WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Hispanic Leadership Fund announced today that the organization’s President, Mario H. Lopez, has been appointed by the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to serve on the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE).
“I am excited and honored to join an advisory committee that will give advice and insight to the FCC on ways to help strengthen businesses and empower consumers with the latest innovation and technology.” said Mario H. Lopez. “In order for all Americans to achieve the American dream, it is important that hard-working families have access to modern tools and resources—and certainly technology is a huge component of that.”
The mission of the ACDDE is to make recommendations to the Commission on how to empower underprivileged communities and accelerate the entry of small businesses, including those owned by women and minorities into the media, digital news and information, and audio and video programming industries. The Committee will also provide recommendations to the Commission on how to ensure that disadvantaged communities are not denied the wide range of opportunities made possible by next-generation networks. In formulating its recommendations, the Committee may gather and develop data, examine industry trends and practices, and consider both industry-based solutions, as well as targeted regulatory or legislative solutions, to respond to the challenges identified by the Committee.
In the FCC statement announcing the formation of the ACDDE, chairman Pai said that “all Americans should have the opportunity to participate in the communications marketplace, no matter their race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. I hope this committee will help our agency take important steps towards increasing diversity throughout the communications industry and bringing digital opportunity to all Americans.”
