Six Hispanic nonprofit organizations, among them several HTTP members, have joined the Broadband for America Coalition. The coalition, which was announced last week, will educate policymakers and stakeholders about how the Internet and wireless networks work; drive policy discussions about how to achieve broadband everywhere and will work with the President, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Congress to develop and promote policies that maximize broadband access and adoption.

Today, Chairman Ed Towns of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform announced a summary of findings from the Committee’s review of information subpoenaed from the Media Ratings Council regarding Arbitron’s Portable People Meter. The PPM is a device that was developed by Arbitron to measure radio station listenership.

Last week’s Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) conference had to have been the best event that CHCI has ever held. As if a visit by President Obama and the First Lady was not enough, luminaries such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, numerous Hispanic legislators, renowned journalists Soledad O’Brien and Maria Hinojosa, and stars such as Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez attended the gala to support CHCI’s educational initiatives.

The Hispanic Institute (THI) released a white paper today at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Conference in Washington, D.C. Hispanic Broadband Access: Making the Most of a Mobile, Connected Future reports on an important telecommunications trend that has exciting implications for closing the Hispanic Digital Divide. While overall, the percentage of Hispanics that have access to broadband in the home is among the lowest of all demographic groups, some segments of the Hispanic population are among the most active users of mobile broadband technologies, even when compared to non-Hispanic populations.

The National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) expanded the functionality of their www.broadbandusa.gov portal with a searchable database of Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) and Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) applications. The public can use the database to find out which organizations submitted proposals in the first funding round, read brief overviews of the proposed projects, and learn how much funding is being requested for program implementation. Organizations who are considering applying for future rounds of BTOP / BIP funding will find this database invaluable as they develop their proposal strategies.

On July 22, BusinessWeek posted an article citing a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project study that describes how wireless connections are helping to narrow the Digital Divide. The study reinforces one of our recent blogs on the state of competition in the wireless industry. The data points to a thriving market that is benefiting consumers, particularly Hispanics and African Americans.

On July 21, the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) submitted reply comments to the FCC on the creation of a National Broadband Plan. In our filing, we reiterated the importance of expanding broadband deployment and adoption to all Americans. We urged the FCC to focus on 100% broadband and efforts to promote broadband adoption before addressing other concerns that could take away from these objectives.

Earlier this month, Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee sent a letter to the FCC and the Department of Justice sharing his concerns about lack of competition in the wireless market. His letter covered a number of important issues affecting Latino consumers including roaming requirements, text messaging fees and early termination fees. The letter states that he is concerned about “emerging barriers to competition”. From a consumer and advocacy perspective we are concerned about barriers to a speedy economic recovery.