The Challenge of Broadband and Social Justice

At the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council's third annual Broadband and Social Justice Summit, MMTC President David Honig delivered the "State of Social Justice in Media, Telecom, and Broadband," which included some discouraging news. The digital divide still exists, and threatens to worsen due to a a possible spectrum shortage.

But he saw these facts as challenges that simply must be met, and the MMTC, which is a Speed Matters partner, has been a key player in keeping minority technology needs in the national debate. As he said, "it's our job at MMTC to identify these barriers, call them out, and try our best to fix them."

Where they cannot manage, the disadvantaged among us have to be helped to manage the new technologies. Because, he said, "...we need more participation, more education, more skills, more jobs, and more civic engagement."

Honig also saw a notable bright spot: "People of color are taking advantage of wireless broadband to close the digital divide. In wireless service and smartphone use, African Americans and Hispanic Americans lead the nation in adoption."

But, he said, there's a cloud over this celebration, which is "...threatened by an impending spectrum crunch where demand for wireless spectrum will soon eclipse the supply. To achieve Social Justice, we have to reverse this trend."

Honig's far-ranging address at this important meeting touched on all forms of media and technological communications. To read it, and the other proceedings at the Broadband and Social Justice Summit, click here.

MMTC President David Honig Delivers State of Social Justice in Media, Telecom, and Broadband (MMTC, Jan. 26, 2012)