Professor Garcia named to FCC Intergovernmental Committee

OLLU Associate Professor of Marketing and District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Garcia, PhD, has been named to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). 

Dr. Garcia is the only municipal representative from Texas who will form part of the 30-member IAC.

The IAC is comprised of elected officials of municipal, county, state, and Tribal governments that will meet with Commission officials to exchange views, information, and advice on a range of telecommunications issues. The IAC will operate for two years commencing on April 18, 2024.

“Serving on the FCC’s IAC will give me the opportunity to work with government leaders across the country championing reliable and high-quality connectivity for all of our neighborhoods. So all can rely on robust, secure, and dependable broadband infrastructure systems,” Dr. Garcia said.

The committee may be tasked by the Chairwoman to produce specific deliverables that will further the Commission’s programs, mission, and objectives, which may include those related to increasing deployment and adoption of broadband services and any other tasks that may assist state, local, and Tribal government officials to better implement or describe the availability of Commission programs to their constituents and other members of the public.

FCC announces emergency broadband benefit program

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is providing information regarding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP). The FCC has announced that consumers can now apply for and enroll in the EBBP. The program will end when the fund runs out or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.

The EBBP program will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households, and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers, if the provider contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device per household.

Among those eligible are students who received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year and households with children in the school free-lunch program.

Individuals can get more information and apply for the program, if eligible, at:  https://getemergencybroadband.org