David Cohen: Broadband Access Is Central Civil Rights Issue

Getting broadband to every household, regardless of race, color, creed or economic situation is this century's central civil rights struggle, and Comcast is "all in" for that effort, said Comcast executive VP David Cohen, as well as reflecting the full diversity of the country in hiring, investment and programming.

He said that the country did not have a broadband speed problem, unless it was defined as the slow speed of adoption, which he said was intolerable. "Civil rights advocates of 50 years ago fought and ultimately won the battle for equal rights," he said. "But the battle for equal opportunity continues. And that battle won't be won," he said, "so long as we have people stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide because broadband technology is fast becoming the most essential tool for full participation in American society." Cohen indicated bridging that divide was more than a dream. "Achieving digital equality really is possible," he said, but added that it would take a public-private partnership linking "the broadband industry, Silicon Valley, nonprofit organizations, schools, the faith-based community and government."