Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2014
Senator Jacob Candelaria to Join FCC Chairman Wheeler and Youth in Discussion on
Net Neutrality, Tech Policy
Public Encouraged to Participate in Q&A
Santa Fe, NM – On Monday, June 30, Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-26-Bernalillo) will join Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler and local youth for a roundtable discussion on net neutrality, telehealth, prison phones, rural broadband access, improved internet in schools and libraries, Lifeline, and the recent telecommunications mergers. The panel will commence at 6:30 p.m. at the South Broadway Cultural Center located at 1025 Broadway Blvd SE in Albuquerque.
The event titled, “Nuestras Voces/Our Voices: A Youth Dialogue with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler,” is hosted by the Media Literacy Project and Digital Justice Coalition of New Mexico. New Mexico Compass Editor-in-Chief Marisa Demarco and Autumn Chacon from Quote Unquote will also be joining Sen. Candelaria and Chairman Wheeler.
Since joining the senate, Sen. Candelaria has emerged as a dynamic state leader on tech policy.
“I am honored to be a part of an event that focuses on the importance of technology and the role it plays in society,” said Sen. Candelaria. “Last session, I co-sponsored Senate Bill159 (SB159), which invests $50 million over the next five years to increase broadband connectivity for rural and Native American schools. This is the most significant, single state investment in broadband ever. I sponsored this bill because I believe that connecting our kids to the newest advancements in technology is critical to providing every child an infrastructure of opportunity.”
In addition to passage of SB 159, Sen. Candelaria is currently leading a legislatively created task force charged with developing legislation to expand broadband connectivity for all New Mexicans.
The event is open to the public and will also be broadcast live on: www.ustream.tv/channel/nuestras-voces-our-voices. Questions to the panel can also be sent in any of the following ways:
1) via Twitter: use #OurVoicesNM and tag @medialitproject
2 via phone: call 505-858-8897 to leave questions/testimonies by June 27 at 5 p.m.
3) via video: send all video questions to alanna@medialiteracyproject.org
For more information, please contact Alanna Offield at 505-828-3312 or go to medialiteracyproject.org.
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