The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council celebrates its 25th anniversary this week, heralding a quarter-century of promoting and preserving equal opportunity and civil rights in mass media.
The group was founded in 1986 in response to the FCC suspension of two of three minority broadcast ownership encouragement policies. Founding members included eight media and telecom activists, scholars and entrepreneurs.
According to the MMTC, its media brokerage work in Washington has been responsible for approximately one-third of broadcast station purchases since 1997 and has trained 52 fellows to practice telecom law before the FCC. The group also runs the broadbandandsocialjustice.org blog and sponsors two separate annual telecom policy conferences.
Jan. 1 will mark new leadership at MMTC. Henry Rivera is becoming chair emeritus after 25 years as MMTC’s chair. He’ll continue to serve on the board and the executive committee.
Former chair of the Florida Public Service Commission Julia Johnson will be MMTC’s new chair, and former FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate becomes vice chair. Ronald Johnson, president, Ronson Network Services, will be treasurer. Erwin Krasnow continues as a vice chair and Ari Fitzgerald remains as secretary of the board. David Honig remains board president and chief executive officer. Maurita Coley, currently a vice chair, will become vice president and chief operating officer.
