FCC Promotes Greater Supplier Diversity

[Commentary] On Aug 20, I had the opportunity to attend the morning sessions of the Federal Communications Commission’s Fourth Supplier Diversity Conference, which highlighted the importance of these efforts in the communications industry. The FCC’s Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO) organized the event and during my welcoming remarks, I gave a special “shout out” to Director Thomas Reed because, prior to his tenure, the agency had never held supplier diversity workshops.

It is not often mentioned, but diversity is woven into the very fabric of our national communications policy. Section 257 of the Communications Act directs the FCC to lower barriers to entry for entrepreneurs and small businesses, in the provision of parts and services, to communications companies. Even if this directive were not in our federal statute, supplier diversity is important because it yields tremendous benefits to all stakeholders, not just the companies awarded the bid. Supplier diversity adds great economic value to our nation because it enables these diverse businesses to grow, which in turn, produces incredible multiplier effects.