Organizations Laud FCC's Broadband Recommendations

More than thirty organizations - including One Economy, Zero Divide, the National Urban League and the Communications Workers of America - have signed a letter in support of the FCC's Internet recommendations ahead of the National Broadband Plan's release.

Additional groups included the Rainbow PUSH coalition, Connected Nation, the Benton Foundation, the Center for Working Families, the California Center for Rural Policy, and the Open Technology Initiative.

The letter issues broad support for the FCC's goal of providing universal broadband access to all Americans:

"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 blogs have provided the American people with many opportunities to contribute to the Plan."

The group praised the FCC for its goal of universal broadband adoption, targeting specifically minority and underserved communities.

The research the FCC has done in preparing for the release of the broadband plan has been invaluable in discovering critical barriers to adoption. Cost, digital literacy, and lack of awareness of relevant content, have been identified as significant hurdles for individuals in low-income communities.

The organizations acknowledged the important work the FCC has done:

"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."

The FCC will release the National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 17, 2010. The plan is expected to set the federal government on an ambitious path to close the digital divide.

Broad Spectrum of Organizations Endorse FCC's Broadband Adoption Recommendations; Civil Rights, Housing, and Media Groups Representing Millions Sign On (AScribe)