By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-16-21
Local elected officials and some community organizations from across the country have written to acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel asking the FCC to investigate digital “redlining” as well as to restore the Title II classification of internet access service, suggesting both will help close the racial justice divide.
The first is doable, but while they definitely have a willing ear in Rosenworcel on both issues, the latter will have to wait until President Joe Biden names a third Democrat to the FCC since it is currently at a 2-2 political tie, with the Democrats all for the return of Title II and the Republicans all against it, as it were.
On the digital equity front, Rosenworcel has strong support from fellow Democrat Geoffrey Starks. At the State of the Net Conference in January, he said that the digital divide has morphed during COVID-19 to a monstrous divide that leaves people of color disproportionately on the wrong side. » Read More