HTTP underscores the Latino viewpoint in Digital Equity Act Comments for NTIA

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the agency that is principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues, has recently posted HTTP’s Comments on the implementation of the Digital Equity Act of 2021. The NTIA sought feedback on how it could implement the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the $1.25 billion Competitive Digital Equity Program as established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

HTTP argued that Latino serving community anchors, not-for-profits, and entities with workforce development programs should be centered and prioritized for funding from both programs. HTTP wrote “NTIA should expressly require grant recipients to think about who is marginalized in their community. Discrimination can be silent and it oppresses in different ways.” Prioritizing Latino serving institutions is critical as Latinos are disproportionately represented in the digital divide.

Latinos are overrepresented in the digital divide for a myriad of issues, but as HTTP argued in the Comments, three contributing factors are: (1) fear of government; (2) language barriers; (3) accessibility and affordability. HTTP underscored the nuances of the Latino experience in the digital divide, which is critical here, as often these conversations are hyper-technical and industrial.

HTTP’s impactful comments can be viewed in full here.

There were just over 200 related comments on the Federal Register and HTTP was one of few organizations that underscored the Latino viewpoint. HTTP continues its long history of working with Latino organizations, government, industry, and the community to ensure that the full array of technological and telecommunications advancements are available to all Latinos in the United States.

HTTP will always voice concerns of instances where the programs could result in discrimination and will continue to work with the NTIA and the Administration in ensuring each state closes the digital divide while achieving digital equity, digital inclusion, and digital literacy in a contextualized and meaningful way.