Partnership with the National Urban League, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and others aims to close the ‘digital divide’ among key demographics

BET Networks announced today its submission of a proposal to the The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) for a grant under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) which is a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  BET proposes to increase the adoption of broadband technology amongst African Americans through its National Sustainable Broadband Adoption Project (BETN-NSBAP) which will provide compelling reasons for new households to adopt broadband and will directly address three problems: (1) increasing the awareness of “the promise” of broadband technology; (2) increasing the relevance of broadband technology to marginalized African Americans; and (3) increasing the digital literacy of those who have been “left behind” in as many targeted communities as possible. 

The Media and Technology Institute released a study entitled National Minority Broadband Adoption: Comparative Trends in Adoption, Acceptance, and Use at an event held on February 25, 2010. Watch the video at UStream (provided by Next Gen Web).

The Media and Technology Institute held a Technology Policy Forum entitled Open Internet, Innovation, and Economic Development on March 3, 2010. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn, Meredith Baker, and Michael Copps offered keynote remarks.

The Media and Technology Institute released a research publication entitled National Minority Broadband Adoption: Comparative Trends in Adoption, Acceptance, and Use at an event held on February 25, 2010.

The Media and Technology Institute hosted FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioner Michael Copps at a luncheon held on September 22, 2009. The FCC's National Broadband Plan was discussed and MTI's first report, Broadband Imperatives for African Americans, was released at this event.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn made her first policy speech as a commissioner at a Joint Center Media and Technology Institute event on September 21, 2009. She called for the National Broadband Plan to address existing gaps in broadband adoption, as well as broadband access.

Joint Center Releases Policy Recommendations Aimed at Increasing Digital Adoption in Communities of Color

WASHINGTON – The National Broadband Plan now under development at the Federal Communications Commission represents an enormous opportunity to help improve conditions in long neglected communities, the Chairman of the FCC said in remarks to an event hosted yesterday by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington research and policy institution that focuses on the concerns of African Americans and other people of color.

Chairman Julius Genachowski was joined at the event by FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, who had served as acting chairman in the months prior to Genachowski’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate in June, and who himself urged an audience comprised of black elected officials and policy professionals to continue to focus on access to broadband as a key element in bringing greater educational and economic opportunity to their constituents. Both Chairman Genachowski and Commissioner Copps also stressed the importance of including a diverse range of voices to ensure that the National Broadband Plan is inclusive and its recommendations can be easily implemented in any community.

The FCC has been directed by Congress to deliver by next February a plan for bringing broadband to all Americans, and the Commission is now seeking and evaluating public comment on the initiative. At yesterday’s event, Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, emphasized the importance of reaching all populations as the nation expands broadband availability.

At a previous Joint Center forum on Monday, new FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn made her first policy speech as a commissioner, in which she called for the National Broadband Plan to address existing gaps in broadband adoption as well as access.

Yesterday’s event, organized by the Joint Center Media and Technology Institute, also included the release of a report, Broadband Imperatives for African Americans: Policy Recommendations to Increase Digital Adoption for Minorities and their Communities, which was produced through a collaboration between the Joint Center and leading organizations representing black elected officials and the state and local levels. The report stresses the importance of broadband access to achievement and success, and urges policymakers to consider a number of initiatives aimed at increasing broadband adoption in minority communities, including mandating that government assisted housing have a broadband connection, encouraging young people in these communities to play a major role in efforts to increase broadband adoption, and working to ensure that the expansion of broadband in low-income areas results in enhanced access to education, health care and employment opportunities.

“The Broadband Imperatives report is the first time that African American elected officials have issued a formal statement to the FCC in this area,” said Ralph B. Everett, President and CEO of the Joint Center. “As the nation strives for universal access to high-speed networks, these elected and appointed officials can and will play a vitally important role in ensuring that the great promise of broadband really does deliver progress and opportunity in struggling communities.”

The Broadband Imperatives report, was completed in collaboration with the following national organizations that represent African American elected officials: National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, National Conference of Black Mayors, National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, and National Association of Black County Officials. A full copy of the report is available at the Joint Center web site, www.jointcenter.org.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is one of the nation's leading research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color. It will mark its 40th Anniversary of service in 2010. To learn more about The Joint Center please visit www.jointcenter.org.

As computers and the Internet become more critical to daily life and work, America will benefit greatly from expanding the reach and capacity of broadband networks. The lack of access and technical literacy for some impacts quality of life, economic development, health care, education, environmental sustainability, public safety, and civic engagement for all U.S. communities. The federal, state, and local governments, in collaboration with the private sector, must play an active role in stimulating adoption and use of advanced broadband connections.

WASHINGTON – African American leaders today hailed the potential for broadband technologies to improve conditions in communities of color, while calling on Congress and industry to expand broadband access. The leaders’ comments came at a forum held at the National Press Club, where they joined with technology experts to discuss the importance broadband access to economic and social progress.

“Broadband technology and deployment is a critical issue for all Americans, and especially those in communities of color,” said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), who spoke at the event. “Whether it’s health care, education, or the impact on small businesses, broadband technology plays a growing role in the life of African Americans across the country.”

Rep. Jackson Lee also stressed the extensive scope broadband technology has had in empowering African Americans and other people of color in a range of public policy areas.

Her comments were echoed by Ralph B. Everett, President and CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a research and policy institution that focuses on issues of concern to African Americans. Everett discussed how broadband technology can bring social, political and economic opportunities to vulnerable populations, enable community leaders and advocates to reach broader audiences, and open new avenues for upward mobility.

“Not only is broadband access is a ticket to knowledge and economic opportunity, it can also make an enormous contribution to breaking down social barriers that have long kept many African Americans from realizing their full potential,” said Everett. “Because of this, the widespread deployment of faster, higher-bandwidth networks can and will have an enormous influence in improving the lives of people of color.”

In addition to describing the improvements broadband technology has brought to the historically disadvantaged, forum participants also discussed how government policies might hinder or help the deployment of next-generation networks in struggling urban and rural communities.

The Joint Center is one of the nation's premier research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color. The Joint Center’s activities are focused on improving the socioeconomic status of black Americans and other minorities, expanding their effective participation in the political and public policy arenas, and promoting communications and relationships across racial and ethnic lines to strengthen the nation's pluralistic society.

For more information about the Joint Center and its work and for access to Joint Center Journal, the organization’s blog, go to www.jointcenter.org.

Group at Three-day Meeting will Develop Recommendations and a Plan of Action

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Digital Pathway to U.S. Economic Recovery and Prosperity, in conjunction with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, is sponsoring an Emerging Issues Policy Forum (EIPF) Oct. 12-14, where a bipartisan cross section of industry leaders, government leaders and consumers will consider how broadband innovation and advanced communications technology can be used to enhance productivity and efficiency in healthcare, education, and governmental services.

Ralph B. Everett, President and CEO of the Joint Center, is joining former Federal Communications Commission Chairs William E. Kennard (1997-2001) and Michael Powell (2001-2005), the honorary co-chairs of EIPF, and Julia L. Johnson, EIPF Regulatory Advisory Board Chairwoman, in assembling the group that intends to develop policy recommendations and a plan of action for implementing them before the meeting ends on Tuesday.

"In the midst of this worldwide economic downturn, we should renew our commitment to adopting digital, broadband and advanced communications technologies that can improve productivity and lead to the creation of jobs while enhancing the quality of life for all Americans," said Everett.

Everett will be the moderator for a panel discussion on Monday, "Stateside Solutions for a Digital Economy," featuring leaders of organizations representing state legislators.

Kennard, who was FCC Chairman during the Clinton administration, is Managing Director, Global Communications for The Carlyle Group. Powell, who succeeded him and was FCC Chair during George W. Bush's first term as President, is Partner and Senior Advisor of Providence Equity.

EIPF's mission is to create meaningful dialogue among legislators, mayors, governors, industry executives, consumer groups, and federal and state regulators in the energy, communications and information technology industries. EIPF hosts public policy forums which provide participants the opportunity to express their concerns about how business and policy decisions affect the consumers they serve. For additional information on EIPF, please visit: http://emergingissuespolicyforum.org.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is one of the nation's premier research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses exclusively on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color. For more information, go to http://www.jointcenter.org.