MMTC Newsletter | April 2018
Spring Newsletter, Issue 1
The latest in media, telecom, and tech policy; broadband and social justice; and their impacts on our nation's most vulnerable communities.

This month's features:
MMTC Confers Its Highest Honor On First Woman FCC Chair, Hon. Mignon Clyburn
  • Hon. Mignon Clyburn, First Woman FCC Chair, Will Receive MMTC's Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award at Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference on July 19th
MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives
  • MMTC Joins MANA, NUL, OCA, and Civil Rights Groups to Call on Congress to Protect Americans' Privacy & Civil Rights
  • MMTC Hosts Privacy Training with Diverse Advocacy Groups
  • Dr. Rikin Thakker Represents MMTC at FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Meeting
  • Upcoming Event: FCC's OCBO to Hold Supplier Diversity Workshop June 4th
MMTC Elects New Board Chair
  • Dr. Ronald Johnson's Leadership Role Expands
MMTC Recognizes Dr. King's Legacy
  • Op-Ed Urges FCC to Follow Dr. King's Legacy and Advance Civil Rights in a Digital Age
Apprenticeship Corner
  • MMTC Trains National Urban League Regional Affiliates on EEO and "All Things Apprenticeship"
  • WIAAI Consortium Members MMTC and NUL at AAI National Grantee Meeting
  • MMTC Acting CEO Maurita Coley Speaks on Apprenticeship at BDPA Earth Day Tech Summit
  • MMTC Co-Hosts UMD's Wireless Connect Conference, Promoting Registered Apprenticeship and More
MMTC Partners' Corner
  • Congressional Hispanic Caucus Holds #DIVERSITYinTECH Tweetstorm
  • African American Mayors Association Conference Highlights Smart Cities and 5G
  • Charter Communications Hosts Fireside Chat with Senator Ted Cruz
  • Rainbow PUSH Coalition Honors Tech Leaders at PUSHTECH 2020 Summit in Silicon Valley
  • Former MMTC CEO Kim Keenan Speaks at Odyssey Day 2018 in Silicon Valley
  • National Action Network Convention Honors Top Leaders
  • AT&T Hosts Forum on Effective Cybersecurity for the Internet Ecosystem: A Stakeholder Discussion
MMTC Monthly Social Media Blogs
  • Read Wakelet Blog for March & April Social Media Highlights
Invest in MMTC
  • Help MMTC Expand Its Work in Media, Telecom, and Tech
MMTC Confers Its Highest Honor on First Woman
 FCC Chair, Hon. Mignon Clyburn
Hon. Mignon Clyburn, First Woman FCC Chair, Will Receive MMTC's Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award at Our Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference on July 19th
In honor of Hon. Mignon Clyburn 's eight-year tenure as t he first African American woman Commissioner and first woman Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, MMTC is presenting her with the  Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference on July 19th at the Hogan Lovells Conference Center. MMTC confers the Everett C. Parker Award on an individual who has rendered the most distinguished service, over many years, to diversity and inclusion in the media and telecom industries.

During her time as a Commissioner, and especially during her six-month tenure as Acting Chairwoman, Clyburn moved many issues forward, delivering extraordinary value for entrepreneurs and consumers and, especially, for minorities and women trying to break into the nation’s most influential industries. Some of her most provocative work includes:

  • Reducing Predatory Prison Payphone Rates
  • Introducing MWBE Participation as a Key Factor in the Wireless Competition Report
  • Demystifying and Defending the Universal Service Fund’s Longstanding Program to Help Low-Income Households Secure Lifeline Telephone Service
  • Revitalizing the E-rate Program
  • Approving the Largest Minority Spectrum Deal in U.S. History
  • Commencing First Systemic FCC Hispanic Television Study
  • Taking Proactive Steps to Revitalize AM Radio
  • ...and much more!
MMTC is proud to have worked with Commissioner Clyburn during her eight years of service on the Commission, and to confer our highest honor upon her in July. SAVE THE DATE to attend the Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference July 19th , and learn more about Clyburn's work and greatest hits below:



MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives
MMTC Joins MANA, National Urban League, OCA, and 50 Civil Rights Groups to Call on Congress to Protect Americans' Privacy & Civil Rights
On May 10th, in the wake of the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica revelations and the ensuing hearings on Capitol Hill examining leading tech platforms’ privacy, censorship, and competition abuses, MMTC joined a diverse coalition of 50 civil rights organizations - spearheaded by MANA, A National Latina Organization; National Urban League; and OCA, Asian Pacific American Advocates National Center - to call on Congress to enact comprehensive legislation to protect Americans’ rights online. The letter outlines a list of principles and protections that "should be the cornerstone of any legislation designed to protect the Internet and extend its promise to all Americans."

Read the coalition's letter to Congress here .

An op-ed concerning the issue, penned by NUL, MANA, and OCA leadership, was published in The Baltimore Sun and Los Angeles Times .
MMTC Hosts Privacy Workshop with Diverse Advocacy Groups
On April 26th, MMTC hosted an informal workshop and discussion with law and policy experts on the latest developments in onlin e privacy re gulation and the impacts on consumers, business, the digital divide, and vulnerable communities. Christin McMeley, Partner and Chair, Private Security Practice, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, delivered a presentation on the current state of privacy regulations in the U.S., focusing on the different regulatory treatment of privacy on various platforms and the European GDPR privacy regulations that are set to become effective on May 25th.

Maurita Coley, Acting President and CEO, MMTC; Deborah Lathen, Former Cable Bureau Chief, FCC, and President, Lathen Consulting; Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Fellow - Governance Studies, Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution; Travis Hall, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, National Telecommunications and Information Administration; S. Jenell Trigg, Lerman Senter PLLC; and others engaged in a discussion on what multicultural advocates should know to ensure that sensitive consumer data is protected online. Other privacy issues relevant to underrepresented communities, such as algorithmic bias and the impact of these issues on voting rights, were also discussed .

Read MMTC's Wakelet blog for highlights.
Dr. Rikin Thakker Represents MMTC at FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) Meeting
On April 25th, Dr. Rikin Thakker, MMTC Vice President of Telecommunications and Spectrum Policy, represented MMTC at the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) Meeting.  Dr. Thakker is a member of the BDAC and Model Code for Municipalities working group.

Durin g the meeting, the BDAC considered and adopted the  Model Code for States and the  Model Code for Municipalities.  The Model Codes address permitting timelines and rights of access to existing infrastructure among other things.

A video of the BDAC meeting is available  here .

Upcoming Event: FCC's Office of Communications Business Opportunities to Hold Supplier Diversity Workshop June 4th
On June 4th, the FCC Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO), Media Bureau (MB), and the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment will host a one-day supplier diversity workshop for small, minority-owned, women-owned and other diverse businesses from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC. It will be held in the Commission Meeting Room TW-C305.

During the workshop, small business entrepreneurs will learn how to navigate corporate supplier diversity programs; identify successful strategies utilized by diverse entrepreneurs who do business with corporate entities; and enable one-on-one networking between participating firms and workshop participants to increase awareness about the expectations of procurement managers responsible for goods and services contracting. Register for the workshop by contacting OCBO: (202) 418-0990 and [email protected] . To register for the one-on-one networking supplier sessions during the afternoon portion of the workshop, email or mail a 1-2-page company or vendor profile no later than May 18th to [email protected] or OCBO, 445 12th Street SW, Room 4-A720, Washington, DC 20554. 
MMTC Elects New Board Chair
Dr. Ronald Johnson's Leadership Role Expands
Dr. Ronald Johnson was recently elected to serve as the Chair of MMTC's Board of Directors, succeeding the Hon. Julia L. Johnson. Dr. Johnson has served as Treasurer and a member of MMTC’s Executive Committee since 2011.

A telecommunications entrepreneur, Dr. Johnson brings over 30 years of experience in owning and operating telecommunications infrastructure services companies. A visionary and advocate for diversity in telecommunications, he was twice appointed to the FCC's Advisory Committee on Diversity in the Digital Age. Currently, he serves as a member of the Tech Diversity Working Group on the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. In addition, he is the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) Chief Advisor and Strategist for Diversity and Inclusion and was a key player in developing an apprenticeship consortium composed of the National Urban League, the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and MMTC, which was formed to develop and promote apprenticeships in the telecommunications industry pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Department of Labor. Read the MMTC Press Release for more information.
MMTC Recognizes Dr. King's Legacy
MMTC Op-Ed Urges FCC to Follow Dr. King's Legacy
and Advance Civil Rights in a Digital Age
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, MMTC called upon the FCC to close the digital divide in all its manifestations and ensure equal opportunity in employment and ownership, and in access to essential communications for the most dispossessed. 

The op-ed urged the FCC to " take its rightful place in history by mirroring Dr. King’s legacy of compassion , equality , and opportunity by acting on several imperatives to close the Digital Divide," regulating by compassion, ensuring equality, and championing opportunity through action on several issues including:
  • Rethinking the FCC’s Inmate Calling, Lifeline, and Katrina Rulings that urgently are needed to protect the incarcerated, the poor, and the dispossessed;
  • Focusing on EEO employment opportunity enforcement and preventing redlining in lower-income and ethnic neighborhoods;
  • Revitalizing dormant FCC policies that promote diverse ownership of media, infrastructure, and the dissemination of spectrum licenses; and more.

Read the full Op-Ed online.


Apprenticeship Corner
MMTC Trains National Urban League Regional Affiliates
on EEO and "All Things Apprenticeship"
On April 17th, MMTC trained leaders from 17 National Urban League regional Affiliates on "All Things Apprenticeship," providing the Affiliates with numerous tools and resources to support NUL efforts in creating, expanding, and diversify Registered Apprenticeship programs in the telecom sector and beyond. Trainings included:

Introduction to Registered Apprenticeship l Introduction to the Wireless Inrastructure Apprenticeship Access Initiative l Introduction to the Telecom Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) l and Overview of EEO Requirements for Employers.

The Affiliates will use this knowledge to train companies on EEO and diversity and inclusion best practices, and to help expand their work in training and preparing people of color in their communities for 21st century jobs and Registered Apprenticeship programs.

MMTC is conducting further trainings for employers, focusing on EEO requirements and tools to create and meet diversity and inclusion goals, in June. For information on participating in the session, or becoming and Opportunity Partner, contact MMTC .
WIAAI Consortium Members MMTC and NUL at AAI National Grantee Meeting
On April 23rd-25th, Wireless Infrastructure Apprenticeship Access Initiative (WIAAI) members MMTC and the National Urban League attended the American Apprenticeship Initiative's (AAI) 3rd Annual National Grantee Meeting.

At the conclusion of the event, National Urban League's Kevin Ly and Brandi Pray presented the progress and successes the WIAAI Consortium has made toward achieving its goals under the DOL contract, including the development of numerous Technical Assistance materials for employers to diversify their workforces; the participation of WIAAI members in hosting or speaking roles at numerous events and partner trainings across the country; and the expansion of the Consortium's influence to include 27 new Opportunity Partners.
MMTC Acting CEO Maurita Coley Speaks on Apprenticeship
at BDPA Earth Day Tech Summit

On April 20th, National Black Data Processing Associates held its Earth Day Tech Summit, " TECH & CYBER Careers for a better world - The Internet of 'Our Things' and Planet Earth" at Howard University's Inclusive Innovation Incubator (In3).

During the Summit, MMTC Acting President and CEO Maurita Coley participated in the Industry Panel on smart cities, 5G, AI, digital transformation, disaster recovery, cyber security, and new net neutrality initiatives. Coley's co-panelists included Dr. Kai Dupe of Amazon Web Services, Adrian Gardner of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brian Keith of IBM Watson, and Dr. Calvin Nobles of Wells Fargo. Kayla Gardner of the Wireless Infrastructure Association moderated the panel.
During the session, Coley highlighted Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for students as a pathway to 21st century careers as industry needs shift and grow with constant innovation.

Read more here .
MMTC Co-Hosts UMD's Wireless Connect Conference, Discussing Registered Apprenticeship and More
On April 3rd and 4th, MMTC served as a media partner and helped host the Wireless Connect Conference with the University of Maryland's Master's in Telecommunications Program. The event brought together operators, service providers, infrastructure providers, OEMs, policymakers, and city planners to discuss the latest in 5G, spectrum, infrastructure, Smart Cities, Wi-Fi, broadband deployment, and workforce development.

During the  “ Evolution of 5G Workforce ” panel, MMTC Acting President and CEO  Maurita Coley  joined  Broadstaff President  Carrie Charles , TeleWorld CEO  Shervin Gerami , and NB+C VP  Conlon McCarthy  in  a discussion on bridging the skills gap through training, educational workshops, and Registered Apprenticeship programs.  The panel also offered solutions on leveraging wired and wireless telecom technologies to connect the unconnected, train a 21st century workforce, and close the digital divide.  MMTC VP of Telecom and Spectrum Policy  Dr. Rikin Thakker  served as moderator.

Other event highlights included keynotes by  FCC Commissioner  Brendan Carr  and Wireless Infrastructure Association CEO  Jonathan Adelstein ; an exhibition hall; and a networking reception. 


MMTC Partners' Corner
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Holds #DIVERSITYinTECH Tweetstorm
The CHC wrote Amazon and 31 other companies in October 2017 requesting they actively work to address the systemic lack of diversity in the technology sector. Amazon responded by underscoring diversity as an important consideration across the company, and reiterated Amazon’s intent to include a diverse workforce that meets the needs of the customers they serve. Given this response, the CHC felt CEO Jeff Bezos would be inclined to support a proposal that would include women and minority candidates alongside other skilled individuals.

On Friday, May 11th, the CHC Chairwoman & First Vice Chair wrote Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, as did Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), expressing concern over Amazon’s Board of Directors' recommended vote against a shareholder proposal that would implement the “Rooney Rule,” which requires qualified women and minority candidates be considered for director positions . This week, Amazon reversed their position when they announced that the company will adopt a new policy requiring their Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to see a diverse field of candidates for each opening .

The CHC welcomed Amazon’s decision to support the adoption of such a policy that would allow qualified women and minorities to be considered for all board openings, and MMTC joined the Tweetstorm online .

African American Mayors Association Conference
Highlights Smart Cities and 5G
On April 26th and 27th. the African American Mayors Association's (AAMA) 2018 Annual Conference featured two key discussions on smart cities and 5G. The April 26th panel, "Smart City: Infrastructure," was moderated by Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston. Panelists included David Owens of Edison Electric Institute, Bret Perkins of Comcast, Eugene Anderson of Suez Water, and Jacqueline McCarthy, CTIA.

Spencer Overton of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies moderated the second panel on "Smart Cities: Autonomous Vehicles and Beyond" on April 27th. Panelists included Ellie Casson of Waymo, Rena Davis of Lyft, and Malcom Glenn of Uber.

AAMA honored Antonio "Tony" Williams of Comcast with the Reginald Lewis Award during its Awards Dinner on April 26th.
Charter Communications Hosts Fireside Chat with Senator Ted Cruz
Charter Communications invited MMTC to participate in the Think Forward event "A Conversation with Senator Ted Cruz: Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide with Next-Gen Connectivity" on April 11th.

 Watch the video of the conversation with Senator Cruz and Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz.

Rainbow PUSH Coalition Honors Tech Leaders
at PUSHTECH 2020 in Silicon Valley
On the week of April 11th, Rainbow PUSH held its PUSHTECH2020 Summit at Intel in Silicon Valley. The Summit opened with a dynamic "Women Warriors in Tech" panel featuring Lisa Mae Brunson of Wonder Women Tech, Molly Ford of Salesforce, Laura Gomez of Atipca, Valeisha Butterfield Jones of Google, and Angela Rye of IMPACT Strategies.

The panel discussion was followed by a by a one-on-one interview Intel's Rosalind Hudnell and Wanda Durant, advocate, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mother of NBA star Kevin Durant.

Both panels are pictured left.

Former MMTC CEO Kim Keenan Speaks
at Odyssey Day 2018 in Silicon Valley
On April 12th, Odyssey Day 2018 invited women of color to learn from and network with each other around issues concerning diversity in tech. Former MMTC President and Ceo Kim Keenan of Odyssey Kim Keenan delivered remarks among several sessions that addressed diversity in tech and leadership development.

Odyssey Day 2018 continued its legacy as a robust, engaging, professional development, networking, leadership training, and skills update program that brings multicultural women together from all over the world.
National Action Network Honors Top Leaders
Yvette L. Pugh, Director of National Public Affairs at AT&T, was honored at the National Action Network' Annual Convention's Women's Power Luncheon on April 19th in New York City. MMTC Chief of Staff Dorrissa Griffin celebrated with Pugh and Tanya Lombard, Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs at AT&T, pictured left.



AT&T Hosts Forum on Effective Cybersecurity for
the Internet Ecosystem: A Stakeholder Discussion
On April 23rd, Chris Boyer, Jennifer Morovits, and Jeff Stewart of AT&T led a stakeholder discussion on Effective Cybersecurity for the Internet Ecosystem at the AT&T Forum in Washington, DC. MMTC Acting President and CEO Maurita Coley and Chief of Staff Dorrissa Griffin participated in the discussion.



MMTC Monthly Social Media Blogs
Read Wakelet Blog for March & April Highlights
Learn More Details About MMTC's Work by visiting our Wakelet Blogs:

Invest in MMTC
Help Expand MMTC's Work in Media, Telecom & Tech
MMTC is regarded as the leading national nonprofit organization that convenes and advocates for diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in media, telecom, and tech. Since our founding in 1986, MMTC has championed the business case for diversity and inclusion by advocating innovative policies that benefit multicultural consumers and entrepreneurs. Our nationally recognized fellowships, trainings, and advocacy programs promote ownership diversity and universal service for historically disadvantaged communities and people of color. Our efforts have built the pipeline for diverse professionals and entrepreneurs entering the communications industries.

With our nonpartisan values of diversity and inclusion, MMTC continues to pursue our work with great determination notwithstanding our modest resources. MMTC offers our sincere appreciation for support in helping us deliver our world-class advocacy, convenings, and policy leadership in industries regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.

TO SUPPORT MMTC, YOU CAN:
  • Make a donation
  • Sponsor our July Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference - email us for more information
  • Save the Date and Spread the Word: The Access to Capital and Opportunity Conference is July 19th, and features First Woman FCC Chair Hon. Mignon Clyburn receiving our highest honor, the Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award!
MMTC is recognized by the IRS under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3). All contributions are tax-deductible.

Thank You - Your support makes it possible for MMTC to serve as an advocate for diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity in the nation’s most important industries!