As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close, the Internet Innovation Alliance’s featured member of the week is the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), who has been an advocate for expanded broadband access and the benefits it would provide for the Latino community.
LCLAA was founded in 1972 to promote the participation of Hispanic trade unionists in a more responsive labor movement. The LCLAA seeks to provide a voice for Latino working families nationally by working with a coalition of leading Hispanic organizations to maximize support for economic and social policies that are essential to advancing the interests of Hispanics.
Research by the Pew Hispanic Center shows that although Latinos and African Americans lag behind in technology use and Internet access, they are more likely to utilize their cell phone to access the Internet. According to LCLAA, in order “to overcome the digital divide in our nation, promoting the expansion of high speed broadband is critical for Latino and low-income communities who increasingly rely on mobile technologies to access the Internet.”
LCLAA also included a panel “Expanding Internet Access: Broadband’s Role in Creating Jobs and Closing the Digital Divide” at their recent “We Are One/Somos Uno” Educational Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 4-6, 2011. The panel featured Norelie Garcia, associate vice president of federal public affairs for AT&T and Debbie Goldman, policy director and research economist for the Communications Workers of America. Norelie and Debbie discussed how expanding Internet access is a critical element to create jobs, promote economic growth, and improve education, health care, and public safety.
The IIA is proud to count LCLAA as a member and thanks them for all their work tirelessly advocating for universal broadband access.