The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative is pleased to announce that Loris Taylor, President and CEO of Native Public Media, will join the Federal Communications Commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age (Committee). The Committee aims to make recommendations to the FCC to enhance the ability of minorities and women to participate in telecommunications and related industries. These recommendations work towards ensuring universal access and adoption of broadband.

Taylor is a recognized expert on Native America connectivity and  has represented the media interests of Native America through legacy and new media technologies including radio, television, video, and Internet journalism since 2004.  She led the team to publish the first seminal study on broadband “New Media, Technology and the Internet Use in Indian Country,” and has contributed to the FCC’s National Broadband Plan.

"Loris Taylor is a leading figure and a strong voice for Native American empowerment in key policy debates here in Washington, DC," stated Sascha Meinrath, Director of the Open Technology Initiative. "I commend Chairman Genachowski for appointing Loris to the FCC's Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age and providing this opportunity to amplify the voices of Native Americans in critically important decision-making."

Taylor said, “I am honored to serve on the FCC's Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age.  There is nothing more important than to ensure that digital policies work for people in historically underserved communities and my participation on the Committee will help represent those voices.”

About the Open Technology Initiative

The Open Technology Initiative (OTI) promotes affordable, universal, and ubiquitous communications networks through partnerships with communities, researchers, industry, and public interest groups and is committed to maximizing the potentials of innovative open technologies. Learn more at http://oti.newamerica.net.

About Native Public Media

Native Public Media promotes healthy, engaged, independent Native communities by strengthening and expanding Native American media capacity and by empowering a strong, proud Native American voice. Learn more at http://nativepublicmedia.org.

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