Happy New Year from MMTC! |
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What's in This Newsletter |
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In this newsletter, read about MMTC's engagement to help close the digital divide, connect diverse communities to opportunity, and ensure diverse leadership, ownership, and workforce in technology and communications. Here are several highlights:
MMTC News:
- MMTC Chief of Staff Dorrissa Griffin Receives MMTC's Extraordinary Service Award and Departs MMTC to Found Her Tech Startup - The Cosmusic App
Upcoming Event:
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FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment's Virtual Summit: A Road Map to Tech Jobs on January 15, 2021
MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives:
- MMTC Hosts 35th Anniversary Kickoff Honoring "Champions of Digital Equality" and Releases "AI and Civil Rights" White Paper
- Sign On to MMTC’s Inmate Calling Comments by January 14, 2021
- MMTC Moderates Discussion at FCC Virtual Access to Capital Symposium: “Path to Media Ownership and Sustainability”
- MMTC and NABOB Welcome FCC Opening a Rulemaking for OTA Radio Geo-Targeting as an Opportunity for Broadcasters to Reach Underserved Minority Communities via Radio
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MMTC Speaks About How Technology Policies Can Benefit Communities of Color at Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizen Education Fund's 2020 Annual Media and Telecommunications Symposium
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MMTC CEO Maurita Coley Joins Black Tech Policy Week Panel
MMTC Alumni News:
- Former MMTC Vice President of Telecommunications Infrastructure and Spectrum Dr. Rikin Thakker Joins Wireless Infrastructure Association
- Former MMTC Director of Communications and Policy Research Marcella Gadson Joins CTIA
- Former MMTC Fellow Kenneth Mallory Joins Facebook
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MMTC Chief of Staff Dorrissa Griffin Receives MMTC's Extraordinary Service Award and Departs MMTC to Found Her Tech Startup - The Cosmusic App
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This month, Dorrissa Griffin, MMTC Chief of Staff, received MMTC's Extraordinary Service Award for her dedication to its mission for nearly ten years. The award also recognizes Griffin's departure from MMTC to found her tech startup the Cosmusic app that is set to launch in 2021. "Being at MMTC was my dream job and has been an invaluable experience. Now, I'm excited to start my very own dream company! Truly grateful to and for my MMTC family," says Griffin. |
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The Cosmusic app creates a personal theme song based on one's astrology to inspire self-connection and inner confidence. "I believe everyone should be empowered to be their best self and reach their full potential. Cosmusic is my way of making that possible for us all," Griffin said about what inspired her to create the app.
Find out more, as well as support her launch and GoFundMe campaign via Cosmusic.App. |
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MMTC Speaks at FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and
Digital Empowerment's Virtual Summit: A Road Map to
Tech Jobs on January 15, 2021
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Join MMTC at the the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment Virtual Summit: A Road Map to Tech Jobs on January 15, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. The Summit will provide information and resources on obtaining employment in the tech sector to diverse high school and college students, as well as to key influencers such as guidance counselors, placement officers, and parents. MMTC President Maurita Coley will moderate the Building Your Personal Brand panel at 1:45 p.m.to 2:45 p.m. ET. Panelists include Celeste Carrasco, Director of Public Affairs, AT&T; Donald Cravins, Vice President, Policy and External Affairs, Charter Communications; John Gibson, Vice President, External and Multicultural Affairs, Motion Picture Association; and Eric T. Gonzalez, Cloud Security Program Manager, Ridgeline.
Get more details and read the agenda here.
Register for the free summit here.
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MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives |
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MMTC Hosts 35th Anniversary Kickoff
Honoring "Champions of Digital Equality" and
Releases "AI and Civil Rights" White Paper
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On December 9, 2020, MMTC hosted its inaugural Champions of Digital Equality and 35th Anniversary Kickoff. We kicked off our 35th anniversary by honoring Erwin Krasnow, Esq., MMTC Co-founder, longtime Vice Chair, and Chair of MMTC’s Mentoring Committee for his many years of outstanding contributions and leadership. We also featured an engaging fireside chat with House Majority Whip Hon. James Clyburn, and a keynote address by FCC Commissioner Hon. Geoffrey Starks. We closed things out with a roundtable discussion of leading experts on MMTC’s “AI and Civil Rights” White Paper Series commenting on civil rights and artificial intelligence in the age of big data with a focus on the way that big data and algorithms can either marginalize, or benefit, communities of color.
Watch the full video discussion here.
Check out the Wakelet blog for social media highlights here.
Download and read the "AI and Civil Rights" White Paper Series here.
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Sign On to MMTC's Inmate Calling Comments by January 14, 2021 |
The FCC has extended the time (now due January 15, 2021) to file Reply Comments to encourage states to do something about the excessively high costs of making phones calls to persons in U.S. prisons and jails. MMTC has been active in this proceeding since 2013. If your organization would like to join MMTC’s Reply Comments, please contact Maurita Coley at mcoley@mmtconline.org or at 202.261.6543 no later than January 14 2021.
Current signers include: Inmate Telephone Rate Control Supporters
- Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council
- Arizona Inmate Families and Friends Association
- Arizona Justice Project
- Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation, Ex-Offender Reclamation Program
- Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, Prison Ministry Program
- Hispanic Federation
- Japanese American Citizens League
- LGBT Technology Partnership and Institute
- MANA, A National Latina Organization
- Metropolitan AME Church, Washington, DC
- National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
- National Council of Negro Women
- National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women)
- OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates National Advocates
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MMTC Moderates Discussion at FCC Path to
Media Ownership and Sustainability Virtual Symposium
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On November 6, 2020, the FCC's Media Bureau and the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment hosted the Path to Media Ownership and Sustainability Virtual Symposium. The symposium featured broadcasters and lenders discussing how to obtain financing for broadcast station transactions in today’s challenging financial circumstances, as well as experts discussing the history of the previous broadcast tax certificate policy and the potential for a new tax certificate policy to increase broadcast ownership diversity. The symposium also included presentations from Nielsen Global Media on ratings measurements for multi-ethnic broadcast stations, and a discussion of how small and diverse broadcasters can attract increased advertising revenue. Congressional staff members provided updates on pending legislation intended to increase diverse media ownership.
MMTC President Emeritus and Special Advisor David Honig spoke during the History of Tax Certificate Policy and Minority Media Ownership session. FCC Commissioner, MMTC Chair Emeritus, and Wiley Rein Partner Henry Rivera and MMTC President and CEO Maurita Coley moderated a discussion on the Potential Impact of a Tax Certificate on the Marketplace. The panelists included Sara Lomax-Reese, WURD Radio; Tomas Martinez, Solmart Media; Russell Perry, Perry Broadcasting; and Jeffrey Smulyan, Emmis Communications Corporation.
Watch the conference video here.
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MMTC Speaks About How Technology Policies Can Benefit
Communities of Color at Rainbow PUSH Coalition and
Citizen Education Fund's 2020 Annual Media and
Telecommunications Symposium
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The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizen Education Fund's 2020 Annual Media and Telecommunications Symposium featured a discussion on "What Technology Policies Can Benefit Communities of Color?" on November 20, 2020. MMTC President Maurita Coley participated in the discussion along with Reverend Jesse L. Jackson and Bishop of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Clint Odom of the National Urban League, and Bertram Lee, Jr. of The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. During the discussion, Coley pointed out, "Tech policy is a part of every area of our lives. We must ensure communities of color have equal access to broadband and devices to support online education, healthcare services, and employment. We have to have broadband subsidies, that address the inequities facing communities of color. We need to invest in a proof of concept with respect to algorithms because they punish and harm people of color for life. We must also invest in diverse tech hiring and the next-gen pipeline."
Watch the video recording here.
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MMTC CEO Maurita Coley Joins Black Tech Policy Week Panel |
On December 3, 2020, MMTC President Maurita Coley served as a panelist for the Black Tech Policy Week's Black Public Interest Technology panel on December that was moderated by Dr. Fallon Wilson, co-founder of the Black Tech Futures Research Institute. The panelists included Andreen Soley, New America; Chris Lewis, Public Knowledge; and Michelle Ferguson, DreamCorps Tech.
During the panel, Coley commented, "The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the people and communities that don't have access to technology. We need universal broadband. The definition of public interest technology should address tech disparities faced by communities of color. We need technology that improves our lives. We need positive innovation."
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News About Dr. Rikin Thakker, Marcella Gadson, and Kenneth Mallory |
Dr. Rikin Thakker, former MMTC Vice President of Telecommunications Infrastructure and Spectrum, has joined the Wireless Infrastructure Association as its new Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Thakker will play a major role in realizing the goals of WIA's recently awarded U.S. Department of Labor grant and contract. Read more here.
Marcella Gadson, former MMTC Director of Communications and Policy Research, has joined CTIA as the Manager, Communications and Policy.
Kenneth Mallory, former MMTC fellow, recently accepted a position as the Public Policy Manager for State and Local Economic Development at Facebook. Prior to joining Facebook, Mallory served as an attorney advisor at the FCC Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
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MMTC Talent Bank of Tech, Media, and Telecom Legal and Policy Employment Opportunities
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Calling All Employers: Feature Tech, Media, and Telecom
Legal and Policy Positions in MMTC Newsletter
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In an effort to expand and diversify the pipeline in the tech, media, and telecom industries, MMTC will feature employment, fellowship, and internship opportunities for lawyers, policy professionals, and graduate and undergraduate students in our newsletter. Send emails to media@mmtconline.org.
Career Opportunities
1) TechCongress' applications for the 2021 Congressional Innovation Scholars Program is now open! The program places recent graduates of technical degree programs on Capitol Hill for ten months. Passionate technologists who want to shape technology policy are encouraged to apply here. The application deadline is February 5, 2021.
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News from Comcast, T-Mobile, USTelecom, and Verizon |
Comcast extended its COVID-19 support through June 30, 2021. Read more here. Learn how Comcast Comcast and Internet Essentials partnered with Telemundo to help bridge the digital divide this holiday season here.
T-Mobile has launched with Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford and his office, a new Apprenticeship Program. T-Mobile has hired its first 10 participants for roles on the Care team at its Las Vegas Customer Experience Center and virtually on the Technology team—and is already making plans to expand the program into more states and areas within the company. Learn more here.
USTelecom recently held its 2020 Broadband Investment Forum. The Forum brought together leading national policy makers, business leaders, and technology innovators to assess solutions for achieving universal connectivity in America. Read the recap here (includes videos).
Learn how Verizon's Innovative Learning Schools program is working with Digital Promise to achieve powerful digital learning here.
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Support MMTC's Fellowships
and Fall Fundraising Campaign
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There is an urgent need for a pipeline of workers, students, and professionals to address the lack of diverse representation and thought leadership in the tech, media, and telecom (TMT) industries.
Since opening our doors in 1986, MMTC has worked tirelessly to promote and preserve equal opportunity, civil rights, and social justice in the TMT industries. Our fellowship and internship programs have directly trained more than 100 diverse students and professionals, arming them with the tools and sensitivity to advocate to ensure digital inclusion. In 2019 and 2020 alone, we have trained and mentored 28 students and young professionals for careers in tech, media, and telecom.
With your support, through our Fellowship and Social Justice and Digital Equity Policy Programs, we can increase the pipeline of diverse workers and professionals and greatly improve our impact in addressing how to support our nation’s most vulnerable communities. Our programs cover areas such as essential communications and technology access; employment and upskilling, leadership, ownership; and more.
Go here to learn more about the Fall Fundraising Campaign.
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Support MMTC's Social Justice
and Digital Equity Policy Program
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MMTC seeks your support to officially launch MMTC’s Social Justice and Digital Equity Policy Program (DE Policy Program), a think tank comprised of innovative thought leadership and tech, media, and telecommunications (TMT) advocacy to provide a greater impact on the discussion of how to support our nation’s most vulnerable communities as they face TMT issues such as the digital divide; social justice; essential communications and technology access; employment, leadership, and ownership; and more.
Through this initiative, MMTC would like to fund the development of a think tank of experienced thought leaders in three focus areas in the TMT sectors:
- Technology, Privacy, and Civil Rights
- Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion
- Media Competition and Multicultural Media Content Diversity
MMTC’s DE Policy Program will provide a forum for innovative thinking, data-driven knowledge dissemination, and consensus-building among those on multiple sides of the major TMT policy issues impacting communities of color.
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MMTC Jumpstart Your Tech Career and Business Guides |
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Social Media Highlights: Learn more about MMTC's work by visiting our November Wakelet Blog here.
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Subscribe to MMTC TV: Go here to watch videos of MMTC's Broadband and Social Justice Summits and Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conferences.
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About MMTC
The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) is a non-partisan, national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving equal opportunity in the tech, media, and telecom industries, and closing the digital divide. MMTC is generally recognized as the nation's leading advocate for multicultural advancement in communications. We strongly believe that the breathtaking changes in communications technology and the new global forms of media partnerships must enhance diversity in the 21st century.
About MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers
As the nation's only nonprofit media and telecom, MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers invests time and effort in training a new generation of media and telecom entrepreneurs. Our brokerage services have expanded to include consulting. So please think of us if you have a client or a friend looking to enter the broadcast business that needs a seasoned brokerage firm. We are dedicated to our cause of promoting diverse broadcast ownership in media, telecom, and tech.
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