Civil Rights, Privacy, and Consumer Organizations Call on the FCC to Adopt Key Goals of National Broadband Plan

A coalition of national civil rights, privacy, and consumer organizations is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to move expeditiously to achieve several key goals of the National Broadband Plan.

In a letter to FCC Commissioners, the coalition urged the FCC to focus on the importance of achieving four key objectives:

1. Expansion of the Universal Service Fund to broadband;
2. Assurance of transparency and truth in billing;
3. Protection of consumers' privacy online; and
4. Internet accessibility for those with disabilities.

In light of questions raised in the context of net neutrality and the FCC's authority over broadband, the coalition said the FCC should "adopt a legally justifiable regulatory framework to enact the broadband plan." "Regardless of how organizations view net neutrality, the Commission's authority to achieve many objectives critical to the civil rights community must be affirmed," the coalition said.

The letter was sent by the American Association of People with Disabilities, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Asian American Justice Center, the Benton Foundation, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Action, Consumer Watchdog, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, the National Consumers League, the National Organization for Women, the National Urban League, Privacy International, Privacy Lives, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Privacy Times, and the United Church of Christ, Office of Communication