National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Responds to FCC Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to today's announcement from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Chairman Genachowski, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued the following statement:

"The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) applauds the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a proposal we believe will go a long way towards ensuring a free and open Internet. It is our hope that this development will enable our federal policy makers and the Administration to expedite increased access to broadband technologies for all of America's people.

As our nation's oldest and largest grassroots based civil rights organization, the NAACP is encouraged by FCC Chairman Genachowski's remarks concerning the proposal that reflect the FCC's desire to promote rules that safeguard the civil rights, free speech and economic opportunity for our nation's most vulnerable.  Broadband is an integral tool in promoting civic engagement and is crucial to voter education, mobilization and protection.  We are equally concerned during these tough economic times with jobs and the pace of the nation's recovery. We believe that the FCC's proposal will help foster equal access to affordable and sustainable broadband and stimulate job creation in all communities, including underserved, rural, low-income and, racial and ethnic minority communities.

The FCC Chairman stated its proposal will 'protect free expression; it would increase certainty in the marketplace, and spur investment both at the edge and in the core of our broadband networks.' We are pleased that the FCC's proposal seems to echo similar Congressional proposals and President Obama's commitment to 'keep the Internet as it should be – open and free.'

The NAACP looks forward to working with the Federal Communications Commission to advance a full and robust National Broadband Plan."

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots based civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

SOURCE National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

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