broadband

At the Facing Race Conference in Chicago, Malkia Cyril, Executive Director of the Center for Media Justice, made a powerful appeal for organizers and activists to see the fight for Net Neutrality and accessible and affordable broadband, as an important component of the fight for social and economic justice. Cyril explained, ""we must demand a framework for broadband policy that ensures equity and justice and includes, among others, direct broadband subsidies to low-income households, schools and libraries, protections for all other consumers especially those using broadband to call their loved ones in prisons or in other countries, and rules that codify free speech for those for whom that right has been systemically, consistently and historically denied."

On Monday the White House announced another round of grant recipients in the Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program (BTOP). Among the grants awarded was a $11.8 million Sustainable Broadband Adoption grant to the Urban Affairs Coalition and several sub-recipients, including the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP).

On Tuesday March 9th at 9am - 11am The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Knight Foundation will host the Digital Inclusion Summit:  Working Together to Expand Opportunity Through Universal Access this Tuesday. The Summit, taking place at the Newseum in Washington, DC will present a new agenda for bridging the gap to internet access that affects nearly a third of Americans, and over 40% of Philadelphians. We will be watching a live telecast of the Summit from Philadelphia at the Media Mobilizing Project office at 4205 Chestnut St. You are invited to join us for refreshments, and discussion after the live webcast of the Summit.

Please take a moment to RSVP here

(By TODD WOLFSON & HANNAH SASSAMAN from the Philadelphia Daily News)

PHILADELPHIA is lining up for a race with a big prize - tens of millions in stimulus money to expand Internet access. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has authorized $7.2 billion for broadband programs, with everything from tricking out community centers with high-speed lines to mapping broadband availability already on the table as fundable programs.