Research shows that African Americans are newer to the Internet than many other population segments, but also more active in using mobile technology to access the Internet. This means that African Americans rely on search engines to help them find information they need online -- and they know that the Internet is often the only place to find key information on jobs, health care, and other topics. Policymakers must, therefore, cultivate an environment where search results are trusted and reliable -- while ensuring that the companies that provide search services can continue to innovate in a rapidly evolving online ecosystem.

As the Federal Trade Commission examines practices of companies providing search services, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure that search engines serves the needs of consumers -- in an environment that supports innovation.
 

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The Joint Center and Comcast Corporation held a Technology Policy Forum entitled Broadband, the Economy, and Driving Adoption on September 24, 2012.

In recent years, there have been two developments in technology adoption that are in tension with one another. On the one hand, home broadband adoption has increased only modestly since 2009. On the other, there has been a very rapid increase the adoption of Smartphones. This development presents questions for policymakers and stakeholders interested in the digital divide, namely: Does the leveling off of home broadband adoption and accompanying growth in Smartphone adoption represent a substitution effect? That is, are those without broadband at home simply turning to Smartphones instead and, if so, how does their Internet use relate to that of broadband users? Understanding the answers to these questions will be important to policymakers and those in the private sector interested in closing technology access gaps. To address the questions, this paper will rely on data drawn from a statewide telephone survey of Illinois residents fielded in February-March of 2012. The survey explored in detail how people get online (e.g., home broadband, tablets, Smartphones), what online activities they do (e.g., information searches, shopping, educational uses), and how they view the usefulness of different access means for carrying out tasks online.

Does anyone remember when the Obama administration promised to bring “true broadband [to] every community in America”? The Republican Party definitely does, and its 2012 platform criticizes the president for not making any progress on this pledge:

“The current Administration has been frozen in the past…. It inherited from the previous Republican Administration 95 percent coverage of the nation with broadband. It will leave office with no progress toward the goal of universal coverage—after spending $7.2 billion more. That hurts rural America, where farmers, ranchers, and small business manufacturers need connectivity to expand their customer base and operate in real time with the world’s producers.

So whatever happened to the Obama administration’s plan to expand broadband access, anyway? In one sense, the Republican critics are right. Universal broadband is still far from a reality. According to the Federal Communications Commission’s annual broadband report, released in August, there are still 19 million Americans who lack access to wired broadband. Only about 94 percent of households have broadband access. Obama hasn’t achieved his goal.

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“Getting to 100 percent is going to be a very difficult long-term goal, given the size of the U.S. landmass and the huge expense to reach those final couple of percentage points,” says John Horrigan of the Joint Center Media and Technology Institute. The same goes for increasing the adoption rate. “We’re not going to close that gap in five years.” Anyone hoping for universal broadband access in the near future might end up disappointed. But shorter-term upgrades are possible—and, indeed, appear to be happening.

Read more at The Washington Post.

It’s time to recognize the talent pool we have right here in America, putting an end to minority statistics that may soon be more fairytale than truth. Especially in Florida where the Hispanic population is outperforming other states in college degree attainment levels.

Florida’s business schools, particularly Miami-Dade College, are being recognized nationally for their cutting-edge programs and for graduating among the highest numbers of Hispanics. Not only are these Hispanics brushing up on their business skills, but, according to recent studies by Florida State University’s Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication, they are proving to be digital innovators and significantly expanding their online presence. Compared to other groups, Hispanics were the most likely to own and manage their own online businesses, blogs and websites.

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Broadband-enabled technologies have changed how businesses operate and thrive. It’s the innovators and skilled users of these technologies that bring opportunity for innovation and job creation across a range of industries. Though some statistics show that Hispanics are behind in education and technology adoption, many others are proving that they are in fact poised to become prominent figures in America’s digital business future, including the wireless industry.

While minorities are undoubtedly making big gains in broadband adoption, there are still many without online connections. According to a study by The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, there are many barriers at play, including financial, educational, and linguistic hurdles. Yet when socioeconomic factors are similar, studies show that Hispanics and non- Hispanic whites end up having similar usage patterns for broadband-enabled technologies.


Read more at the Miami Herald.

Michael Copps’ decade of service as a member of the Federal Communications Commission will forever be remembered as a time when average Americans had a real voice in the regulation of one of the country’s most powerful industries.  Through it all, whether he was looking at new media or old media, Commissioner Copps consistently raised his own voice and dedicated his good offices to the proposition that the people come first and that technological advancements in communication should, above all else, advance opportunities for everyone to be heard in the public square.

Speaking at a forum at Howard University on the effective use of social media, political communications experts urged college students and other young voters to transform their Facebook and Twitter contacts into powerful political networks in advance of the 2012 elections.

The non-partisan forum on Wednesday was convened by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Media and Technology Institute, in partnership with Howard's School of Communications, NAACP, National Action Network, Voto Latino, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Hip Hop Caucus, IMPACT, Politic365 and BET Networks. "African Americans in particular are over-represented on sites like Twitter," said political commentator Jamal Simmons. "Transforming the contacts to good works can make a significant impact if this year is anything like the last election when African Americans played a critical role in getting this president elected."

Read more at Yahoo! News.

Politic365 recently went on record with Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Vice President and Director of the Media and Technology Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Harold Crumpton, Chair of the NAACP National Board’s Media, Telecom and Broadband Taskforce and former Missouri Public Service Commissioner, to discuss the important issue of wireless taxation and its potential impact on marginalized communities.

Politic365 recently went on record with Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Vice President and Director of the Media and Technology Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Harold Crumpton, Chair of the NAACP National Board’s Media, Telecom and Broadband Taskforce and former Missouri Public Service Commissioner, to discuss the important issue of wireless taxation and its potential impact on marginalized communities.

Read more at Politic365.