Full text of testimony given by NYCMA's Communications Manager Jehangir Khattak on November 20th, 2009, befor New York City Council's Committe on technology in government
Read Blog: Net Neutrality & Social Justice for NYC's Immigrant Communities
Madam Chairperson,
Thanks for invitation to speak about the importance of involving the ethnic and community media in the discussion on the importance of net neutrality. My name is Jehangir Khattak. I am the Communications manager at the New York Community Media Alliance. NYCMA is a non-profit organization that works for the promotion of the ethnic and community media in New York and New Jersey. As you all know NYC is home to over 3.5 million immigrants, about 1.8 million of whom either have limited or no knowledge of English and thus their primary source of information is ethnic and community media in their own languages. This is one of the reasons for the mushroom growth of this media sector in this part of the country and today there are over 350 ethnic and community publications that come out of New York. These include 26 foreign-language dailies. Thus print and electronic media are also an integral part of their lives -- and in certain cases may be more important to them than to the average American, especially in case of those communities with low English literacy and no community media here and who have to access the internet to read news related to the countries of their origin.
We at the NYCMA are working very closely with this media sector to catch up with the emerging technology curve in the information sector. We have been organizing training sessions for more efficient use of web based tools for reporting and encouraging publications of this media sector to better organize their web presence. We believe that network neutrality demands open and free Internet that fosters competition and innovation; and gives people access to the content and services of their choice. However, even the bigger issue is awareness amongst the communities about the subject. The FCC and the advocacy groups have largely failed in connecting with these communities on the subject. The level of understanding about the issue of network neutrality amongst immigrant and minority communities is far below the mark. That's why, the subject has not been focus of much editorial debate in this media sector. There are social justice implications for these communities as well when they cannot connect the dots between their realities and access to the Internet. For example what does it mean if popular Skype is no longer available for low cost? And what does it mean for students who lack Internet access and their academic success? Also what does it mean if news from the home country can only be accessed through the Internet and it is no longer available because it is no longer affordable to go online? These are not simple questions. These are possibilities which will adversely impact the communities if net neutrality vanishes. The media which these communities use as their news source is largely equally ignorant about the subject or is unknowingly failing to connect the dots that could lead to a broader understanding of the issue of network neutrality in their communities. Many of the media outlets might desire to highlight the issue but lack of understanding is one key hurdle in their way.
We at NYCMA have joined efforts to engage the ethnic press in critical discussions about the future of information and communications technology. We are working on organizing a one-day forum on media policy in March 2010. It will essentially focus on network neutrality as well. We are working closely with two leading media policy organizations, the People's Production House and Free Press in this connection. We held the first preparatory focus group meeting for the forum on October 15 which was attended by senior journalists from different ethnic and community publications and television channel. We found at this meeting that the level of understanding of the issue of net neutrality was very low amongst the participants. For example, participants from Asian newspapers estimated that 90% of their readership uses the internet, while others gave estimates of 50-60%. Though an overwhelming majority of the ethnic and community media has online presence, a majority has little idea of how net neutrality can benefit them and their communities. We feel that internet should offer a level field for usage to every body. Net Neutrality is the beginning of a larger conversation on the future of the Internet. The larger goal is affordable and open Internet access for everyone, everywhere. Net neutrality ensures the freedom of speech and creativity that have made the Internet such a powerful tool for democracy and innovation. Net neutrality recognizes that the Internet is an essential infrastructure for economic, social and political activity and not just a private commodity to be controlled by corporations. That's why we not just support the calls for new FCC regulations to break the monopoly of a few companies but also want more serious efforts to create greater understanding of the issue of net neutrality. We appreciate the City Council's resolution calling for new FCC regulations for more open internet access. We support the Council's Res. No. 712 – A; which calls on the FCC to codify strong network neutrality principles in order to ensure that the Internet will continue to foster innovation, increase competition, and spur economic growth as well as making the Internet faster and more affordable for all. We feel that net neutrality is the benchmark for free flow of information and must be protected.
I thank you for your time and attention
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