In March, the FCC rechartered the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC) and held the CEDC's first meeting of the year. Go here to watch the meeting video and read the agenda.

MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson was appointed to serve as a CEDC member. Several MMTC Board members were also appointed to serve as CEDC members. They include:

• MMTC Board Chair and Treasurer Ronald Johnson, Wireless Infrastructure Association
• David Honig, JulGlo Productions LLC
• Nicole Lazarre, Charter Communications
• Henry Rivera, Wiley Rein, LLP, Representing The Emma L. Bowen Foundation
• Steven Robert, The Roberts Companies

Click here to learn more about the CEDC.

As technology firms, governments and institutions race to keep up and take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI), much of the conversation is focused on the potential of the technology to transform society. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims we “are only a few breakthroughs away from abundance at a scale that is difficult to imagine,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) claims innovation must be the “north star” of any effort to regulate AI, since the technology represents “a revolution in science and understanding that will change humanity.”

The reality is that achieving a world that is free of want and that is more just and equitable will require a very different orientation. The real revolution will not be driven by the advancement of technology, but rather by the necessity of a profound exploration of how faith and justice, rooted in the struggles and triumphs of past civil rights movements, that can guide us in creating a technological society that uplifts, empowers, and recognizes the richness of Black communities. Through this lens, we can confront the challenges and opportunities of the AI age, forging a future where technology serves as a beacon of liberation, equity, and communal prosperity for all.

The future is for sale, the past is forsaken.

In this moment, the captains of the tech industry occupy the headlines with their promises of the future. NVIDIA, which makes chips necessary to train large language models, is one of the hottest stocks on the market. Silicon Valley’s version of the future is perhaps the most salient on the planet.

CLICK THE BUTTON TO READ THE FULL ESSAY.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at a blistering pace. A little over a year ago, on November 30, 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT and blew people’s minds with a chatbot that could quickly respond to prompts with reasoned answers. It was something that many of us had only seen in movies. Last month, OpenAI previewed Sora; its text to video offering that produces realistic videos from written prompts. And there have been talks of importing

ChatGPT into a physical robot.

While the mere fact that text to video is becoming a reality is jarring, the potential uses and misuses of this technology are even more unsettling. Accordingly, it is incumbent upon our elected officials and regulatory bodies to ensure we are making the most of this technology while protecting consumers. In this column, we will discuss the recent regulatory and legislative developments en route to making that happen; and highlight where we as consumers can make our voices heard as those taking on this challenge develop and effectuate their plans.

In reviewing the regulatory landscape, we will tour recent developments coming from the White House and Congress. It is worth noting that there have been some major international developments in the AI regulation space, including the passage of the EU AI Act. However, we will focus our discussion in this column on domestic developments and pending legislation.

CLICK THE BUTTON TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

MMTC recently filed a statement in support of H.R. 6971, the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act (AILA), introduced by Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). MMTC believes this important legislation has the potential to empower rural and multicultural communities across the United States by providing access to critical AI education and workforce readiness opportunities. 

“AILA is a vital step towards ensuring that all communities, particularly those who have been historically underserved and underrepresented in the tech sector, have equal access to the opportunities and benefits that AI presents,” said Kenley Joseph, Tech and Telecom Policy Counsel at MMTC. “By promoting diversity and inclusion in the AI workforce, we can ensure that the development and deployment of AI technologies are guided by a broader range of perspectives and experiences, ultimately leading to more equitable and unbiased outcomes.”

Click here to read MMTC's statement.

Go here to read the full text of the AILA.

Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition's (BC4DE) Women’s History Month Highlight Features Interview with BC4DE Fellow Sabrina Short, Founder of NOLAvate Black

During Women's History Month, BC4DE Coalition featured an interview with BC4DE fellow Sabrina Short, founder of NOLAvate Black, about her work as a woman in digital equity.

CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO READ THE INTERVIEW.

BC4DE Call to Action

Join MMTC and BC4DE Coalition in urging Congress to ensure the continuity of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Click the button below and let Congress know you support the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, which provides $7 billion in funding necessary to sustain the ACP, helping it to provide indispensable services to eligible households through December 2024.