Verizon says FCC 'should create an Office of Civil Rights'

Verizon told the Federal Communications Commission that it supports the idea of creating an Office of Civil Rights within the FCC. The matter was discussed in a meeting between Verizon and the FCC, and then summarized in a letter, regarding the FCC's ongoing digital discrimination proceeding. That proceeding began in 2022, as mandated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). At the time, the FCC asked commenters if it should create such an office. Verizon said that the FCC "should create an Office of Civil Rights," adding: "Verizon believes that such an office could play an important role in finding solutions to addressing these issues." The company noted that it agreed with other commenters on the matter. Others that have expressed or indicated support for an Office of Civil Rights include the National Urban League (NUL), the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Public Knowledge, and AT&T. In a filing in May 2023, NUL said establishing an OCR would "help assist the FCC in thoughtfully working through critical proceedings that impact the communications needs of historically underserved communities including digital discrimination and digital equity as a whole." In another filing in April 2023, the NUL said "the guiding mission" for such an office should be "to ensure equitable access to communications services and to promote vigorous enforcement of non-discrimination statutes at the intersection of communications and civil rights law." AT&T also indicated support for an OCR in its latest letter to the FCC on the matter, filed in late June 2023, noting "the potential use of a new Office of Civil Rights using data to work toward more constructive solutions."