Genachowski Urges More Broadband, Media Ownership, Digital Adoption for Minorities
Addressing broadband adoption problems in minority communities, among low-income families and in other under- privileged communities is essential for a successful national broadband plan, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said at a Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies lunch Tuesday. Also at the event, Commissioner Michael Copps urged boosting minority media ownership, while the joint caucus for black elected officials urged policies that would ensure growing digital adoption for minority communities.
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Adoption and access are two key challenges, Genachowski said. While many communities have access to broadband, adoption rates are still low, particularly among minorities, low-income families and seniors, he said. It’s essential to tackle adoption barriers because broadband is the platform for job opportunities, business growth, education, health care, energy and public safety, he said, saying the majority of Fortune 500 companies post their openings online. Additionally, broadband is the platform for Government 2.0, enabling better services for more people through social networking and integration advantages of Web 2.0, he said. It’s critical that the private sector and the government work together, Copps said, and the FCC is bringing new openness and transparency and developing a national broadband plan using an inclusive process. One lesson to take away from the DTV transition is the importance of consumer outreach, he said.
More statistics and research on the precise state of minority and female media ownership are needed, Copps said. Current statistics already show missed opportunities and neglect, he said. Additionally, newsgathering has been cut to the bone, he said, saying investigative journalism is falling by the wayside. These constraints are endangering democracy, he said. Previous “bad choices” by the private sector and the government have impacted consumers and media companies, he said. “We need to wake up before it’s too late,” he said, urging developing programs focusing on local issues including civic affairs, cultural events and ethnic groups.
The Obama Administration should review and repurpose national community service initiatives and funding to include communications and information technology as one of the core elements of these programs, said a report by the joint caucus of black elected officials, released at the event. Existing broadband stimulus funding and any future appropriations should be much more heavily weighted toward supporting sustainable broadband adoption, particularly those programs that are localized to meet the needs of African-American consumers, the report said. The national broadband policy should include a restructuring of the Universal Service Fund to provide financial support to households that cannot afford broadband, it said. A possible opportunity is to allocate funds toward a broadband connect program that could be offered to low-income consumers that require a government subsidy to get online, it said.
Additionally, federal and local legislators should ensure developers who receive government housing subsidies install and maintain free or low-cost broadband services for disadvantaged residents, the report said. African Americans cited availability, price, relevance and usability as major reasons for not getting online, it said. The joint caucus of black elected officials also urged the federal government to provide additional resources for state and local governments and to include digital literacy in worker training and retraining initiatives.