Cheyney University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Gooyong Kim has been appointed to a working group on the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed Kim, an assistant professor of communication arts to the group which will make recommendations on the most effective way to spend $65 billion under the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act signed into law by President Biden in November.
“More than ever before, having reliable, fast internet is basically the life blood of everyday activity,” Kim said in a press release announcing his appointment. “If you look at the national statistics, access to reliable high-speed internet is unequal, based upon race, class and even gender. If we don’t provide universal high-speed internet to every person in the country, we cannot guarantee equal footing for their lives. This project is one step forward toward bringing equality in that regard.”
The goal of the new law, among other things, is to make broadband more affordable for lower-income households across the country. The legislation extends a federal discount on broadband service for low-income families. It also requires internet providers that receive federal grant money to offer low-cost service to eligible low-income households. States will receive large grants to pay for internet improvements. Broadband industry representatives support the new law which makes internet discounts permanent for low-income families. So do consumer advocacy organizations.
Kim now serves on the CEDC’s Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group which will address digital redlining and other barriers that impact equitable access to emerging technology in under-served and under-connected communities. He is one of four independent subject matter experts appointed to the group that will make recommendations by July. Kim and his fellow council members will serve for two years.
The FCC had contacted Cheyney last summer to make the university aware of the opportunity to serve. The provost’s office reached out to Kim who applied, and after thorough vetting, was appointed.
“We are very proud to have a member of our Cheyney faculty contributing to federal policy, especially because advancing equity is a big part of our mission,” said Cheyney Provost and Chief Academic Officer Kizzy Morris. “Dr. Kim has been a communication innovator, and issues of equity, diversity, justice, and empowerment have been a backbone of his research and teaching. We believe his input in this process will prove invaluable in addressing the broadband inequalities we all know exist. I am grateful that federal infrastructure dollars are being invested in this way.”
Two other working groups will have a hand in the recommendations:
The Innovation and Access Working Group will recommend solutions to reduce entry barriers and encourage ownership and management of media, digital, communications services and next-generation technology properties and start-ups to encourage viewpoint diversity by a broad range of voices.
The Diversity and Equity Working Group will propose solutions and approaches on how the FCC can affirmatively advance equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity in the telecommunications industry to address inequalities in workplace employment policies and programs.
Once the working groups complete the report this July, it will move for discussion and final recommendations before the FCC sends it to the Biden administration for implementation over the next several years.
