OTI Supports Accurate, Accessible Outreach Materials for Affordable Connectivity Program

New America's Open Technology Institute (OTI) wrote and submitted a letter—alongside Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, MediaJustice, and Public Knowledge—requesting the Federal Communications Commission commit resources and energy to ensure communities beyond English speakers are made aware of the opportunity provided by the Affordable Connectivity Program. The letter recommended that the FCC review media and outreach materials promoting the Affordable Connectivity Program for translation accuracy and readability, and that they employ translators fluent in how that language is used by those situated within US communities. "We especially urge the Commission to review its website, marketing materials, social media, outreach kits, and other publicity resources for language translation accuracy, and request that they consider hiring native or near native speakers who understand American context and vernacular to review all materials for translation accuracy, but also readability," said the groups. "It’s also important that those responsible for translations are not just fluent in the language, but fluent in how that language is used by those situated within US communities. Technically accurate translations may not be recognizable or accessible to people who speak that language in the United States and thus translators should be fluent in how that language is used by those within this country."