FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2018
CONTACT: Alison Sotomayor communications@nhmc.org
NHMC Joins Consumer Advocacy Groups in Net Neutrality Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and groups Public Knowledge, Access Now, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Media Justice, Common Cause, Consumers Union, Demand Progress, Engine, Fight for the Future, Free Press Action Fund, Native Public Media, and New America's Open Technology took part in Net Neutrality Advocacy Day, which gave individuals the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their representatives and explain in their own words what the open Internet means to them.
The morning started off with advocacy training that prepared participants with information that would be helpful for their members of Congress. Following the training, individuals were escorted to their state representatives to voice their concerns about the Net Neutrality repeal.
On May 16th, in a 52-47 vote, the U.S. Senate passed the Congressional Review Act discharge resolution (S.J.Res.52) to preserve the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 2015 Open Internet Order and restore Net Neutrality, proof that Senators were listening to their constituents. The goal of the Advocacy Day was to urge the House of Representatives to move the CRA forward, ensuring consumers are protected and have equal access online.
Francella Ochillo, Director, Government & Legal Affairs at National Hispanic Media Coalition said:
"Today we joined our allies to meet with members of Congress to discuss how they can step up and defend our digital civil rights by supporting the Net Neutrality CRA. The Internet was always intended to be an open platform in which communities nationwide had access to the same information and opportunities. However, the FCC's repeal of Net Neutrality protections gave Internet Service Providers the power to decide when and how the public experiences the Internet. For Latinos and other marginalized communities, Net Neutrality is about defending our rights to speak, create, organize, and be heard on a 21st century platform. We hope that members of Congress will reinstate these consumer protections, which are so critical to members of our community."
For interviews, please contact Clarissa Corona, at communications@nhmc.org or at 213.718.0732.
### The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is the media watchdog for the Latino community, ensuring that we are fairly and consistently represented in news and entertainment and that our voices are heard over the airwaves and on the internet. We exist to challenge executives and influencers throughout the entertainment and news industry to eliminate barriers for Latinos to express themselves and be heard through every type of medium. NHMC works to bring decision-makers to the table to open new opportunities for Latinos to create, contribute and consume programming that is inclusive, free from bias and hate rhetoric, affordable and culturally relevant. Receive real-time updates on Facebook, Twitter @NHMC and Instagram @NHMC_org.
