Civil and Human Rights Groups Applaud FCC Lifeline Modernization Vote
WASHINGTON—The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and National Council of La Raza issued the following joint statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to approve Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal to modernize the Lifeline program to include broadband:
“By voting to bring the Lifeline program into the 21st century, the FCC took an important step in narrowing our country’s digital divide and ensuring that all Americans have access to the essential communications services they need to live, learn, and work in today’s digital age. We thank Chairman Wheeler, and Commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel, for their leadership in moving forward with the critical and urgent task of building the bridge to connectivity for children, seniors, job seekers, low-income communities, and communities of color.
Last week, we joined more than 60 civil rights, media, public interest, and labor groups in sending Chairman Wheeler a set of principles to guide the FCC as it modernizes the Lifeline program. As the Commission moves forward with updating the Lifeline program, we urge it to keep these principles in mind and continue its progress in ensuring the accountability, effectiveness, and success of the Lifeline program.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference, visit www.civilrights.org.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Latinos. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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