CBC Members Press Telecom Industry on Diversity Efforts

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) led three of her fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), in penning a letter to the Presidents of the Internet and Television Association, the Wireless Association, the Internet Association, and the US Telecom Broadband Association, expressing concern about a lack of diversity recruitment efforts with some of their member companies which include: Verizon, T-Mobile AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Facebook, Google, and Twitter, among others. “The communications industry serves as the connection point for all Americans often driving our daily lives at home, school, and work while stimulating the economy by adding close to $1 trillion per year,” the letter reads. “It is common knowledge that African Americans over-index on all facets of communications from television viewership to smartphone usage.” The lawmakers say that for these reasons it is imperative that the workforce reflects the community driving it. Hence, they press the leaders to answer the following questions about the trade associations as well as their member companies: how many African Americans serve on their boards and in senior executive leadership positions; how many full-time African Americans do they employ; and how many African American-owned firms do they use as vendors or consultants and what percentage they comprise of their total spending. The lawmakers gave the associations 45 days to reply. Other signatories include Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC). Read the full letter here.