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The 18-member coalition filed a letter urging the FCC to take proactive steps to further broadband deployment in rural areas by clarifying and expediting the process through which providers engage with pole owners to upgrade and build out broadband for these areas.

MMTC Chairman Ronald Johnson states, “The annals of history will long remember Congressman Lewis as a true American hero standing up and fighting for a just, more inclusive nation for every Black American, indeed for all Americans. On behalf of everyone at MMTC, we honor his passing with an unrelenting and renewed commitment to ‘stand up for what is right, for what is fair, and what is just’ in our mission to promote equal access and representation in tech, media, and telecommunications through opportunity creation, awareness building, and advocacy.”

Subtitle: MMTC statement expresses appreciation for FCC effort targeting rural Tribal applicants, but Lifeline Order only covers a fraction of those in need of the program; FCC must ensure all struggling households are connected to vital communications services during these difficult times.

Subtext: The bill would provide much-needed support to the communities that rely on USF programs such as Lifeline and E-Rate by suspending ETC eligibility requirements for ISPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The May 19th letter asks the Commission to provide for comprehensive multilingual communications in emergencies such as hurricanes, tornados, and pandemics.

Move would help minority-owned stations better serve their communities by allowing stations to provide hyper-localized and alternative language news, weather, emergency alerts, and advertising.