Joint Center’s Workforce Policy Director Meets With FCC Commissioner

The Joint Center’s Workforce Policy Director Harin Contractor provided key insight in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.

This included the fact that “connectivity is key for the Black community.” Harin noted that “the E-Rate take up rates for libraries is slow, particularly for geographic locations of little access or broadband take up.” With libraries being the “center of workforce development in rural communities, particularly in the Black Belt,” Harin said the FCC can “encourage data sharing between USAC, IMLS, and DOL to focus on grants to areas of need.” He also encouraged the revamping of the entire USF program.

Other participants included: Thu Nguyen, OCA– Asian Pacific American Advocates; Kristine Lucius and Corrine Yu of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Cheryl Leanza, United Church of Christ, OC Inc.; K.J. Bagchi, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Kate Ruane, American Civil Liberties Union; Francella Ochillo and Daiquiri Ryan, National Hispanic Media Coalition; Maurita Coley and David Honig, MMTC; Gavin Logan, National Urban League; James Winston, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters; Joe Torres, on behalf of the Voices for Internet Freedom Coalition (co-lead by the Center for Media Justice, Free Press, Color of Change, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and 18 Million Rising); Evan Feeney, Color of Change; Sindy M. Benavides, League of United Latin American Citizens and Bill Davenport.