House Democrats Seek FCC Review of Policies' Harms on Communities of Color
Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Yvette Clarke, both of New York, led a letter with 26 other House Democrats urging the FCC to examine whether its past programs and policies caused harm to communities of color, “redress” those effects and “identify…
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the affirmative steps the agency commits to taking to break down barriers to just media and telecommunication practices.” The lawmakers cited President Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 executive order encouraging federal agencies to conduct such reviews. “Historic federal policies are a primary reason why structural inequities exist in our nation’s media and telecommunication systems today,” the Democrats wrote acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “FCC policies, license decisions and inaction have had the result of effectively excluding people of color from media ownership opportunities. Our nation’s first radio and TV licenses were awarded ... during an era of Jim Crow segregation. The previous administration's efforts to consolidate the media marketplace limited ownership opportunities for people of color and women.” The “lack of affordable broadband has left too many households of color unable to use the internet to take care of the health and well-being of their families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the lawmakers said. Rosenworcel “is committed to ensuring that FCC policies are equitable, fair, and transparent,” a spokesperson emailed. “While the FCC is an independent agency, it has been working diligently under her leadership to follow” Biden’s EO. “More work remains to be done,” the spokesperson said. “We are committed to working with those who sent this letter to do so.” The “current media system is unjust and the FCC must begin the process of repair,” said Free Press Senior Director-Strategy and Engagement Joseph Torres. “That starts with a thorough investigation of the history of racism in the agency’s policymaking.”