Copps Counsels Civil Rights Groups to Support FCC's Open Internet Proceeding

Speaking at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' Media and Technology Policy Forum, Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps counseled civil rights groups to stand together in support of the FCC's Open Internet proceeding.

Commissioner Copps said Wednesday (March 3) that nobody would benefit more from that proceeding than "those who have suffered lack of opportunity for generations." He was speaking at a Joint Center Media and Technology Policy Forum in Washington. There has been some division in the minority community over the impact of network neutrality--Copps calls that an "inelegant" term--on the digital divide. Some groups have expressed concern that codifying and expanding the FCC's network openness guidelines could discourage the kind of investment that will get broadband to underserved areas that area disproportionately minority. Another school of thinking, championed by Copps' fellow Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, holds that openness benefits entrepreneurs and protects equality of access to the lifeline of broadband.