What Is ‘Digital Discrimination’ And What Is LA Doing To Stop It?
The FCC has already defined the practice and implemented a federal ban.
Giphy
News that is entertaining to read
Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inboxVarious other forms of discrimination against certain communities — from hiring to housing — have been banned for generations, but leaders in Los Angeles say there’s a more recent development that applies similar inequities in a less conspicuous way.
Battling “digital discrimination”
As city council members argued prior to passing a motion aimed at addressing the issue, “digital discrimination” refers to unfair practices by internet service providers whereby better deals and faster connections are reserved for neighborhoods that reflect certain demographics.
City leaders borrowed the definition provided by the Federal Communications Commission last year, which prohibits practices that “differentially impact consumers’ access to broadband internet access service based on their income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion, or national origin.”
The new policy will allow those who believe they have been targeted by such discriminatory behavior to file a complaint that will be investigated by the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department.
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who wrote the legislation, called its passage “a big win” for marginalized communities in the city.
Behind the numbers
The legislation cites “multiple studies showing the impact of industry pricing practices that worsen the digital divide by exacerbating the challenge of affordability.”
One such study was conducted by the California Community Foundation and determined that Charter Communications “offered slower service at higher prices” as well as “contracts with worse terms and conditions” to communities with higher poverty rates.
Charter pushed back against the findings, asserting that the foundation’s conclusions were “intentionally misleading.”
Additional criticism came from the Central City Foundation of Los Angeles, which represents the interests of businesses including both Charter and AT&T. It described the L.A. measure as duplicative since the FCC already prohibits digital discrimination.
CEO Nella McOsker advised that the city should instead focus on “digital education, affordability programs and device availability.”
Why Is The Aging Voyager 1 Probe Sending Back Incoherent Communications?
It's been speaking gibberish for a few months and officials are concerned.
One Woman’s Massive Donation Is Wiping Out Tuition At This Medical School
Her inheritance came with the instruction to do "whatever you think is right."
Woman’s Pets Will Inherit Her Multimillion-Dollar Fortune, Not Her Kids
It's not the first time four-legged heirs were named in a will.