MMTC Supports Biden-Harris Administration's Internet for All Initiative |
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On May 9, 2022, MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson and Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson attended the White House's briefing where President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced their administration's Internet for All initiative, a $45 billion investment that expands access to affordable high-speed internet access for millions of Americans. The plan is part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which was created under the bipartisan infrastructure law.
MMTC supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative because it will build internet infrastructure, teach digital skills, and provide necessary technology to ensure that everyone in America – including communities of color, rural communities, and older Americans – has the access and skills they need to fully participate in today’s society. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) will administer and implement the Internet for All initiative. Also, the NTIA launched three Notices of Funding Opportunity: 1) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.5 billion); 2) Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion); and 3) State Digital Equity Act program ($1.5 billion).
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Register for 5G and Future Technological Innovations on June 1, 2022 |
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Join MMTC, ALLvanza, OCA, and other policy experts on June 1, 2022, at 4-5:30 PM ET for a discussion on the current state of 5G wireless and the future of Cable 10G and other innovative technologies. |
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MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives |
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Learn About MMTC's Recent Law and Policy Efforts |
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- On April 29, 2022, MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson spoke during the Plenary Session 7: Leading Thriving Communities: The Role of Technology & Mayors in Achieving Equity at the African American Mayors Association. See photo above featuring Frederick Humphries, Microsoft, Hon. Adrian Perkins, Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana; Hon. Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia; and Robert Branson, MMTC.
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MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson joined the Black Tech Policy Week’s panel on A Stream Sankofa Moment: Black Content Through the Lens of Traditional Broadcast to Diving into the Metaverse & Policy on April 29, 2022. See the photo below featuring panelists: DeShuna Spencer, Kweli TV; Jamie Boadnax, Black Girl Nerds; Robert Branson, MMTC; and Jurnell Cockhren, Civic Hacker. Watch video here (start at 1:42 mark).
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On May 6,2022, MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson discussed the Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition during the Free State Foundation’s 14th Annual Policy Conference. See photo above featuring Randolph May, Free State Foundation; Bryan Tramont, Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP; Russell Hanser, NTIA; and Robert Branson, MMTC. Watch video here (start at 25.40 mark for Branson's remarks). Learn more at www.blackchurches4digitalequity.com.
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MMTC joined the Chamber of Progress' coalition of 20 organizations in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to stop Texas' anti-content moderation law this week. Read the brief here.
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MMTC filed its comments on digital discrimination with the FCC. Go here to read the comments.
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MMTC joined the SHLB Coalition in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce about the Build America, Buy America Waiver for Broadband Network Equipment and Consumer Devices. Read the letter here.
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Terran Lane, a student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law who served as a 2021 Fall fellow; and Ankevia Taylor, a student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law who served as a 2022 Spring fellow, have joined the summer fellowship program. |
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Learn About Recent Initiatives by AT&T, Charter
Communications, Comcast, CTIA, and Verizon
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Go here to read "Charting the Path Forward on Digital Equity" by Caroline Van Wie, Vice President, Federal Regulatory, AT&T.
Charter Communications has committed $1 million to its 2022 Spectrum Digital Education Grant Program that boosts its overall program investment to $8 million. Read more here.
Click here to read "Awareness, Outreach, and Innovation at the Core of Efforts to Achieve Digital Equity" by Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Executive Vice President, Digital Equity, Comcast.
Comcast recently launched Project UP, a comprehensive initiative that advances digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities that is backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people. It encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators. Learn more here.
Click here to Read CTIA's 2022 Wireless Diversity and Inclusion Report about the wireless industry's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Go here to learn how Verizon helps make internet accessible for millions through the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program.
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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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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 (TMT) industries, and closing the digital divide on behalf of its members and constituents, including owners of radio and television broadcast stations, programmers, prospective station owners, and others involved in the TMT industries.
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
MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers was founded in 1997 by communications lawyer David Honig. He is also one of the co-founders of our parent organization, the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).
MMTC Brokers is the nation's only minority owned brokerage firm. Our goal is to open up opportunity for media ownership for all minorities. We have been working in the media brokerage space for more than 23 years and are involved in all aspects of radio, television, towers & telecom. We are widely recognized for our work on behalf of minorities and women to gain ownership. Our commitment to this cause includes every aspect of a transaction, including:
- Business planning
- Coaching new entrants
- Market research
- Assisting with due diligence
- Best practices for negotiation
We pride ourselves as being the conduit that connects the buyer and the seller. Our role is to bring two parties together, and assist each of them to view a potential transactions from a wider perspective. Our goal is to make is sure each party will come to terms to paper a deal and see it through to a successful closing.
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