MMTC Broadband and Social Justice Policy Summit Highlights Adoption and Universal Service Reform

The Minority Media & Telecom Council (MMTC) hosted a two-day policy summit in Washington, D.C. with a broad focus on broadband policy and how it intersects with social justice and civil rights issues. Speakers included all of the FCC's Commissioners, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Rep. Cliff Stearns — the Chairman of the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Rep. Bobby Rush — the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., and a mix of industry and policy leaders.

While the panels covered a range of topics, two points in particular stood out. First, there was a consensus that reform of the Universal Service Fund was necessary, and that significant action was likely this year. Second, panelists stressed the importance of increasing digital literacy and adoption among Americans who have access, but have not yet subscribed. In the United States, that demographic is about 100 million people, or one-third of the total population.

A report by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration confirms the gaps in home broadband adoption rates among minorities and low income communities when compared to the general population. Without access to a reliable broadband connection in the home, these groups are cut off from educational and employment opportunities. By 2009, 64 percent of American households were using broadband Internet. However, the study reveals that only 49 percent of Black households and only 47 percent of Hispanic households have broadband at home. A study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies shows that these numbers are affected significantly by income.

One of the panels on Thursday, entitled "Universal Broadband Adoption: A Civil Rights Imperative" examined the digital divide that exists along racial, geographic and economic lines and why insufficient access to broadband can further stifle the participation of these groups. More must be done to reach out to people who may not see the value in broadband, either because of age, or where there is a language barrier. Brent Wilkes, the Executive Director of the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) mentioned that while there is about a 10% gap in broadband adoption between Hispanics and the general population, that number doubles when considering Spanish-speaking households. Jason Lagria from the Asian American Justice Center agreed, noting that while adoption rates among Asian-Americans have been generally on par with the general population, within the community 60% of the population is foreign-born and 30% have limited English skills, and increasing adoption within the community has its own unique set of challenges.

On that panel, CWA's Debbie Goldman advocated creating a national Digital Literacy Corps, which would be a part of the AmeriCorps program. The Digital Literacy Corps would give kids digital literacy training so they might act as "digital connectors" and in turn teach those skills to their families and neighbors. The next day, another panel entitled "What Must Be Done To Complete the Transition To the Digial Age" recommended this same idea. Iris Martinez mentioned that this model has been successful in the Hispanic community, and her organization (the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators) has published a white paper on the specific challenges in expanding broadband adoption in that community. On the ground, Speed Matters partner One Economy has launched a nationwide digital connectors program funded in part by BTOP grants.

Goldman also discussed the employment picture for minorities in the broadband sector, contrasting the low minority employment among leading Silicon Valley firms (2% blacks, 5% Hispanic) with the wired telecom (17% blacks, 11% Hispanic) and wireless (10% black, 19% Hispanic) industries. She also emphasized the difference that union representation makes in pay and benefits in this sector. Wired telecom is 90% union, wireless is 35% union, and cable is 4% union. As a result, wireline telco technicians earn 25% more ($20,000 per year more) than cable technicians, and wireline customer service representatives earn a full 42 percent more ($27,000 per year more) than wireless and cable customer service representatives.

A panel entitled "The Road map To Universal Access, Adoption and Affordability" focused more on Universal Service reform issues, and included an assembly of industry leaders. The President of US Telecom, Walter McCormick, supported the FCC's efforts to create the Connect America Fund (CAF), as recommended by the National Broadband Plan, and transitioning the current LifeLine and LinkUp programs to support broadband access. (The FCC has tentatively placed CAF on the agenda for its February 8th open meeting.) He also echoed the idea that our high-speed infrastructure needs to be driven closer to the user in order for networks to meet increasing future demand, an idea Speed Matters has previously noted and supports.

MMTC online

Broadband and Social Justice Summit 2011

Exploring The Digital Nation: Home Broadband Internet Adoption In The United States

National Minority Broadband Adoption: Comparative Trends in Adoption, Acceptance and Use

Expanding Opportunities in the Hispanic Community: Solutions for Increased Broadband Access

One Economy Corporation - Digital Connectors

San Jose Mercury News - Blacks, Latinos and women lose ground at Silicon Valley tech companies

BBSJ Summit Panel of Experts Speaks on the Road Map to Universal Access, Adoption, and Affordability

FCC Open Meeting Agenda - February 8th, 2011

Speed Matters: Proliferation of Wireless Devices Requires Robust Broadband Connections