The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced the appointment of Susan Au Allen, National President and CEO of the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC), to serve as Vice Chair of the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC).
'Being named to serve as a Vice Chair of the Communications Equity and Diversity Council is an incredible honor and continues my active involvement with the FCC's many good works and essential outreach and engagement efforts, especially to our Asian American community. I thank FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for this wonderful opportunity to lend my expertise and serve in this important, new leadership role,' USPAACC National President and CEO Susan Au Allen said.
As noted in the FCC's press release issued today, the following reflects the official language of the Commission: the CEDC's mission is to 'focus on diversity and equity issues across the tech sector' and 'provide the Commission recommendations on advancing equity in the provision of and access to digital communication services and products for all people of the United States.' This mission broadens the CEDC's focus and responsibilities from the previously chartered Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE).
CEDC leadership consists of a Chair, Heather Gate, Vice President of Digital Inclusion, Connected Nation, and two Vice Chairs, Susan Au Allen, USPAACC National President and CEO, and Nicol Turner Lee, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation – Governance Studies, Brookings Institution, and leads a 35-Member Council and a 32-Member Working Group. Since 2017 Ms. Allen has been an active ACDDE member, co-leading the Supplier Diversity programs for nearly four years, resulting in two public Supplier Diversity events and a third, Tech Communications and Diversity Opportunity Symposium & Networking One-on-One Meeting Fair held this past April. All three events were designed for the small and underdeveloped business community.
The FCC's full announcement of Ms. Allen's appointment to serve as a Vice Chair of the CEDC is available at https://www.fcc.gov/document/chairs-announced-fcc-diversity-committee-november-3-meeting-set.
The FCC noted that the CEDC will have three working groups – 'Innovation and Access,' 'Digital Empowerment and Inclusion,' and 'Diversity and Equity,' respectively – charged with conducting its work during the current charter. The complete list of CEDC members, along with the composition of the three working groups, will be announced by the FCC at a future date. The CEDC will conduct its first meeting on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, and can be viewed online at www.fcc.gov/live."
