Here attached is press release from Media Access Project regarding FCC comments produced as part of collaborative advocacy efforts for national broadband policy.<br><div class="gmail_quote"><br>Two local players from North Coast are involved - Access Humboldt and the California Center for Rural Policy!<br>
<br>Summary:<br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering revisions for Universal
Service Fund (USF) policies and priorities.<span> </span>Annual USF allocations are on the order of all the funding
allocated for broadband deployment, demand creation and adoption in the ARRA
economic stimulus legislation enacted in 2009.<span> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b> </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>A
group of public interest organizations, organized by the Center for Rural
Strategies and Center for Media Justice - including two groups from California's North Coast region, </b></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>Access Humboldt and </b></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>the California Center for Rural Policy -
joined together in offering these important formal comments designed to bridge the
concerns of both rural and urban communities.<span> </span> <br></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>Comments for the “Rural / Urban Commenters”</b></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> group were filed by Media Access
Project </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>offering
two key positions:<span> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>1.<span> </span>The FCC should revise current USF
policies to support deployment and adoption of broadband.<span> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>2.<span> </span>The FCC can manage the USF resources
more effectively by targeting support to deployment and adoption of open
broadband platforms that are capable of delivering basic and advanced services.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Rural / Urban
Commenters noted, “the way to preserve existing basic services in high-cost
areas while expanding broadband deployment is to support the construction of
open broadband facilities over which such services may flow.”<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><b>Making
the case for both rural and urban populations, “</b></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">In short, the evolution of USF is an
essential adaptation to maintain healthy digital ecosystems for the
least-served communities.”</span></p><br>Feel free to call me if you have questions about this filing or related advocacy work of Access Humboldt.<br>_______________________<br><br><br><br clear="all">Sean McLaughlin<br>
Executive Director<br>Access Humboldt<br>
P.O. Box 157, Eureka, CA 95502<br>
tel: 707-476-1798<br>dir: 707-476-2873<br>fax: 707-476-1702<br>cel: 707-616-2381<br>DC: 202-495-0616<br>e: <a href="mailto:sean@accesshumboldt.net" target="_blank">sean@accesshumboldt.net</a><br><a href="http://accesshumboldt.net" target="_blank">http://accesshumboldt.net</a><br>
<a href="http://digitalredwoods.net" target="_blank">http://digitalredwoods.net</a><br><br>"Local Voices Through Community Media"<br><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Kamilla Kovacs</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kkovacs@mediaaccess.org" target="_blank">kkovacs@mediaaccess.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 8:34 AM<br>Subject: Media Access Project and Rural/Urban Groups Ask FCC to Reform Universal Service Program<br>
<br>
<div>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">December 8, 2009</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">For Immediate Release</span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Contact: Kamilla Kovacs</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Office: 202-454-5685</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mobile: 571-426-0466</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="mailto:kkovacs@mediaaccess.org" target="_blank">kkovacs@mediaaccess.org</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">MEDIA ACCESS PROJECT AND RURAL/URBAN GROUPS ASK FCC TO </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">REFORM UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">Emphasize Funding for Broadband Development</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">On behalf of a coalition of rural and urban community organizations, Media Access Project (MAP) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, asking the Commission to use Universal Service Fund monies to support the construction and adoption of broadband. MAP also requested that the Commission take note of the recommendations provided by public interest and community groups, rather than solely those of service providers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“The public, not telecommunications carriers, should be seen as the true beneficiaries of Universal Service funding,” said Matt Wood, Associate Director of Media Access Project and lead attorney for the coalition. “USF was created to improve communications services for end-users in unserved and high-cost regions of the country. The Commission must ensure that the program lives up to its purpose by ensuring its efficiency and by reforming it to support broadband development.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Organizations joining in the filing included Access Humboldt, Appalshop, California Center for Rural Policy, Center for Rural Strategies, Main Street Project, Mountain Area Information Network, New Mexico Media Literacy Project, Rural Broadband Policy Group, Center for Media Justice, Media Action Grassroots Network, Thousand Kites, and Texas Media Empowerment Project.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Media Access Project is a non-profit, public interest law firm dedicated to promoting the public's First Amendment right to access a diverse marketplace of ideas in mass media. For over 37 years, MAP has promoted the public interest before the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Courts, advocating for an open and diverse telecommunications system that protects the free flow of information, promotes universal and equitable access to communications and technology services, and encourages vibrant public discourse on critical issues facing our society.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">###</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Comments can be found at <a href="http://www.mediaaccess.org/file_download/350" target="_blank">http://www.mediaaccess.org/file_download/350</a>.</span></p>
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