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Speaker Johnson Hastens End of Critical Program that Bridges Digital Divide, Threatening Connectivity for Millions

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Low-income households will lose the discount the program offers, but officials and people in the industry say many will lose access to the internet because they can’t pay higher bills. Ninety-five percent of said it would be hard to handle the extra costs.
The post Speaker Johnson Hastens End of Critical Program that Bridges Digital Divide, Threatening Connectivity for Millions first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

As the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) faces an imminent funding shortfall, the lifeline that connected more than 23 million disadvantaged and low-income American families to broadband hangs in the balance. Despite its critical role in bridging the digital divide, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has yet to bring a bill for ACP extension to the floor, putting millions at risk of losing affordable internet access.

President Biden’s ambitious goal of connecting every American to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet by 2030 is now in jeopardy, as Johnson holds the key to the ACP’s future. Despite bipartisan support, Johnson inexplicably hasn’t brought a bill funding the ACP to the floor for a formal vote. The White House and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have urged the Speaker to act.

Just last month, Biden urged more people to sign up for the ACP, noting that only 43% of eligible households had enrolled in the program and highlighting the urgent need for its continuation.

The ACP, offering internet for $30 per month for qualifying families in most areas and $75 on tribal lands, has been a game-changer, enabling participants to overcome financial barriers and access essential services like telehealth, remote schooling, and work.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed a bill to sustain the ACP through 2024 with an additional $7 billion in funding, surpassing the president’s initial request. However, without a floor vote, the Federal Communications Commission has initiated steps to wind down the program, instructing internet providers to notify users about its projected end.

The FCC halted new enrollments after February 7, with the program expected to end in April. The digital divide persists due to broadband infrastructure limitations, particularly in urban areas with limited coverage in low-income neighborhoods. Tribal lands also face challenges, with broadband access lagging behind the rest of the country.

“If Congress does not provide additional funding for the ACP in the near future, millions of households will lose the ACP benefit that they use to afford internet service,” FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. “This also means that roughly 1,700 internet service providers will be affected by the termination of the ACP and may cut off service to households no longer supported by the program.”

Blair Levin, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and a former FCC chief of staff, lamented that “there are 15 Republican co-sponsors today of the ACP extension bill—meaning the only reason it’s not going to pass the House is because the Speaker will not let it on the floor. A minority of the House has decided we should not have it; it’s not a majority, and there’s a lot of political support for the extension.”

Even in Johnson’s Louisiana district, connectivity remains a pressing issue, with 29% of his constituents set to lose coverage because he fails to act. Johnson’s office didn’t return several telephone calls and emails seeking comment.

The program is also good for business. In February, researchers at George Mason University in Virginia wrote that the ACP added $3.89 to the U.S. GDP for every dollar spent.

Also, affordable broadband access led to more people working, increasing job rates and individual earnings. A recent poll of ACP members found that 78% said their internet connection helped them find better-paying work.

Low-income households will lose the discount the program offers, but officials and people in the industry say many will lose access to the internet because they can’t pay higher bills. Ninety-five percent of said it would be hard to handle the extra costs.

Civil rights activists have sent a letter urging Congress to act promptly, emphasizing the ACP’s role in closing the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to broadband services for low-income families and historically underserved communities.

National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and other activists stressed in a letter to lawmakers the program’s significance in connecting Americans to the digital economy, expanding telehealth services, and supporting students in remote learning opportunities.

“Without the additional $6 billion, millions of Americans reliant on ACP will lose access to high-speed internet, a fundamental civil right in the 21st century,” the group wrote, urging Congress to secure ACP funding for 2024 and devise long-term solutions for equitable broadband access.

The post Speaker Johnson Hastens End of Critical Program that Bridges Digital Divide, Threatening Connectivity for Millions first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.