MMTC Proposes FCC Broadband Hearings to Help Develop Policy

The Minority Media & Telecommunications Council (MMTC) has proposed a series of Federal Communications Commission broadband field hearings to help develop broadband policy and coordinate it with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) and Department of Agriculture. MMTC said the Commission should hold 15 such hearings in 2009, with all of the commissioners in attendance. MMTC suggests there be eight hearings in urban areas, seven in rural areas, three of them near Native American lands, one in Puerto Rico, and several near towns and cities with minority mayors. MMTC also suggests that the hearings be divided up into two panels, the first on deployment, competition and affordability, the second on adoption, utilization and literacy.