WHAT MAADD DOES

MAADD works through a massive grassroots effort to urge corporations and governmental decision makers to do their part to promote technology deployment and economic development in our communities.

MAADD works through churches to raise public awareness about the issue of economic inequality and the impact that the Digital Divide has on low-income and minority communities.

MAADD holds rallies and demonstrations to ensure that companies are held accountable to do their part in narrowing the Digital Divide.

MAADD encourages public and private investment in technology and training in our communities.

MAADD works with local, state and federal elected officials to discuss solutions to the Digital Divide.

MAADD supports policies that create economic development, as well as personal and economic empowerment. Since the lack of disposable income is one of the greatest causes of the Digital Divide, MAADD fights against unnecessary rate hikes and taxes.

MAADD promotes the use of technology as an efficient way to highlight social justice issues by harnessing the voice of the community.

WHAT MAADD HAS DONE

Since its incorporation in 2004, MAADD has worked tirelessly to promote policies and programs that increase economic development and bring state of the art technology, computers and training to low income communities across America. MAADD has also fought against unnecessary rate hikes and taxes that eliminate disposable income for consumers in an effort to insure that the last people on the Information Highway are not the first people off.

Below are some highlights of MAADD's work to assist the underserved. Click the links to expand the list.

Providing access to technology

  • MAADD supports the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan goal to bring high-tech broadband to every part of the country.
  • MAADD supported legislation in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida that would update current telecommunications laws to help bring more state-of-the-art wireless and broadband technology to local communities. Legislation like this will stimulate increased broadband investment which will provide greater opportunity for low-income communities by promoting economic development, better access to healthcare, job creation and access to quality education. MAADD explained to legislators how lower income communities are more likely to adopt mobile technology and laws should not continue to regulate landline technologies as the expense of greater broadband and wireless Internet access.

    MAADD letter to Governor Scott in support of Florida HB 1231

    MAADD letter in support of Florida HB 1231

    MAADD letter in support of Ohio HB 276

    MAADD letter in support of Wisconsin SB 469/AB 696

Fighting the erosion of disposable income

  • In 2008, MAADD joined forces with Action Now, Citizen Action Illinois, Michigan Citizen Action and Michigan Acorn to form an ad hoc alliance called BadCable.org. The group adds strength to MAADD's ongoing fight against the corporate greed that threatens consumers with rate hikes and poor service. BadCable.org called on communication giant Comcast to freeze its rate hikes for five years while improving customer service practices. The group staged a rally with Chicago consumers on August 19, 2008 at the Comcast office on North Avenue in Chicago, where they presented 25,000 petition signatures calling for better service and lower rates.
  • MAADD successfully lobbied the FCC to vote against imposing additional taxes on pre-paid calling cards – cards which are predominantly used by low income consumers.
  • In Illinois, MAADD successfully built a large coalition to defeat a Cook County Board proposed phone tax that would have imposed a massive $4 tax on every phone line – including each landline, fax line, broadband line and wireless phone line.
  • MAADD successfully defeated a proposed AT&T (formerly SBC) rate hike request and promoted competition in the phone market to keep rates low. As a result, competition has enabled consumers to obtain phone packages for under $20 per month and broadband for under $15 per month.
  • MAADD successfully promoted the passage of a settlement negotiated by the Illinois Citizen's Utility Board to freeze and reduce rates on basic phone packages. The settlement resulted in the opportunity for Illinois consumers to realize $20 million per year in savings and the deployment of broadband services to over 90% of the consumers in Chicago.
  • MAADD partnered with alliances in Michigan to successfully defeat a $200 million phone tax on every landline phone, wireless phone and VOIP phone used by Michigan consumers.

Promoting and protecting economic development in underserved communities

  • In its support of state legislation that would update telecommunications laws, MAADD has highlighted how legislation like HB 6425 in Illinois, SB 469/AB 696 in Wisconsin and SB 162/HB 276 in Ohio will provide greater opportunity for low-income communities by promoting more broadband investment. This investment will bring more economic development and better access to healthcare, jobs and education to these communities hardest hit by the economic recession. Furthermore, this legislation will spur greater broadband investment which will in turn open the door for the establishment of more minority-owned businesses that hire locally.

We are proud of our various accomplishments, but there is much more to do. MAADD will tackle any issue that promotes poverty and suppresses the ability for minorities and underserved communities to gain access to technology, training and ultimately advancement.