National Latino Congreso 2012
May 17-19, 2012

¿Permisos para 'sin papeles'?
Así como en Arizona y Alabama se han promovido legislaciones que restringen derechos a los inmigrantes sin papeles, en California se estará impulsando una iniciativa que otorgaría permiso de trabajo legal a los indocumentados.

Se trata del "Plan California", una iniciativa que ayer se reveló en el Congreso Latino que se llevó a cabo en el Pitzer College de Claremont, con la cual se estaría desafiando a las leyes federales ante la inacción del Congreso y de la Casa Blanca respecto a la reforma migratoria.

Seconded: Luis Enrique Bustamonte, Mexican American Voters League

WHEREAS Latino communities have suffered disproportionately from the digital divide;

WHEREAS Latino communities pay disproportionately high rates for cellular and broadband service;

WHEREAS Latinos have been historically and structurally marginalized in the telecommunications sector;

WHEREAS the U.S. Economy should strive to be more inclusive towards people of color including Latinos and allow for pathways out of poverty and relief to people suffering the most from the economic crisis;

WHEREAS the NLC opposes monopolitsic buisness practices, as they are usually hamrful for consumers in general;

WHEREAS the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T will lead to fewer jobs;

WHEREAS the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T will lead to less competition;

WHEREAS the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T will eliminate low cost plans without burdensome yearly contracts that Latinos rely on for economic sustainability;

WHEREAS the proposed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T may lead to the loss of many retail centers in Latino neighborhoods;

WHEREAS AT&T has had inferior cellular service with many lost calls;

WHEREAS AT&T has been a good corporate citizen;

WHEREAS T-Mobilie has been absent on issues related to corporate citizenship, especially in the Latino community;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that organizations represented by delegates of the 2010 National Latino Congreso, in the interest of protecting Latino families, urge AT&T to answer the following questions before we take a position on this merger:

• How will cellular phone service be more affordable if this acquisition were to be approved?

• How will internet broadband service be more accessible and affordable if this acquisition were to be approved?

• How would Latino owned businesses be impacted by the proposed acquisition?

• Will Latino owned business have access to more affordable T-1 lines?

• Will Latino non-profits see more philanthropy from AT&T?

• Will Latinos be employed a proportional population rates by AT&T?

• Will Latinos owned businesses have access to business contracts by AT&T as a proportion to their demographics?

• Will AT&T allow customers to opt out of their wireless contracts without paying a penalty?

• Will AT&T extend non-discriminatory, open Internet protections to wireless Internet access?

• Will AT&T allow wireless devices manufactured by companies it does not have an exlcusive arrangement with to operate on its network?

FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED that organizations represented by delegates of the 2010 National Latino Congreso urge AT&T to agree to set as a priority aggressive broadband adoption programs that include a $10 billion, 10-year initative that expands Internet accecss points and Internet training in under-served communities throughout the country and they assist with creating a National Broadband Council reflective of the populations served;

FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED that organizations represented by delegates of the 2010 National Latino Congreso urge President Barack Obama’s Administration to hold hearings on the acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T in Latino communities;

FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED that organizations represented by delegates of the 2010 National Latino Congreso urge organizations representing Latino constituencies to wait before opposing or support the acquisition until the above questions are answered by AT&T.