Press Release: LULAC Urges FCC to Focus on Closing Digital Divide Through Education on Broadband Benefits.

Stresses importance of broadband deployment to unserved and underserved communities.

July 23, 2009

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
(202) 833-6130 ext. 16

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, urges the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to encourage broadband access for all citizens. In response to the Obama Administration’s request to the FCC for a National Broadband Plan, LULAC highlighted the overall goal of broadband deployment, particularly in rural and underserved communities, as well as the importance of public education on the benefits of broadband.
 
In this reply comment to the FCC Notice of Inquiry submissions, which welcomed public input, the organization also explained that in order to achieve this goal, the National Plan must focus on making sure that every citizen has access to broadband first and foremost, and how private-public partnerships help to further investments that make this possible.
 
Notable statements from the reply include the following:
 
“We ask that you consider a plan that will encourage broadband deployment, especially to Americans in rural and underserved communities. There are still parts of our country that lack broadband coverage, and these areas are most in need of this technology.

“At the same time, consumers who do have access to broadband must understand the value that this technology can provide. Connected Nation reports that 44% of those with no home broadband connection say that they do not need it. This is startling considering only 23% of low-income Americans have broadband at home. In order to close the Digital Divide, the FCC’s broadband plan must include effective strategies that demonstrate broadband’s benefits. Bringing broadband to anchor institutions like schools and community centers through public/private partnerships will give new groups of Americans exposure to this important technology and will help Latinos understand the importance broadband adoption and access. Private sector investment paired with public sector resources can be a winning combination.
 
“Calls for so-called net neutrality are misguided at this juncture. The FCC’s priority should be on bringing broadband to all Americans, not hamstringing providers with burdensome regulations that will detract from their ability to deploy broadband. This plan must address the disparities in broadband access and adoption, rather than promoting the high-minded ideals of a handful of organizations more concerned with the experience of those that are online, as opposed to solving the immediate problem for those in this country who still cannot get online.”
 
To access the complete reply document, visit: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=7019916526
 
 
The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

# # #