MMTC Honors Life and Legacy of
Civil Rights Attorney Vernon Jordan
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It was with deep sadness that MMTC learned of the passing of civil rights attorney and activist Vernon Jordan. Mr. Jordan was a giant within the civil rights and business communities who led the fight to diversify corridors of power across the country. We express our sincere condolences to his family, friends, proteges and former colleagues at the National Urban League and other organizations. |
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MMTC's Women's History Month Reflection:
FCC Women Chairs and Commissioners
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In honor of Women's History Month, MMTC is taking a moment to reflect on the 15 former and current FCC Commissioners for making women's history at the FCC since 1948 (photos organized left to right):
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Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel, the current Acting FCC Chairwoman (2012-2017, 2018-present)
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Hon. Mignon Clyburn, the first African American FCC Commissioner and Acting Chairwoman (2009-2018)
- Hon. J. Frieda Hennock, the first woman FCC Commissioner (1948-1955)
- Hon. Charlotte T. Reid (1971-1976)
- Hon. Margita White (1976-1979)
- Hon. Anne P. Jones (1979-1983)
- Hon. Mimi Weyforth Dawson (1981-1987)
- Hon. Patricia Diaz Dennis, the first Latina FCC Commissioner (1986-1989)
- Hon. Sherrie P. Marshall (1989-1993, no photo)
- Hon. Susan Ness (1994-2001)
- Hon. Rachelle B. Chong, the first Asian American woman FCC Commissioner (1994-1997)
- Hon. Gloria Tristani (1997-2001)
- Hon. Kathleen Q. Abernathy (2001-2005)
- Hon. Deborah Taylor Tate (2006-2009)
- Hon. Meredith Attwell Baker (2009-2011)
Read more about them here.
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MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives |
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MMTC Files Reply Comments in the
FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Proceeding
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The FCC voted to adopt an Order that establishes the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative that will provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills in February. MMTC filed reply comments in the EBB proceeding.
Learn more about the FCC's EBB Program Order here.
Visit the FCC's EBB website here.
Read MMTC's reply comments here.
Go here to read MMTC and the National Urban League's EBB comments here.
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MMTC Vice President Fallon Wilson Speaks at
FCC’s Virtual Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
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Dr. Fallon Wilson, MMTC Vice President, Policy, participated in the Outreach and Enrollment Panel Discussion that was held during the FCC's Virtual Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program on February 12, 2021.
Watch the video here (Dr. Wilson's opening comments begin at the 34.41 mark and end at the 41.07 mark. Her additional comments begin at the 1.09.15 mark and end at the 1.10.41 mark).
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MMTC Hosts "#BlackChurch Futures: The Internet & Beyond Panel" |
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On February 25, 2021, MMTC hosted an engaging Black History Month panel discussion on the "#BlackChurch Futures: The Internet & Beyond" via Facebook Live. The panel discussion explored the relationship between the Black Church and the community while highlighting ways to use burgeoning tech spaces to build equitable Black tech futures. 600 people watched the panel on Facebook.
The speakers included: Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, Co-Pastor, Ray of Hope Community Church; Dr. Pernessa Seele, Founder, Balm in Gilead; Pastor William Lamar, IV, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan A.M.E. Church; Bishop Leah Daughtry, Co-Founder, Black Church PAC; and Bishop Yvette Flunder, Presiding Bishop, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries.
MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson moderated the discussion. MMTC Board Chair Ronald Johnson and MMTC President Maurita Coley delivered opening remarks.
Read the Wakelet blog here.
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MMTC President Maurita Coley Joins
Centri Tech's Digital Advancement Imperative Panel
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Centri Tech's Digital Advancement Policy Principles outline a national strategy that leverages technology with social purpose to produce a truly inclusive digital economy; one that prioritizes those who have traditionally been left out because of race, class, or geography. Its Digital Advancement Imperative webinar that was held on February 11, 202, facilitated dialogue between academicians, policymakers, civil society organizations, cross-industry executives and other like-minded individuals to discuss how the Digital Advancement Imperative will expand opportunities for all citizens.
MMTC President Maurita Coley participated in the discussion with Dr. John Horrigan, Centri Tech (moderator); Guillermo L. Mena-Irizarry, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators; Rep. Karen Camper (Tennessee), National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women); Seantae Byers, National League of Cities, Lisa Rice, National Fair Housing Alliance; and Greg Guice, Public Knowledge. Coley commented, "We still need to drill down on digital inclusion, racial equality, and economic equality to make sure people of color have broadband access."
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MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson Discusses Social Justice
Tech Pathways for Black Students in New America Blog
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In a recent blog post for New America, "On Building Social Justice Tech Pathways for Black Students,"Dr. Fallon Wilson, MMTC Vice President, Policy, offers her solution that is inspired by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune-Cookman University. Dr. Wilson writes, "My solution, like Mary McLeod Bethune’s founding of school systems, is about honoring the dreams and ambitions of Black students by centering their vocational interests and choices around the discussion of tech employment."
Read the New America blog here.
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MMTC President Emeritus and Special Advisor Speaks
About Racism at University Florida Levin College of Law
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On February 19, 2021, David Honig, MMTC President Emeritus and Special Advisor and chief counsel for the NAACP Florida State Conference, spoke about how law students can make a lasting impact as civil rights champions during the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Fighting Racism Within the System discussion. Honig reports, "the symposium I keynoted was organized by the Diversity Committee of the University of Florida’s Student Bar Association. I had the opportunity to provide a road map for law students wishing to incorporate civil rights practice in their legal careers." |
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MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers News |
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MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers currently has multiple AM and FM stations listed for sale, along with LPTV stations from NY to California. Please contact Suzanne Gougherty at sgougherty@mmtconline.org or David Honig at dhonig@mmtconline.org for more information.
If you are a new entrant, visit out our website to learn how we can assist you in buying a broadcast outlet here.
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MMTC Talent Bank of Tech, Media, and Telecom Legal and Policy Employment Opportunities
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Calling All Employers: Feature Tech, Media, and Telecom
Legal and Policy Positions in MMTC Newsletter
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In an effort to expand and diversify the pipeline in the tech, media, and telecom industries, MMTC will feature employment, fellowship, and internship opportunities for lawyers, policy professionals, and graduate and undergraduate students in our newsletter. Send emails to media@mmtconline.org.
Career Opportunities
1) ColorComm Fellowship Application: Juniors, seniors, and recent graduates of historical Black colleges and universities are encouraged to apply to participate in the ColorComm’s Next Generation HBCU Recruiting Summit on April 8-9. The Summit helps prepare students and the next generation of leaders to be successful in their next career chapter. The deadline is March 22nd at 10 p.m. ET. Apply here.
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News from Comcast, CTIA Wireless Foundation, Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership, and Verizon
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Applications are open for the fourth class of the Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator, a 13-week program powered by Techstars. LIFT Labs i seeking startups from around the world that are developing innovations surrounding Connected Living, Next Gen Entertainment, Future of Work, and Personalized Experiences. Applications are open now through May 12, 2021. The program begins in August 2021. Apply here.
CTIA Wireless Foundation's Catalyst 2021 is a competitive grants program for early stage organizations that take advantage of the speed, efficiency, and versatility of wireless to improve Americans' health and well-being. Apply by April 6, 2021 here.
The Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership hosted the Connected Communities Digital Forum on March 3, 2021. The forum featured a conversation with the Asian Americans Advancing Justice, The Joint Center, American Association of People with Disabilities, and UnidosUS about tech and telecommunications policy and its role in expanding civil rights, diversity, digital equity and accessibility within the first 100 days of the Biden/Harrison administration. Watch the video here.
Join Verizon on March 10, 2021, at 11 a.m. ET for TechRise, a joint event with P33 and 1871 to discuss closing the resource gap facing Black and Latinx early stage founders. Sign up here.
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Support MMTC's Fellowships
and Fundraising Campaign
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There is an urgent need for a pipeline of workers, students, and professionals to address the lack of diverse representation and thought leadership in the tech, media, and telecom (TMT) industries.
Since opening our doors in 1986, MMTC has worked tirelessly to promote and preserve equal opportunity, civil rights, and social justice in the TMT industries. Our fellowship and internship programs have directly trained more than 100 diverse students and professionals, arming them with the tools and sensitivity to advocate to ensure digital inclusion. In 2019 and 2020 alone, we have trained and mentored 28 students and young professionals for careers in tech, media, and telecom.
With your support, through our Fellowship and Social Justice and Digital Equity Policy Programs, we can increase the pipeline of diverse workers and professionals and greatly improve our impact in addressing how to support our nation’s most vulnerable communities. Our programs cover areas such as essential communications and technology access; employment and upskilling, leadership, ownership; and more.
Go here to learn more about the Fundraising Campaign.
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Support MMTC's Social Justice
and Digital Equity Policy Program
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MMTC seeks your support to officially launch MMTC’s Social Justice and Digital Equity Policy Program (DE Policy Program), a think tank comprised of innovative thought leadership and tech, media, and telecommunications (TMT) advocacy to provide a greater impact on the discussion of how to support our nation’s most vulnerable communities as they face TMT issues such as the digital divide; social justice; essential communications and technology access; employment, leadership, and ownership; and more.
Through this initiative, MMTC would like to fund the development of a think tank of experienced thought leaders in three focus areas in the TMT sectors:
- Technology, Privacy, and Civil Rights
- Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Digital Inclusion
- Media Competition and Multicultural Media Content Diversity
MMTC’s DE Policy Program will provide a forum for innovative thinking, data-driven knowledge dissemination, and consensus-building among those on multiple sides of the major TMT policy issues impacting communities of color.
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MMTC Jumpstart Your Tech Career and Business Guides |
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Social Media Highlights: Learn more about MMTC's work by visiting our January Wakelet Blog here and February Wakelet Blog here.
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Subscribe to MMTC TV: Go here to watch videos of MMTC's Broadband and Social Justice Summits and Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conferences.
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About MMTC
The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) is a non-partisan, national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving equal opportunity in the tech, media, and telecom industries, and closing the digital divide. MMTC is generally recognized as the nation's leading advocate for multicultural advancement in communications. We strongly believe that the breathtaking changes in communications technology and the new global forms of media partnerships must enhance diversity in the 21st century.
About MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers
MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers was founded in 1997 by communications lawyer David Honig. He is also one of the co-founders of our parent organization, the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).
MMTC Brokers is the nation's only minority owned brokerage firm. Our goal is to open up opportunity for media ownership for all minorities. We have been working in the media brokerage space for more than 23 years and are involved in all aspects of radio, television, towers & telecom. We are widely recognized for our work on behalf of minorities and women to gain ownership. Our commitment to this cause includes every aspect of a transaction, including:
- Business planning
- Coaching new entrants
- Market research
- Assisting with due diligence
- Best practice for negotiation
We pride ourselves as being the conduit that connects the buyer and the seller. Our role is to bring two parties together, and assist each of them to view a potential transactions from a wider perspective. Our goal is to make is sure each party will come to terms to paper a deal and see it through to a successful closing.
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