A wide array of media and telecom industry experts, innovators, and investors will spend much of Thursday in Washington, D.C., to discus the latest developments in such areas as tech accountability, online privacy, diversity, the future of work, innovative financing, spectrum, and next generation technology and opportunities for smart cities and entrepreneurs.
They’ll also be on hand to see the bestowing of the MMTC’s Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award to the newest former FCC Commissioner.
The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) will convene its 16th annual Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conference on Thursday (7/18) in Washington, D.C.
Among the anticipated highlights of the event are the honoring of Mignon Clyburn with the Parker award, for her role as the first female FCC Chair and the first African American FCC Commissioner. This will take place during the FCC Commissioners’ Awards Luncheon. During the luncheon, the MMTC will also confer its Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award to Davis Wright Tremaine.
MMTC will also take the opportunity at the luncheon to unveil its new Henry Rivera Fellowship, named in honor of former FCC Commissioner and first MMTC Chair, Henry Rivera.
The annual conference for 2018 carries the tagline “Disruption & Opportunity.” Sessions begin at 8am in Room 202/203, with Members of Congress from the Tech Accountability Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus addressing net neutrality, online privacy legislation, algorithm discrimination, media ownership, and other media and telecom issues impacting communities of color.
That’s followed by the session “The Future of Work: Turning Innovation Into Opportunity.” Among the scheduled panelists are Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
From 10:45-11:45, a group of experts will discuss challenges and incentives for cities and communities that are stimulating the deployment of advanced telecommunications technologies.
Following the luncheon, a session from 2pm-3:15pm puts into focus the need to reimagine broadcasting, cable and OTT. NABOB President Jim Winston and Univision Communications VP/Assistant General Counsel for Public Policy Victoria Jefferies.
Lastly, a 3:30pm session puts the spotlight on financing experts in FinTech, incubators, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, and traditional venture capitalists, as a discussion of the potential and pitfalls of innovative funding strategies that have become available to entrepreneurs and startups in the evolving financing and technology landscape is held.
Among those participating in this session is Francisco Montero, Managing Partner of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth.
