National Hispanic Media Coalition

Civil Rights Groups Question Lifeline Changes

The National Hispanic Media Coalition, Color of Change, NAACP and the Benton Foundation are among the organizations concerned about proposed changes to the Lifeline program, which is on the docket for the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming open meeting. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai -- who has long called for reforms to deter waste, fraud and abuse in Lifeline -- is seeking a vote at the agency’s Nov. 16 meeting on a major overhaul of the program, which subsidizes phone and broadband service for the poor.

Civil Rights Organizations Demand Congress to Prioritize ACP Funding Before Looming Government Shutdown

We, the undersigned groups, write to emphasize the dire need for Congress to pass 6 billion dollars in supplemental funding to sustain the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) through the end of 2024. As of October 25, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration requested Congress to appropriate emergency funding for critical domestic issues, including $6 billion earmarked for ACP to ensure eligible households across the country remain connected online.

NHMC Condemns FCC Commissioners’ Xenophobic Statements

Federal Communications Commissioners Nathan Simington and Brenden Carr have used their positions as leaders of a federal agency to dehumanize and disrespect the immigrant community. At the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), we believe that no human is illegal and that every person deserves dignity and respect. As such, we condemn the Commissioners’ comments and statements following the release of the Affordable Connectivity Program rules and call for higher standards of morality, empathy, and humanity from those who sit on the FCC.

Disconnected and Disregarded: Measuring Latinx Emergency Broadband Benefit Enrollment

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)'s policy team came together to attempt to uncover the real impact of the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program for eligible Latinx households. The NHMC conducted their analysis using 11 states chosen based on their significant Latinx populations: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas. The NHMC published their findings along with recommendations for federal agencies to boost Latinx enrollment in broadband subsidy programs. Major findings include:

NHMC’s 2021 Priorities

The National Hispanic Media Coalition eager to build on our last thirty-five years of advocacy to remedy harms done to our gente, and build a better, more equitable future. This includes eliminating hate, discrimination, and racism towards Latinx and marginalized communities, and safeguarding the democracy of the United States of America. 

  • Digital Rights are Civil & Human Rights
  • Broadband Access 
  • Net Neutrality 
  • Platform Accountability 

NHMC Files Comments Urging Federal Communication Commission to Make Emergency Broadband Program as Inclusive as Possible

The National Hispanic Media Coalition filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to roll out the Emergency Broadband program in the most inclusive way possible. Access to the internet is more crucial than ever, as a majority of this country’s population is relying upon broadband infrastructure and service to work, learn, access essential goods, socialize, and engage in civic activities.

Concerns About FCC's Upcoming Broadband Deployment Progress Report

The National Hispanic Media Coalition joined Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, United Church of Christ and members of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Media/Telecom Task Force in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission expressing concern over proposed findings in the agency’s upcoming Broadband Deployment Progress Report. They requested the FCC:

The National Hispanic Media Coalition and Free Press Call for Better FCC Disaster Recovery and Preparedness in Puerto Rico

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and Free Press filled joint comments with the Federal Communications Commission calling on the agency to increase efforts to help Puerto Rico fully recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the island’s communication infrastructure.

NHMC Will Challenge the FCC’s Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules That Protect Latinos’ Rights to Speak and Be Heard Online

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is prepared to seek judicial review of the Federal Communications Commission’s Network Neutrality repeal to ensure that Latinos and other marginalized communities continue to have access to an open Internet.

NHMC Submits Analysis of Open Internet Consumer Complaints into Record

The National Hispanic Media Coalition filed a letter on November 20, 2017 to submit an analysis of open internet consumer complaints and related documents produced in response to its FOIA requests. The report is entitled “Consumer Perspectives on Barriers to Accessing the Open Internet,” was commissioned by NHMC and is based solely on the consumer complaints and related documents that have been released by the Federal Communications Commission to date.

NHMC Files Application for Review Requesting Additional Documents Owed Under the FCC’s FOIA Obligations in the Net Neutrality Proceeding

The National Hispanic Media Coalition filed an Application for Review (AFR) to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC), Office of the General Counsel (OGC) seeking review of the letter dated September 14, 2017 stating that the FCC was producing its “final production of documents” in response to NHMC’s FOIA requests filed in early May 2017.

Former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani Joins National Hispanic Media Coalition as Special Policy Advisor

The National Hispanic Media Coalition announced that former Commissioner Gloria Tristani of the Federal Communications Commission will be joining NHMC as the new Special Policy Advisor. In this role, Tristani will further NHMC’s work to bridge the digital divide and advocate for responsible media that is inclusive of Latino voices.

Tristani comes to NHMC from Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP, where she represented the interests of clients including noncommercial radio stations, public, educational and governmental access channels, local and municipal governments, rural electric cooperatives and non-profit groups. She also served as president of the Benton Foundation, where she educated policy-makers, academics and public interest advocates on communications policy. As an FCC Commissioner from 1997 to 2001, Tristani sought to accelerate broadband deployment to rural and other underserved areas; was an advocate for the “E-Rate” program, which provides discounted Internet access to schools and libraries; and supported the FCC’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) rules and policies to enhance minority and women ownership in the communications industry.

First FCC Vote of 2017 Impairs the Public’s Ability to Hold Broadcasters Accountable

This is exactly the time that the public is looking to build trust with the media, fostering a productive dialogue that supports accurate coverage representative of diverse voices, and we are disappointed that the first FCC vote of 2017 deprives Americans of meaningful information about the scope of their community’s feedback. In allowing stations to eliminate the only publicly accessible means to understand how audiences across the country are responding to commercial broadcast coverage, the FCC does a tremendous disservice to all who seek to support journalism that fulfills the public interest obligation it holds.

We are very concerned that continuing the current practice of putting letters and emails from the public in a file has been deemed too burdensome a task in the face of the urgent need for media accountability. Contrary to arguments submitted by FCC commissioners and industry representatives, the use of social media to find or report issues is not an adequate replacement for viewing the full breadth of input to commercial broadcast stations that are often mailed or emailed. This insufficient reply is especially more concerning when a full third of Americans–disproportionately Latinos and other people of color, lower-income and rural Americans–lack home broadband to submit feedback or view the extent of concerns submitted by their neighbors online.

Public Interest Groups Slam AT&T’s Refusal to Serve Low-Income Americans Through Lifeline Program

Five diverse public interest groups spoke out about AT&T’s recent decision to opt out of the Lifeline broadband program and urged them to reconsider participating to offer the modest discount that Lifeline provides to low-income families struggling to afford broadband. Despite supporting the inclusion of broadband within the modernized Lifeline program, AT&T has officially filed for forbearance from the Lifeline broadband Internet access service requirements. This decision would confine their extension of Lifeline broadband to only very limited regions of its service territory.

“Benton is extremely disappointed with AT&T’s decision and the impact it will have on home broadband adoption for the most vulnerable families in the US,” said Amina Fazlullah, Director of Policy at Benton Foundation: “Teamed with FCC Lifeline program subsidies, AT&T could have been a leader in providing affordable broadband service for qualified, low-income families. We could have seen an incredible rise in broadband adoption by addressing the number one barrier to subscriptions: cost. This is an unfortunate failure to take advantage of a meaningful public-private partnership. We hope AT&T will reconsider its decision.”

The Next Step to Modernizing Lifeline: Ensuring Smooth Implementation to Reach Underconnected

Dec 2016, the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline modernization order will finally go into effect, empowering millions of low-income Americans with the resources to access high-speed Internet. Lifeline’s modernization couldn’t come at a more critical time. Half of all Latinos lack broadband access at home, and high monthly costs are most often cited as the primary barrier for non-adoption. Further, 69% of Americans find the lack of home broadband access to be a major disadvantage.

Beginning December 2, broadband providers will have the option to provide Lifeline-eligible services that meet certain FCC minimum standards. Wireless data plans must offer at least 500 mb/month, and fixed broadband service must offer 150 GB at download speeds of 10 mbps and upload speeds of 1 mbps. Participants interested in mobile voice-only plans can continue to apply the subsidy to plans offering at least 500 voice minutes. Starting in December 2017, the subsidies for voice-only plans will gradually decline until these plans are completely phased out of the Lifeline program in 2021.

Also going into effect this December will be new Lifeline eligibility guidelines. Consumers can continue to automatically qualify for Lifeline benefits through participation in federal assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Federal Public Housing Assistance. Consumers receiving Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension benefits will also now be eligible. Participants will also still be able to qualify by proving they earn less than 135% of the federal poverty level. However, customers will no longer be able to use Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to automatically qualify.

Also beginning in December, the National Hispanic Media Coalition will begin working with allies and broadband providers to ensure low-income families across the country can take advantage of Lifeline and stay connected with loved ones, vital government resources, and homework help. We’ll be working with other community organizations to sponsor events across the country to help consumers sign up for Lifeline benefits.

FCC Move to Reduce Consolidation, Close Media Ownership Loopholes, Already Increasing Diverse Ownership

Gray Television announced that it had secured new, diverse owners for six television stations that it had acquired and previously operated under shared service agreements.

The divestitures appear to be the direct result of recent statements by the Federal Communications Commission indicating that it would scrutinize any transfers of licenses that involve sidecar deals that indicate control or influence.

In Colorado, Gray will transfer one station to an Asian American husband and wife ownership team.

In North Dakota, one station will be transferred to a respected South Asian broadcaster.

Four other stations in various markets will be transferred to an ownership team consisting of two female broadcasters. All of the transfers result in full ownership and control of the broadcasting outlets by women and people of color.

Fighting for Online Equality for Latinos

[Commentary] Facing discrimination and unjust laws, for Latinos, the Internet has played a critical role in the movement for equality in this country. Battles were fought over an Internet with a level playing field that is now in jeopardy. Our ability to raise an equal voice online is under attack.

Network neutrality rules will do a few things to protect the online rights of consumers:

  • Ban ISPs from blocking our access to lawful websites on the Internet;
  • Ban ISPs from adopting a paid prioritization system that would create fast lanes for the wealthy and slow lanes for the rest of us;
  • Protect Latinos, other people of color and low-income individuals who are more likely to use wireless connections to access the Internet, by enforcing these bans equally on wireless devices and wired broadband connections;
  • Prevent ISP discrimination before it happens, and not after the fact; and
  • Regulate ISPs as utilities by reclassifying broadband as a Title II service, the only sure way that the FCC can sustain legal challenges to its authority.