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MMTC: Minority Interests At Stake After

Failed Waxman Legislation

Posted by Kristal High in PoliTech10 hours ago

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Following the stalled efforts by U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman,

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) to pass legislation that would bring the net neutrality issue to

closure – at least temporarily – the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council

(“MMTC”) hosted a press conference to express the impact of this failure on minority

communities.

Since the inauguration of Barack Obama, “net neutrality” has been a hotbed issue,

polarizing one-time allies and consuming the docket at the Federal CommunicationsComission.

 “It’s important to recognize,” noted David Honig, President and Executive Director of MMTC,

 “that on issues related to media ownership, low power FM, and most civil rights issues,

including equal employment enforcement, the organizations such as Consumers Union, MAP,

the Office of Communications of the United Church of Christ, the Benton Foundation, Free

Press and others, usually are allies with the civil rights organizations. Clearly they were not

allies of ours on the issue of net neutrality. But not everyone agrees on everything.” 

Honigh “was disappointed to see that Free Press decided to depart from the consensus that

nearly all of the other net neutrality supporting…organizations took with respect to theWaxman legislation.” But he remained hopeful that a legislative solution on the issue of 

Internet regulation is, in fact, possible.

According to Honig, the Waxman legislation was remarkable in that it brought together

 “representatives of all sides, all interests in basically creating this two year period during

which it would be possible to see whether, in fact, under FCC heightened adjusdicative

regulation is necessary to do more.” His primary concern, and the perceived benefit of the

Waxman legislation, was that -

[It] would give some protection in terms of investment, and in terms of being

able to make business plans. It clearly would have protected the interests of 

minority business enterprises…and allowed for them to be incubated under

reasonable network management. It would have provided for progressive cost

allocation. But it would not have taken off the table the possibility – which

people do fairly raise – of what if something is wrong, what if something goes

wrong?

In order to promote the best interests of all Americans, particularly those of minority

businesses who have been historically underrepresented in the broadband industry, Honig is

of the believe that it is vital for the FCC to make way for Congress to bring resolution to this

issue.

 “The Commission certainly ought to be respectful of Congress’ valient effort to resolve this,” he said, “and should give Congress some more time to see if this can be worked out,

perhaps in the lame duck session, perhaps early in the next Congress.” Honig insisted that

 “we’ve made so much progress, and it would be so vital that everyone pull together to bring

this to the finish line so that the Commission can begin to focus, as it unfortunately hasn’t

done enough, on the very many pending issues relating to civil rights enforcement, minority

ownership, and above all, the implementation of all the aspects of the National Broadband

Plan, particularly those related to universal access, universal adoption and closing the digital

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divide.” 

One of the reasons MMTC opposes the FCC’s efforts to reconcile the net neutrality issue by

reclassifying broadband is “because the common carrier model was certainly not a great fit

for minority entrepreneurs in the ages of common carriers.” He insisted that there needs to

be some opportunity to allow “for companies to assist new entrants that lacked capital, that

lacked opportunity, that weren’t a part of the old boy network, to get in and provide

services.” 

MMTC and other civil rights groups concerned with entrepreneurship have been trying “to

encourage companies to offer new entrants, particularly minorities, who comprise very few

of the leading players, the big players, in the broadband space to allow for incubation, to

allow for mentoring, to in effect give a discount and some assistance – technical and

personal assistance – to be able to get online with products that’ll be competitive with the

big companies that are dominating the field and are beginning to have a monopolistic effect

on the field.” 

It’s precisely that kind of relationship – one that would be prohibited by the FCC’s

conception of net neutrality – “that’s vital for innovation, because we want to be sure thateveryone in this country has the full opportunity to take advantage of and monetize and

express their inherent creative, entrepreneurial and managerial skills.” 

Author: Kristal High

Kristal Lauren High, Esq. is the Editor in Chief and Content Strategist for Politic365. Prior todeveloping an expertise in the field of broadband for social justice through her work with the

Minority Media & Telecommunications Council and the Joint Center for Political and Economic

Studies Media & Technology Institute, Kristal was a Labor & Employment attorney with

LeClair Ryan. Hailing from Miami, FL, Kristal currently resides in Charlotte, NC.

Related Articles:

Clear Channel Facilitates MMTC Minority, Women Incubation Efforts

Rep. Rush Reasserts Congress’ Role On Broadband With Minority Focus

From Advocate To Incubator: Minority Media And Telecom Council’s New Diversity

InitiativeLoss for the FCC is ‘Huge Win’ for Civil Rights Enforcement

Angela Benton to Receive MMTC Award, All Five FCC Commissioners to Attend

Conference

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