What’s the FCC saying about Rowdy Orbit?
Prepared Remarks of Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn
Minority Media and Telecommunications Council’s Broadband and Social Justice Summit
John H. Johnson School of Communications
Howard University
January 22, 2010
(paraphrased)
But when it comes to communities of color –and other traditionally underrepresented groups –the broadband story does not and can not end with adoption. Broadband is not simply a one-way challenge limited to finding ways in which individuals can obtain meaningful high-speed Internet access. To view the problem in such a circumscribed manner misses some of the most potent aspects of this transformative technology. Broadband’s keypromise for people of color in particular is economic empowerment. For the first time, there are no immediate and overwhelming barriers to entry for upstart businessmen and women or “cyberpreneurs”. Broadband has opened avenues never dreamed possible by those in challenged communities.
Just ask Jonathan Moore, the Founder & CEO of RowdyOrbit IPTV. Rowdy Orbit is an online platform featuring professionally produced original programming for minority audiences. We learned at the Commission’s Speech, Democratic Engagement and the Open Internet workshop in mid-December that Mr. Moore founded his company because he was frustrated over the lack of representation of people of color in traditional media. The reality is that minority content is almost impossible to get distributed through traditional channels.
With an initial investment of only $526, Mr. Moore has created a platform for talented media creators to get eyeballs without the cost and culture barriers of traditional media. Had the costs of access been much greater, however –say if he had to buy his way into priority status on one or more networks –Rowdy Orbit maynever have seen the light of day.
FOR THE FULL OPENING SPEECH VISIT:
http://www.fcc.gov/
Then download Word or PDF under the Headline Section with the date of 1/22/10
