Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenworcel on Tuesday (February 8) said an all-of-agency task force has been created to promote broadband equity, including by preventing deployment discrimination based on income, race or other factors.

The task force, promoted by the Biden infrastructure bill requirements, will be headed by D‘wana Terry, special adviser to Rosenworcel and acting director of the Office of Workplace Diversity.

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Others in leadership positions are Sanford Williams, also a special adviser and deputy managing director in the office of managing director; and Alejandro Roark, chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.

The task force‘s creation coincides with a big push from the Biden administration to close the digital divide through a host of broadband subsidy programs that include equity as a key element, dating from COVID-19-related funds and the new infrastructure bill broadband investments.

Among the infrastructure bill's directives, the FCC pointed out in announcing the new task force, was to adopt final rules on facilitating equal access to broadband, including by prevent deployment discrimination.

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The task force will also come up with “model policies” for the states getting billions of dollars of those subsidies for their own broadband deployment and adoption efforts.

Finally, Rosenworcel said the FCC will tweak its public complaint process to more prominently seek input from consumers who feel they are facing digital discrimination.

The statutory deadline for the initiatives is November 23. ■

Attorney Daryl Parks said AT&T has denied his request to speak at its shareholders meeting about his clients' allegations of broadband redlining in Cleveland, though a copy of that letter signaled that AT&T would share his concerns with the board.

Parks earlier this week said those clients would be suing AT&T over the issue and wanted to bring that to shareholders' attention personally. That comes as AT&T is trying to get its merger with Time Warner approved by the Justice Department, a point Parks made in announcing the suit.

"Yesterday I received a fax from AT&T’s Stacey Maris, senior vice president, assistant general counsel and secretary in response to the letter we delivered April 24th," Parks told Multichannel News. "AT&T has specifically denied my request to speak at the annual shareholders meeting that occurs this Friday, April 28, 2017. Stating that 'The agenda for our Annual Meeting is already established, but if you attend our Meeting, I hope you find it informative and enjoyable.'"

Parks, who represented the family of Trayvon Martin, said AT&T did not address his request for a meeting or the merits of the allegations. He said the company was stonewalling, that the issue "will not simply disappear" and that redlining was not confined to Ohio.

"So from this point, we intend to generate a national dialogue about unequal and unfair essential broadband services," he said. "We fully expect to move AT&T from its current posture of denial to one of acceptance, and then to one of correction, change and reconciliation."

An AT&T spokesperson was not available for comment at press time, but the company said in response to the threatened suit: "We don't favor any demographic when it comes to providing any service we offer. The market for internet service has never been more vibrant and competitive, both wireless and wireline. We would like nothing more than to serve every customer in Cleveland that wants our services.”

According to a copy of the full letter obtained by Multichannel News/B&C, AT&T did agree to share his letter and the allegations with the members of the board, and said he Parks was welcome at the meeting.

The text of the letter appears below:

Dear Mr. Parks

We Have received your letter dated yesterday. Whle I won't comment on the specifics of your letter here, I want to confirm for you that it will be shared with our Board of Directors for its consideration. In addition, as a shareholder, you are warmly invited to attend our Annual Meeting on Friday here in Dallas. As you know, all our proxy materials mayh be found at www.proxy.att. The agenda for our Annual Meeting is already established, but if you attend our meeting, I hope you find it informative and enjoyable.

Sincerely,
Stacey Maris.