BESLA PARTICIPATES IN HISTORIC FCC SIGNATORY COALITION

On April 13, 2009, BESLA joined the list of distinguished industry and civil rights groups signing on to the Minority Media Telecommunications Council (MMTC) recommendations for the usage of federal broadband stimulus funds. Recognized as the nation's leading advocate for minority advancement in communications, MMTC is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving equal opportunity and civil rights in the mass media and telecommunications industries.
Its filing before the Federal Communications Commission, Comments of the Broadband Diversity Supporters, was on behalf of 35 national organizations and 13 MBEs and represented the largest civil rights coalition ever assembled for a telecommunications policy proceeding.
Focused on increasing service to people of color and promote opportunities for minority owned businesses, the endorsing organizations reflected the nation’s  range of multi-cultural  voices, including: 

  • American Indians in Film and Television
  • Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies
  • American Indians in Film and Television
  • Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies
  • National Bar Association
  • Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • National Association of Black Journalists

National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters

The coalition requested the Commerce and Agriculture Departments to administer the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds in a manner that promotes service to people of color and extensive opportunities for minority business enterprises.  Among points raised:

  • The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) first priorities should be promoting minority businesses, job creation, and service to areas with structural poverty, such as poverty tied to a history of racial discrimination.
  • Companies that genuinely partner with disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) ought to receive considerable credit for doing that.

     Other comment highlights were

  • Promoting minority businesses, job creation and service to areas with structural poverty, such as poverty tied to a history of racial discrimination.
  • Securing considerable recognition and credit for companies that genuinely partner with disadvantaged businesses (SDBs).

Read the full text of the comments on MMTC’s mmtconline.org



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