On July 17, 2024, MMTC held its 6th Annual Former FCC Chairs’ Symposium. Speakers and moderators included:

• FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, keynote speaker
• Former FCC Chair Richard Wiley
• Former FCC Chair Reed Hundt
• Former FCC Chair Michael Copps
• Former FCC Chair Mignon Clyburn
• Former FCC Chair Ajit Pai
• Former FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, moderator
• Former FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, moderator
• MMTC President Robert Branson, moderator
• MMTC Board Chair and Treasurer Ronald Johnson

They discussed a return to civility at the FCC and in Washington, the impact of the recent Supreme Court opinion on the Chevron doctrine, ACP and Lifeline, ATSC 3.0, bulk billing, universal service/broadband, artificial intelligence, Section 230, M&A policy, and minority media and telecom ownership.

On June 19, 2024, Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) Coalition hosted the inaugural Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study, a historic event dedicated to promoting digital equity and literacy in the Black community, embodying the spirit of Juneteenth by encouraging inclusion and empowerment in the digital age. Greater Grace Temple of David and Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, the church pastor, co-hosted the event in Detroit, Michigan. It was live streamed on Facebook and Zoom.

The Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study brought together key stakeholders from the faith, technology, education, and government sectors who are all committed to advancing digital inclusion. Their participation fostered discussions about digital equity, contributed to the Black Digital Futures movement in the United States, and helped to close the digital divide that affects the Black community.

Attendees participated in educational workshops where they discovered critical funding opportunities coming to states this fall to close the digital divide. They heard leadership speeches including an inspiring keynote address from Black national faith leader Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, author and biblical scholar.

Speakers included:

• Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, Greater Grace Temple
• Rev. Dr. Renita Weems, Biblical Scholar, Author, and Public Intellectual
• U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
• U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
• Dr. Jon Gant, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Dr. Fallon Wilson, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council
• Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart, Christ Missionary Baptist Church
• Rev. Dr. Louis Threatt, Cities of Refuge Christian Church
• Rev. William Lamar, Metropolitan AME Church
• Shunda Leecost, Microsoft
• Jerome Record, Comcast
• Oneisha Freeman Rojales, Georgia Connectivity Authority
• Phillip Holloway, North Carolina Department of Information Technology
• Dr. Tamarah Holmes, Office of Broadband, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
• Leah Mims, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
• Jessica Robinson, Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

Attendees also enjoyed musical and cultural performances celebrating Juneteenth and the drive towards a digitally inclusive future. They engaged in interactive workshops with leaders from the state broadband offices that provided a platform for feedback and discussions on digital equity processes.

The Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study was made possible through the generous support of church partners, sponsors, and social media outreach partners below.

• Church Partners: Christ Missionary Baptist Church, Cities of Refuge Christian Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Greater Grace Temple, Metropolitan AME Church, and Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
• Sponsors: Comcast, Microsoft, Somos, T-Mobile, Aventiv, Zoe Ministries, and Impact Television Network
• Social Media Outreach Partners: Broadband Breakfast, HTTP/The National Latino Voice in Tech & Telecommunications Policy, and The Washington Informer

Learn About MMTC's Recent Law and Policy Efforts

• In April, MMTC joined a Free Press-led coalition of over 200 civil-society groups and local, state and Tribal governments that urged the House of Representatives to sign a discharge petition filed by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. Read the letter here.
• MMTC supported the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act that Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced. The VOICES Act that will increase diversity among owners in the broadcasting industry by restoring mechanisms that encourage investment in broadcast stations owned by minorities and women. Read more here.
• MMTC issued a statement in support of the Senate's bipartisan amendment to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program. Read it here.
• Go here to read MMTC President and CEO Robert Branson's opinion piece, "Broadband Progress Is Measured by Results, Not Good Intentions" that was published on InsideSources.com.
• MMTC and a coalition of 200 civil rights organizations were successful in their letter and social media campaign that urged the FCC to adopt new, lower rate caps for incarcerated communications services. Read the letter here. Click here to view a sample of the social media campaign. The FCC voted to significantly lower rates for phone and video calls in federal correctional facilities, bringing much needed relief to incarcerated people and their families. Go here to read the FCC's news release.
• MMTC issued a statement expressing its concern about the enbanc decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Consumers’ Research v. FCC finding the nearly 30-year-old Universal Service Fund unconstitutional. Read it here.
• MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson spoke at Next Century Cities’ 2024 Bipartisan Tech conference on April 17, 2024, at the National Association of Counties in Washington, DC. 
• On April 25, 2024, MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson joined Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition fellow, Rev. Danielle Ayers for a conversation on the Fannie Lou’s Classroom podcast that will address how Black communities can leverage technology for a sustainable future. Watch the podcast here.
• MMTC Board Chair and Treasurer Ronald Johnson, Senior Advisor, Wireless Infrastructure Association, and MMTC Policy Counsel Kenley Joseph participated in the Subgrantee s Outreach and Contracting Requirements of Broadband Funding-Challenges and Opportunities for Successful Deployments and Return on Investments session on May 16, 2024, at WIA’s annual Connect(X) conference.

In July, MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson and Dr. Naomi Jordan Cook, a Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition fellow, presented on digital equity, Black churches, and AI at the second annual Womanists at the Inkwell conference on Martha's Vineyard. The conference was organized by the Black Religious Scholars Group in collaboration with Union Chapel. Rev. Dr. Renita Weems, a Black Churches 4 Digital Equity Coalition fellow. Learn more here.