Meet The Women Transforming the Broadband Industry: Seven Women Driving Digital Inclusion
I wrote about the Internet’s livelihood, and I rarely met female CEOs when I reviewed Internet service providers.
In fact, 15 ISP Each country covers 2% or more countries, and I can only calculate one company with one female CEO. according to Women’s business cooperationonly 10% of Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs.
The broadband industry continues to develop. New developments in Internet connection, from Li-Fi arrive 5G Internethas changed the way we are online over the years. But in terms of leadership, most authoritative positions in broadband still belong to men.
Even though male leadership tends to make most decisions about broadband deployment and policy, prominent women have been making progress in digital equity – often striving to work for growing demand Digital Divide with minimal identification or representation.
“I’ve been working in what we now call the digital divide for 27 to 28 years — for a long time,” said Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
Other women, such as Gigi Sohn or Jessica Rosenworcel, previously held positions with the Federal Communications Commission, promoted policies that support consumers, not just companies that provide internet services.
To commemorate Women’s History Month, I have compiled a copy (without a special order) in which seven outstanding women in broadband have contributed to internet access over the years. From government officials to lawyers to leaders of grassroots organizations, these women have had a tangible impact on the Internet over decades of their work.
1. Jessica Rosenworcel
Rosenworcel, inspects the FCC at a supervisory hearing.
Jessica Rosenworcel is The first chairman of the FCC. Despite her resignation since then, Rosenworcel has had a huge impact on the telecommunications and broadband industries, her ruling Network neutrality,,,,, Her position on monopoly Her commitment to broadband accessibility. Rosenworcel coined a word before the pandemic worsened its internet connectivity state.Work gap“Or the gap that emerges between students without internet and students without computers. The homework gap has intensified during the pandemic, and Rosenworcel has driven the expansion. FCC’s electronic rate plan Includes Wi-Fi hotspots and network security plans.
“It is an opportunity out of crisis.” Rosenworcel told CNET as chairman. “We’ve ended our days of talking about broadband as ‘nice’. Now, decision makers everywhere know that for everyone in this country, it’s all “needed”.
2.Jordana Barton-García, connecting humans
Jordana Barton-García is Connecting with humans and director and co-founder Rio Grand Valley Broadband Alliance Texas. Barton-García is committed to retaining rural and low-income communities in South Texas by developing broadband deployment and digital inclusion programs. The Alliance recently announced Broadband and digital opportunity programsan initiative aimed at getting every “family, business and community hosting agency” in the Rio Grande Valley and available for affordable high-speed internet.
Barton-García contributed to the 2024 achievement that helped fund $112 million in broadband development and adoption programs from Appalachia to Rio Grande Valley.
3. GigiSohn, American Public Broadband Association
Gigi Sohn was the FCC Commissioner for February 2023 at the confirmation hearing.
Gigi Sohn is American Public Broadband Associationan advocacy group for public and community-owned broadband networks. Sohn is the voice of community owning and operating broadband, Bountiful, Utah recently launched an open network.
Sohn has over 30 years of experience advocating consumer-friendly policies. Sohn has been a counselor to former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler for 12 years and is co-founder and former CEO Public Knowledgea public interest group focused on digital equity and technology policies.
4. AnnaGomez, FCC specialist
Anna Gomez is a FCC specialist who works on rural broadband and keeps the telecom industry competitive. Gomez served in the FCC for more than 12 years, has different capabilities and has more than 30 years of experience in domestic and international law and policy. Gomez has always been network neutral, affordable internet and The resurrection of the Affordable Connection Plan.
Gomez in a statement Urge for ACP.
5. NTCA’s Rural Broadband Association Shirley Bloomfield
Shirley Bloomfield was held in May 2020 at a Senate Committee on Business, Science and Transportation.
Shirley Bloomfield is National Telecommunications Cooperation Association – She held a position for nearly 15 years. Bloomfield has over 35 years of experience in the telecom industry, especially advocating for rural broadband programs and helping to obtain funding for independent rural ISPs. NTCA represents approximately 850 independent ISPs.
In addition to advocating local, rural broadband, Bloomfield and NTCA advocates to advocate for consumer privacy and universal services with an affordable and fast internet. Bloomfield also advocates the General Services Fund, which is lifeline and electron rate. USF is awaiting Supreme Court decision Regarding whether the plan is unconstitutional and if it is violated, NTCA believes Rural broadband prices will soar.
6. Katherine de Witt, Pew Charitable Trust
Kathyrn de Wit is project director Broadband access plan at the Pew Charitable Trust. The program focuses on improving broadband access and affordability by conducting research using data on the status of Internet access. This work often informs state and federal policies and addresses current broadband access research gaps. De Witt has over 10 years of experience in public policy and research, and Testimonials in Congress In broadband accessibility status multiple times.
recent, Wisdom promotion More transparent Bead Fund Ensure broadband deployment is a consistent process and does not slow down by “unnecessary and restricted authorization.”
7. Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
Angela Siefer (left) is in the NDIA activity.
Angela Siefer is the Executive Director, too National Digital Inclusion Allianceis a nonprofit organization with unilateral goals of digital equity and inclusion. NDIA has always been one of the most prominent voices in the fight for digital equity 2,000 member organizationsand decision makers and researchers. disturb It has been advocating the digital divide since 1995 and founded NDIA in 2015. In addition to deploying internet infrastructure, Siefer and NDIA advocates to ensure the internet is affordable, people are equipped with digital navigation skills. NDIA hosts numbers include meetings and hosts Digital equity toolkit, and Research List on its website.
“If we get broadband in every community, that doesn’t mean we’ve bridged the digital divide,” Siefer told me. “That means the infrastructure is there, and now we need to help people understand how to use it safely and do great things in their lives.”
