On Tuesday, March 15, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission submitted its National Broadband Plan to Congress. Since then, there have been any number of hearings aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Plan. Yet, millions of Americans still remain offline, especially those living in traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities.
The National Broadband Plan is the U.S. government's first genuine articulation of broadband deployment best practices that will extend economic development and greater opportunities for democratic participation in every community. But as the NBP's first anniversary approaches, and with broadband now an indispensable component of President Obama's innovation agenda, one-third of Americans do not have broadband access.
In an effort to assess the progress that's been made over the past year, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is hosting a forum on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 9:00-11:00 am at the National Press Club, Holeman Lounge, 529 14th Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20045. The event is entitled The National Broadband Plan and the Underserved – One Year Later.
During this event, media industry experts and representatives will examine whether the National Broadband Plan (NBP) has affected change in underserved communities. Blair Levin, Communications and Society Fellow at the Aspen Institute and former Executive Director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the Federal Communications Commission, will deliver keynote remarks, followed by Edward Lazarus, Chief of Staff to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
After formal remarks from Levin and Lazarus, a panel of recognized industry, government and policy leaders will share strategies for advancing broadband deployment and adoption among people of color, low-income people, seniors, people with disabilities, and households within geographically isolated communities.
Featured speakers include:
Blair Levin, Esq., Communications and Society Fellow, Aspen Institute. He is the architect of the National Broadband Plan and a leading voice on broadband issues.
Edward Lazarus, Esq., Chief of Staff to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission.
Panel participants include:
Ralph B. Everett, Esq., President and CEO, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Paul de Sa, Chief, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, Federal Communications Commission
Christopher Guttman-McCabe, Esq., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, CTIA-The Wireless Dean Garfield, Esq., President and CEO, Information Technology Industry Council
Walter B. McCormick, Jr., Esq., CEO and President, US Telecom Association
Kimberly Marcus, Executive Director, Public Policy Initiative, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Joseph S. Miller, Esq., Deputy Director and Senior Policy Director, Media and Technology Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Nicol Turner-Lee, Ph.D., Vice President and Director, Media and Technology Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Scott Wallsten, Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute
Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is one of the nation's leading research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color.
To learn more, please visit www.jointcenter.org.