The Mabuhay Alliance is dedicated to growing prosperous and thriving Asian-American communities and empowering the Asian-American voice.  Of course, broadband plays a large role in both of those objectives.  President and CEO Faith Bautista welcomed Jeff Brueggeman, Vice President-Public Policy for AT&T, Emilio Gonzalez, Vice President for Public Policy & Strategic Alliances for Verizon, and Robert Mooney, Deputy Director, FDIC Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, to discuss the impacts of broadband in Asian-American life and what policies will best serve the Asian-American community.

AT&T’s Brueggeman discussed the work AT&T is doing to help with digital literacy and even affordability with programs like Lifeline.  Brueggeman believes that the FCC should focus on the important issues like identifying such challenges to adoption and then trying to find creative solutions.  Learn more in the video below:

Verizon’s Gonzalez agreed with the importance of tackling adoption issues.  He also noted that the broadband industry continues to invest in broadband networks even in today’s tough economic climate, resulting in job creation as well as all of the benefits of the networks themselves.  He believes policy should focus on the goal of getting everyone connected, regardless of income.

FDIC’s Mooney expressed concern for the “unbanked” and “underbanked,” but believes broadband is a solution to that challenge.  He believes that Internet banking can play a key role in delivering the benefits of banking to people in low-income communities in particular.

Watch the videos below for reactions to the event from Kady Chiu of Kadidid and Hyepin Im of Korean Churches for Community Development, as well as archived footage from the event.

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