July 2015

In this edition of NHMC at work:

  • Apply for NHMC’s Writers Program
  • D.C. Policy Shop Update
  • Save the Date for Upcoming Fall Events!
  • NHMC in the News
  • Check Out Photos from MediaCon 2015
  • NHMC at Netroots Nation

Apply for the NHMC’s Writers Program writersprogramflyer Writers don’t miss out on an opportunity to hone your writing skills during this five-week intensive workshop. Attendees will focus on writing an original TV pilot or a spec episode of a current TV series, conducted in an environment that simulates a TV writers room. Deadline to submit is August 3 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to apply visit https://www.nhmc.org/writersprogram.
D.C. Policy Shop Update jessica1 Two of NHMC’s major policy initiatives are hot right now: Net Neutrality and Lifeline modernization. Although the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules took effect on June 12, threats to the rules remain. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are now prevented from blocking or throttling lawful content, or creating online fast lanes for those who can afford them. On July 30, a handful of ISPs and trade associations filed their arguments with a federal court, seeking to overturn key aspects of protections the FCC put in place. More than a dozen other individuals and organizations have stated their intent to file “friend of the court” briefs in support of the ISPs and trade associations. The FCC’s rules have also faced significant threats in Congress. Recently, language was added to a House appropriations bill to punish the FCC for issuing rules and prevent the rules from taking effect. A similar threat surfaced during the Senate appropriations process. Leading up to an anticipated floor vote, NHMC met with every Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) office to educate on the FCC’s action and urge members to oppose efforts to scale it back. The appropriations process has recently been derailed due to other issues, including a debate about the display of the Confederate Flag on federal grounds. On June 18, the FCC voted to begin a formal process to modernize Lifeline for the broadband era. Lifeline provides a modest $9.25 subsidy to low-income families to help them afford basic telephone service. NHMC is a long-time proponent of modernizing Lifeline to fully include broadband. Latinos remain one of the groups most disconnected from broadband service, with only about half having a home subscription. That number drops to 38 percent for families that prefer to speak Spanish. Latinos who lack broadband at home name affordability as the reason. Indeed, more than a third (36 percent) of Latino smartphone owners have had to cancel or cut off service for a period of time because of the financial burden. By utilizing this small subsidy to help make broadband more affordable, Lifeline could be a key component to closing the digital divide. The FCC’s recent action comes on the heels of NHMC’s Jessica J. Gonzalez‘ June testimony in support of Lifeline modernization before the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet. The webcast of her remarks is available at minute 47:17 of this video. To learn more about Lifeline click here.
Save the Dates!upcomingevents
NHMC in the News It’s not possible to have read the news this past month and not stumble upon an article about Donald Trump and his bigoted remarks about Mexicans. Along the way, NHMC has been there demanding respect for Latinos, answering questions and making sure the media is paying attention.
Alex CNN
Dozens of journalists interviewed NHMC, with the organization appearing in more than 300 media outlets from CNN to the New York Times,  Click here to read more about the media coverage.
NHMC’s 2015 MediaCon
_Z0A4894 Earlier this month, more than 200 people gathered forNHMC‘s Annual MediaCon 2015 at the Hilton Universal. With a robust lineup of speakers including Hollywood insiders, executives, producers and managers, the conference explored and introduced opportunities for Latinos in the entertainment industry.
Did you miss the day’s activities? Check out the Flickr album to catch up on the discussion and networking.

NHMC at Netroots
A beautiful golden sunset over the city lights of downtown Phoenix with a silhouette of a blooming Saguaro cactus in the foreground. This month,NHMC‘s Michael Scurato participated in Netroots Nation in Phoenix, Arizona. Netroots Nation is a yearly conference where thousands of bloggers, newsmakers, social and racial justice advocates, labor and organizational leaders, grassroots organizers and online activists connect, hone their organizing skills and share best practices.
Michael spoke on a panel, How the Web Was Won: The Battle for Net Neutrality, which discussed the role of civil rights organizations such as NHMC in preserving an Open Internet.
Michael discussed how Net Neutrality positively impacts Latinos and other communities of color. For more information on why this victory is critical for Latinos and other people of color, please click here.
]]>

National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a woman-led 501(c)(3) non-profit civil and human rights organization that was founded to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward the Latino communities.
© 2024 National Hispanic Media Coalition // communications@nhmc.org // o. (626) 792-6462
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram