Across the United States, organizations based in or working with people of color, poor communities, rural communities, immigrant communities, and other marginalized groups are raising their voices for rules that will defend an open Internet that is fast, affordable, and fair.
Here in New Mexico, the Media Literacy Project is working with organizations across our state to ensure that the voices of New Mexicans are represented in this national conversation. As you may know, our state is the fifth largest geographic state in the union, with a population of two million people. In addition 30 of our 33 counties are medically underserved. The large distances between towns and cities require our communities to rely on the Internet as a way to stay connected to families, access healthcare information and services, pursue higher education degrees, and have increased economic and employment opportunities.
Universal Broadband refers to the effort to define broadband as a Title II service, which would extend several FCC public interest obligations to broadband and make broadband service eligible for Universal Service Fund (USF) support. Universal Service is a concept established in 1934 to make rapid, efficient, nation- and worldwide wire and radio communication available to all people in the United States at reasonable rates, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. If the FCC declares broadband a Universal Service in the National Broadband Plan, it could:
• Promote the availability of quality broadband services at just, reasonable, and affordable rates, and increase access to quality broadband services throughout the nation—specifically to unserved and underserved communities.
• Open broadband up to full USF support and expand available resources, creating subsidies to consumers that alleviate pressure on their monthly bills and subsidies for companies seeking to build out networks to unserved and underserved areas.
• Require broadband to have neutral networks that are operated in an open and nondiscriminatory manner and provide reasonably symmetric service (this means that both download and upload capacity would be protected), treating consumers as active speakers, rather than passive listeners.
Net Neutrality ensures that Internet users can access any website, service, or application of their choice without interference or discrimination by the Internet Service Provider (“ISP”). Once a consumer buys an Internet service connection, he or she can choose to access any lawful content without fear that the ISP will block or impair access to it. Net Neutrality prevents ISPs from censoring content for any reason or giving preferential treatment to any specific website, service, or application based merely on its content, message, or ownership. This non-discrimination concept has been the guiding principle for the Internet since its inception, and at one time was the law. Without Network Neutrality, Internet service providers (Comcast, AT&T, etc.) could charge website operators for faster access to their sites or applications. Those who didn’t pay the extra fees would get slower connections; their sites and applications wouldn’t run as well, and could become unusable. |
If you represent an organization that cares about communities having increased economic opportunities, access to educational degrees, and access to healthcare information and services, please sign the pledge to become a Digital Inclusion Champion.
 Download the pledge (English)
Download the pledge (Español)
For further information on how to submit your organization’s pledge, please contact Candelario Vazquez at vazquez@aa.edu or at 505-828-3312.
If you represent an organization outside New Mexico, please sign the pledge here.
Listen to "Dial-up Blues: Crossing the Digital Divide"
A half-hour radio documentary by Mia Frederick and Thousand Kites (KY)
New Mexico organizations that have signed the pledge include: |
Cultivating critical thinking and activism in our media culture. Building a healthy world through media justice.
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See photos of these pledge signers on Flickr!
