According to the US Census, in 2005 Hispanics comprised 14% of the entire US population and by 2050, it is estimated that the Hispanic population will reach 29% — that’s a third of the entire population of America. And as the population grows, Hispanics have become increasingly more agile and demanding consumers, using the Internet to achieve economic growth, access education, health care services, and engage in civic and community involvement.
The benefits of being online for Hispanic users are real, and the release of the National Broadband Plan was critical in ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. As the nation expects a new wave of people coming online as the Plan is implemented, it’s important to be aware of some of the challenges that new users of the Internet can face, especially those using English as a second language.
While the Internet is filled with the promise of new tools and services that augment our everyday lives, life online unfortunately involves the potential of vulnerability to spam and so-called “phishing” schemes that attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by pretending to be a trustworthy source in an email. Recent adopters are often the least adept at identifying and avoiding these pitfalls, while seasoned users have become accustomed to looking for the hallmarks of deceptive communications.
As consumers we all have a role in taking responsibility for our lives online, and just as we follow best practices for safety in the offline world, we must do so in life online. And the partnership that individual users have with their Internet Service Providers is a critical one in ensuring that the Internet is navigable safely and securely, especially for those in the beginning stages of learning the “rules of the road” on the web. ISPs have sophisticated means of managing their networks, staving off invisible threats to our online experience, and ensuring that information flows efficiently and securely.
If the goal is getting new users in Hispanic communities online, we need an intent focus on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. Recently the FCC has proposed that broadband be reclassified as a phone service under Title II of the Communications Act, without knowledge about how these regulations could impact the marketplace or the consumer. In order to protect consumers we should continue to support a marketplace that encourages investment, innovation, choice and competition, rather than a diversion into regulation that could interfere with the investment key to realizing universal broadband.
A bipartisan majority of 247 members of Congress have responded to the FCC, asking that Congress be permitted to review and manage the significant change that the FCC has proposed. As a consumer advocate, I am compelled to agree with Congress. I believe that these issues are bigger than a regulatory fix that analysts have estimated could cause uncertainty in the marketplace, potentially harming consumers.
At a point in time when the Hispanic user has everything to gain from the innovation and competition that the current regulatory framework has fostered, anything that could serve as a roadblock to getting Hispanic communities online should be viewed with trepidation.
Debra Berlyn is President of Consumer Policy Solutions and has over 18 years of consumer advocacy experience, handling in-depth regulatory and legislative issues. She is a recognized, national voice on the issue of handling online safety and other telecommunications issues.
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