foundation of true progressive change.

Watch Strand's full statement to the Communications Workers of America's Legislative-Political conference: