Providing resources aims to close digital divide

Congressman Alcee Hastings

Serving the 23rd District of Florida for nearly 20 years, Congressman Alcee Hastings has long been an outspoken advocate for progress and a champion for the rights of minorities, women and the elderly.

Growing up in Florida, Congressman Hastings was a witness to the trials of segregation and racial disparity. These life lessons have guided him to where he is today and driven his commitment to ensuring the people of Florida receive the resources they need to close the digital divide.

In an effort to promote universal broadband adoption and make it more accessible to communities of color as well as rural communities, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a National Broadband Plan. However, shortly after, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski would then go on to propose a reclassification of broadband as a telecommunications service, a category with telephone and cable services, and add additional regulations.

Determined to level the playing field and deeply concerned that the latest FCC proposal will hinder broadband adoption and use, Congressman Hastings and over 70 Democratic members of Congress submitted a joint letter to Chairman Genachowski. The letter urged the chairman to rethink his reclassification proposal and asked that he work with Congress to create positive new broadband policies which will benefit all Americans, particularly the underserved, and help close the digital divide.

Broadband stands to be a major driving force in recovery efforts as well as the future of education, commerce and health. As he continues his mission of bringing equality to his constituents, Congressman Hastings is prepared to put all of his effort into ensuring no ill-conceived regulations are passed that will prevent new job creation or distract from the plan’s mission of making broadband more accessible to minority and rural communities.