MMTC has distilled our top priorities into three areas of focus and substantive engagement for MMTC DE Policy Associates that align with our mission, vision, and historical leadership capabilities; notably: (1) Technology, Privacy, and Civil Rights in the Digital Age; (2) Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion; and (3) Media Competition and Multicultural Content Diversity. MMTC will use our Outreach and Awareness consultants to maximize reach and ensure rapid response.
A. MMTC Digital Equity Policy Program’s Three Areas of Substantive Engagement
- Technology, Privacy, and Civil Rights in the Digital Age
Associates under this area of focus will serve as subject matter experts and thought leaders on the intersection of technology, privacy, consumer protection, civil rights, and corporate social responsibility in these areas:
Privacy and consumer protection, including the development of privacy principles for the preservation of civil rights in the tech age
- AI and facial recognition bias in employment, policing, criminal sentencing, housing, transportation, and insurance
- Education gap and distance learning
- Platform responsibility and accountability regarding racial hate speech online (e.g., Section 230 protection for platforms under the Communications Decency Act)
2. Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion
Associates under this area of focus will serve as subject matter experts and thought leaders on broadband connectivity, adoption, and affordability, as well as education and jobs, digital skills training, and business opportunities in these areas:
- Rural and urban broadband connectivity and deployment, including FCC management of subsidy programs
- Telehealth
- Universal Service Fund programs – Lifeline, E-Rate, Connect America Fund, and Rural Health Care program; MMTC has proposed a new fund to enable access to capital for marginalized entrepreneurs
- Spectrum – 5G and small cell deployment, with an emphasis on the underserved
- Broadband Mapping – setting priorities to identify areas with the most limited access to broadband, with an emphasis on broadband deserts, the Black Belt, rural Hispanic settlements, and Tribal Lands
- Broadband stimulus – developing a comprehensive approach to ensuring broadband affordability for lower income families and individuals who are in need, but who are not eligible for Lifeline subsidies
- Broadband adoption – supporting initiatives that ensure access and digital literacy training for all (e.g., vouchers, subsidies, low-cost products)
- Open internet – FCC authority to support Lifeline broadband service and regulate under Title I
- Employment diversity, upskilling, digital skills training, and diverse supply chain
3. Media Competition and Multicultural Content Diversity
Associates under this area of focus will concentrate on efforts to remove market entry barriers and increase diversity in media ownership and creation as subject matter experts and thought leaders in these areas:
- Competition and regulation (e.g., the FCC’s quadrennial report on market entry barriers that thwart diversity and small business participation; selected sections of the Communications Act of 1934 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996)
- Telecom law and policy that would promote multicultural ownership diversity in each of the TMT industries (particularly restoration of the 1978-1995 Tax Certificate Policy)
- Challenges and opportunities for multicultural content creators and distributors on all platforms
- TMT copyright and content protection, especially for multicultural content creators
- Piracy, especially as it relates to theft of the work of multicultural content creators
B. Outreach and Public Awareness Across all Areas of Influence
Professional outreach and public awareness staff and consultants will support DE Policy Associates as follows:
- Engage MMTC’s external stakeholders and influencers, inside and outside of the Beltway, to educate and bring awareness of TMT equity issues to the general public.
- Amplify diverse voices outside the Beltway and at the grassroots level through virtual and in-person convenings, media, and social media engagement.
- Fulfill the overall goals to raise awareness of and craft solutions for communities that have limited or no access to broadband, or limited digital literacy and proficiency that inhibits their ability to engage in telehealth, telework, or other technology that would improve their quality of life.
C. Outcomes and Deliverables:
- Innovative New Initiatives and Solutions: DE Policy Associates will leverage existing resources by working closely with government, MMTC stakeholders, and MMTC corporate partners to develop “best practices policy guidelines” and to create and publish innovative new initiatives to find solutions to policy gaps in the TMT sector.
- Research and Publications: DE Policy Associates will develop, research, and regularly publish, under the MMTC brand, white papers, articles, op-eds, and other content targeted to the unique needs and interests of communities of color.
- On a quarterly basis, a major topical white paper will be produced and published in each area of engagement.
- MMTC will amplify major content – including that presented at convenings – in media and social media, podcasts, blogposts, webinars, and other methods of virtual engagement.
- Convenings and Engagement: DE Policy Associates will represent MMTC in convenings conducted by MMTC and/or external partners and stakeholders, government, and industry, to bring a digital equity perspective into the conversations.
- Strategic Positioning As Go-To Thought Leaders: As a result of their thought leadership, mentoring by top industry, government, and nongovernmental (NGO) policy leaders, and the provision of a solid infrastructure for amplification of their voices, the DE Policy Associates will be well-positioned as the go-to thought leadership in the TMT sector. In this way, MMTC will increase the pipeline of diverse thought leaders and associates in the sector.
D. Proposed Staffing and Budget for Social Justice and Digital Equity Policy Program:
- MMTC’s goal is to staff the DE Policy Program with six (6) experienced FTE Associates, including a Senior Director, plus one to two rapid response outreach and media consultants.
- Qualifications of the Associates may vary (BA/BS, MA/MS, JD, PhD), in addition to experience in industry, government, think tanks, or academia
- Job Descriptions (TBD); overall responsibilities are set forth on organizational chart
- Additional capacity-building staff (Development Director, Executive Asst, IT/Technologist)
MMTC seeks to immediately raise the remainder of our $1,600,000 budget for FY 2020. MMTC’s overall financial goal is to raise $5 million to fully fund the program for a period of two years. Funding is being pursued from multiple sources. - Lead funders will be recognized in MMTC’s digital and physical marketing of the DE Policy Program.
- Click here to view the proposed budget and organizational chart.