Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition
October Video & Photo Gallery
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On October 22, 2022, Zoe Ministries, VGC Group, the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement partnered with the Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition to host a National Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Sign-Up Day in Harlem, New York. See photo and video highlights below. |
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The Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition has created a campaign toolkit to help Black church leaders spread the word in their communities about the Affordable Connectivity Program, encourage members of their congregations to sign up, and effectively advocate for digital equity. This tool kit includes newsletter blurbs and announcement slides for church leaders, social media images and messaging to help spread the word, and a handbook to help empower ACP enrollment campaigns in your community. Click the button below to download the resources. |
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Take Action to Demand
Digital Equity in Your State
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Join the Black Churches 4 Digital Equity movement and and take action today to demand your State Broadband Office includes Black churches and Black church nonprofit organizations in its digital equity plan. Click the button below to make your voice heard. |
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Highlights of MMTC, ALLvanza & OCA's Cybersecurity Trends Panel |
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On October 25, 2022, MMTC, ALLvanza, and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates hosted the Cybersecurity Trends and the Impact on Underserved Communities panel discussion. Watch the replay video here.
The discussion focused on the state of cybersecurity, the ways marginalized communities are particularly vulnerable, how we can work together to educate people on threats they might face online, and what career opportunities these challenges can provide to members of all communities who are interested in helping to promote solutions.
MMTC Tech and Telecom Policy Counsel Danielle Davis moderated the discussion with Joe Viens, Charter Communicatons; Howard Tsui, Amazon; Rudy Brioche, Comcast; and Roberto Gittens, QVine.
ALLvanza President Rosa Mendoza gave opening remarks. OCA Associate Manager Nguyen led the question and answer period. MMTC President Robert Branson delivered closing remarks.
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MMTC Law and Policy Initiatives |
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Learn About MMTC's Recent Law and Policy Efforts |
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MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson participated in the Congregational Delegation at the Progressive Governance Summit’s Cracking the Ceiling: Driving Equal Participation in Tech and the Economy session in Berlin, Germany, on October 13, 2022.
- On October 14, 2022, MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson joined the Prioritizing the Black Rural South panel at the Joint Center Future of Black Communities Summit.
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MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson spoke during the National Collaborative for Digital Equity and FDIC’s Assembling Strategic Inclusion Allies – Enhancing Resources and Measuring Impact webinar on October 17, 2022.
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MMTC Board member Steve Roberts, President, Roberts Broadcasting, joined the Actions More Than Words panel on October 21, 2022, at the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Inc.’s (NABOB) 46th Annual Fall Broadcast Conference and 22nd Power of Urban Radio Forum. MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson spoke during the Washington Update panel. NABOB's 46th Annual Fall Broadcast Conference and 22nd Power of Urban Radio Forum was created in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, The 2022 By Black Conference.
- On October 27, 2022, MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson moderated the Broadband Infrastructure: Funding Black Tech Ecosystems panel discussion during the Blacks in Technology’s BITCON 2022. Panelists included Katarina Smiley, Digital Equity Advisor, NTIA; Valarry Bullard, Transparency Officer/ Broadband Advisor, New Jersey State Broadband Office; Jamye Wooten, Founder and Executive Director, CLLCTIVLY; and Alejandro Roark, Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC.
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On October 20, 2022, MMTC participated in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships National Summi Watch the video here.
- MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson joined the Religious Freedom Mobile Institute’s Respect session on October 28, 2022.
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MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson spoke during the Creating the Equity-Focused Workforce of the Future panel at the Marconi Society’s Decade of Digital Inclusion Symposium on November 2, 2022. MMTC Tech and Telecom Policy Counsel Danielle Davis moderated The (Big) Data Economy: Inclusion and Fairness session on November 3, 2022.
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On November 4, 2022, MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson and Mississippi Cable Telecommunications Association Executive Director TJ Taylor joined the "Expanding Broadband Internet Access and Adoption for Rural Black Farmers and Families" panel at the National Black Farmers Association's 32nd Annual Conference. Nicole Lazarre, Vice President, External Affairs, Charter Communications, moderated the discussion.
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MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson attended the FCC's Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC) on November 7, 2022. During the meeting, the CEDC's Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group report was discussed. It included recommendations that address digital discrimination and other barriers that impact equitable access to broadband and other emerging technology in under-served and under-connected communities. Read FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's Statement on Communications Equity and Diversity Council Report and Recommendations here. The report, recommendations, and replay video will be posted on the FCC's CEDC website in several days.
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On November 15, 2022, at 2:45 PM ET, MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson will join the Black Women in Tech: Closing the Digital Divide Through Activism, Collaboration & Ownership session at the Healthy Churches 2030 Annual Conference. The conference is hosted by The Balm in Gilead, Inc., a member of the Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition. Register here.
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Learn About Recent Initiatives by AT&T, Charter, Comcast,
NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, T-Mobile, and Verizon
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AT&T recently announced a $10 million contribution to support free computer distributions to help bridge the digital divide. Read more here.
Go here to learn about Charter Communications' new Spectrum One that brings together Spectrum Internet®, Advanced WiFi and Unlimited Spectrum Mobile to deliver seamless, reliable and secure online connectivity in and outside of the home.
Click here to read "Championing Digital Equity - A Story of Partnership" by Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Executive Vice President, Digital Equity, Comcast.
Go here to learn about Comcast's recent investment of $300,000 that will support the Boys and Girls Club, Goodwill, Thrive Tacoma Business Fund, and Team Work by increasing broadband adoption for those who are still not connected.
Read NCTA - The Internet & Television Association's blog post here to find out how the cable industry's Diversity Week renewed the industry's commitment to an inclusive culture.
Click here to learn how the Conexiones Program, a digital literacy program created by LULAC, continues to grow with T‑Mobile’s help.
Get more information about Verizon's expansion of its free Home Internet program to help bridge digital divide here.
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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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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 (TMT) industries, and closing the digital divide on behalf of its members and constituents, including owners of radio and television broadcast stations, programmers, prospective station owners, and others involved in the TMT industries.
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 practices 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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