On April 17, 2018, in a moot court room where law students ordinarily gather to debate, students and advocates from coast to coast gathered for a symposium on Social Justice and Technology. Francella Ochillo, NHMC’s Director of Government & Legal Affairs, spoke on a panel with Harold Feld (Public Knowledge), Dee Davis (Center for Rural Strategies), and Tony Neal-Graves (Colorado’s Broadband Office). She highlighted NHMC’s work on Net Neutrality, Lifeline, and Immigrant surveillance and explained why all Americans have a stake in keeping marginalized communities connected. Other panelists expanded on why state governments and local municipalities must find innovative ways to stay connected as they are often better equipped to address local needs.
The conference, organized by University of Colorado law students Edyael Del Carmen Casaperalta and Alex Kimata, generated thought-provoking questions beyond the importance of having Internet access and the need to find community solutions to accelerate broadband deployment. Panelists also explored the relationship between free speech and justice, the efficacy of applying American standards to a global platform, and the dangers associated with unrestricted government surveillance in vulnerable communities.
