The Federal Communications Commission has considered four aspects of diversity: 1) Viewpoint diversity ensures that the public has access to a wide range of diverse and antagonistic opinions and interpretations provided by opportunities for varied groups, entities and individuals to participate in the different phases of the broadcast industry; 2) Outlet diversity is the control of media outlets by a variety of independent owners; 3) Source diversity ensures that the public has access to information and programming from multiple content providers; and 4) Program diversity refers to a variety of programming formats and content.
Diversity
Black Churches Back Tech Neutral Broadband Buildouts
The Conference of National Black Churches, along with five other groups representing Black clergy and congregations, has called on the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to allow the $40 billion-plus broadband subsidy money it is handing out to states to be used for whatever technology -- fiber, wireless, etc. -- best fits their communities. That came in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and NTIA administrator Alan Davidson.
Tribal leaders are building a better internet from the ground up
Despite creating the predecessor of the modern internet, US broadband access has remained mired in mediocrity for decades, with Americans paying some of the highest prices in the developed world for spotty, slow connections and abysmal customer support.
Centri Tech Foundation awards more than $195,000 in innovation grants to digital equity organizations across five US cities
Centri Tech Foundation (CTF) announced that community development nonprofit organizations in five US cities were awarded more than $195,000 to foster programmatic innovations that promote a more equitable digital economy. Together, the grantees have demonstrated success in closing the digital divide in Boston, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington (DC).
Incorporating Equity Concerns in Regulation
US regulatory agencies have been required to consider the equity and distributional impacts of regulations for decades. This paper examines the extent to which such analysis is done and provides recommendations for improving it. The Technology Policy Institute (TPI) analyzed 187 cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) prepared by agencies from October 2003 to January 2021. TPI finds that only two CBAs provided net benefits of a policy for a specific demographic group.
NTIA Awards Infrastructure Grant to Bring Critical Internet Connections to Alaska Native Community
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it has awarded a $500,000 grant to build out high-speed Internet infrastructure in Healy Lake Village in Fairbanks (AK). The grant, awarded under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, is part of President Biden's commitment to ensuring everyone in America has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet.
Using Data to Advance Digital Skills: A State Playbook
Digital skills – the skills associated with technology that enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information – are ubiquitous throughout the workforce. Today’s changing labor market indicates that there is a critical need for action to ensure all workers gain the skills needed to meaningfully participate in work and life. The Digital Equity Act (DEA), a provision within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, includes a historic federal investment to promote digital equity, literacy, and inclusion.
Broadband's Role in Equity Action Plans
On President Biden's first day in office, he signed the Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The January 20, 2021 order states that the federal government must pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all.
Digital Inclusion Guide for States: How to Prepare for Success in Your State Digital Equity Planning
This guide provides state and territory leaders with simple, tactical steps to prepare now for planning and eventual implementation of digital equity strategies. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds the creation and implementation of statewide digital equity plans.
Don't Let the Smear Machine Stop the Gears of a Fully Functional FCC
The New Yorker recently published a piece about the work of the American Accountability Foundation (A.A.F.) — a dark-money group aiming to sabotage the Biden administration’s agenda by torpedoing the confirmation of nominees to fill critical roles across the government. The group brags about having stopped the confirmation of nominees like Saule Omarova, Biden’s pick to be comptroller of the currency, and Sarah Bloom Raskin, who the pr
Broadband of the People, by the People, and for the People
In late March 2022, Tribal leaders from throughout California met in Temecula (CA) to discuss how to establish and maintain their own broadband networks with the ultimate goal of connecting their communities to the internet. Through a grant from the Michelson 20MM Foundation, and in partnership with other funders, the Institute For Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) hosted the second installment of a series of convenings aimed at providing Tribal leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to provide their communities with access to broadband.