"Access to the stream of communications is a fundamental right--as much so as education, health care, social security and a living wage. No one can participate effectively in our democracy without full access to the stream of communications."
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

The Federal Communications Commission chairman has proposed renewing the tax certificate program as a means of increasing minority ownership in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Kennard listed five points he believes a new program should contain:

· An effective tax certificate must apply not just to radio, TV and cable, but to all telecommunications businesses, including wireline, wireless and satellite;

· A useful tax certificate program should provide incentives for any small, disadvantaged business, but it should recognize that companies owned by minorities and women face unique obstacles which warrant enhanced benefits;

· A successful program must impose limits on how many times an entrepreneur can benefit from a certificate;

· An efficient plan needs strict standards on firms eligible to purchase licenses so that large corporations or unscrupulous dealmakers operating as fronts are not the ones to benefit from this program; and

· A cost-effective program needs safeguards to prevent speculative ventures from indiscriminately flipping properties and to attract owners committed to building businesses that serve communities.

The incentive to sell stations to minorities is needed again, Mr. Kennard said, because the communications industry "that sends ideas and information to the American people does not reflect the rich diversity of our nation today. And it certainly doesn't reflect what our nation will look like in the coming century."

As part of building a better America, Mr. Kennard said he has focused the FCC's attention on using technology to bridge race, class and opportunity divides. The commission recently funded an e-rate program, he said, that will wire schools and libraries to the Internet.

My worst fears are that we forget how these new telecommunication capabilities can help young people (and probably older people as well) play an active role in economic opportunities. On a higher level, these are some of the issues we must address:

(1) We then must prepare minority groups for ownership, training, and knowledge in all telecommunication related fields. The future will provide many ownership opportunities in these fields. The key words are "ownership preparedness."

(2) Telecommunication technologies and applications progress at a rapid pace. There is now and will continue to be a demand for training programs that will upgrade current skills.

(3) We must develop methods to increase new businesses opportunities based on advanced telecommunication technologies.

Another issue is the use of the Internet for personal enrichment and to increase the quality of life: for example, searching for information, on-line shopping, on-line banking, and communication with others.

How can we generate an infrastructure that would accommodate the above concerns? What are the key components and expected outcomes? Finally, what policies and programs must be in place to facilitate a rapid planning and implementation process?

To (1)

I do not believe that Middle and High Schools in urban areas are adequately prepared to address these issues. There are few, if any qualified or appropriately trained teachers available. This type of staff demands a high salary in order to compete with the private sector. In addition, budgetary limitations for a typical school do not allow for up-to-date technology-based hardware and software.

I suggest the establishment of centrally located training facilities (such as community centers with technological equipment) to create customized programs accessible to students 12 hours a day using hands-on training methods. The centers would form partnerships with schools and private companies who are in the business of radio, print, newspaper, and mass media to teach courses in business concepts and principals as well as technology. This increases the probability of ownership or high-end salaried positions for students.

To (2)

Also, the same facilities could cost-effectively upgrade skills in new and more advanced telecommunication technologies as well as applications.

To (3)

A much more challenging endeavor is to develop programs fostering the start up of new businesses. These facilities would support typical incubator activities such as providing space, access to office services, access to business development services (business plan, patent, legal, etc.)

Addressing these issues has the potential to create well-educated urban communities eligible for exciting job opportunities. It will bring schools and the private sector closer together and create environments that foster the start up of new businesses located in community industrial parks.

I suggest that the Department of Commerce not only adopts these policies, but also the Department be the funding agency for programs that will carry out these policies.