Cheryl Leanza

Know Peace Online: Know Your Facts As we navigate the digital landscape, each of us needs to steer carefully, developing the skill to ask questions, evaluate, and double-check the veracity of the information we encounter.

Facts are sacred.

This week’s #KnowPeaceOnline pillar—Know Your Facts—invites us to slow down and take stock of what we're seeing on our feed.

UCC Media Justice board member and educator Marti Weston explores how faith communities can respond to "information disorder" with care and clarity:

Coalition Urges FCC to Reverse Illegal, Unjust and Mystifying Prison Phone Justice Rollback Last night, UCC Media Justice joined a coalition of public interest groups that filed an Application for Review urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to overturn a recent decision by the ...

Read the UCC post:
uccmediajustice.org/fcc-decision...

Groups Challenge FCC's Bureau-Level Order Suspending Prison Phone Rate Cap The groups argue that the bureau's order delaying compliance to 2027 violates federal law.

Glad to see this coverage. But what is up with a photo of me from 2007???

broadbandbreakfast.com/groups-chall...

Read this one! #phonejustice

I hate to harp, but not only is the entire federal government falling into lawlessness, but with increasing frequency, the laws are actually not available. The @FCC's site cannot conduct a search in the electronic docket right now and now this -- ALL of Title 47 of the CFR is down for maintenance??

So grateful that we have @agomezfcc.bsky.social to bear witness and bring to light the depth of the attack on the First Amendment and the public interest. Here is her statement on the Paramount approval.
docs.fcc.gov/public/attac...

See the letter @uccmediajustice.org joined raising the same concerns: www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/...

Thanks to @techfreedom.org for speaking up about the concerns regarding the @FCC new Direct Final Rule process. My clients may come at many policies differently from them, but the process flaws in this new proposal transcend policy differences. www.fcc.gov/ecfs/documen...

Check out the UCC Media Justice board: uccmediajustice.org/board-staff/

I'm back from #UCCSynod and it was GREAT! Board members were amazing -- we worked collaboratively getting the word out about @uccmediajustice.org, planning and presenting a great workshop and fellowship. Here are is our board with esteemed former UCC Media Justice Exec Dir, Rev. Art Cribbs.

Bedford County phone contract remains unchanged after FCC ruling suspension Bedford County retains original phone contract as FCC ruling on inmate rates suspended.

Evidence of the harm done by the @FCC retraction of its phone justice decision. Rates **would have** gone down on July 1 in Bedford County, TN.

citizenportal.ai/articles/540...

Brandi Collins-Dexter to Receive Parker Award Posthumously The United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry will present Brandi Collins-Dexter with the Parker Award at its annual Parker Lecture and Awards Breakfast on October 30.

This is such sad news and I am glad @uccmediajustice.org can play a part in honoring her work and legacy.

uccmediajustice.org/brandi-colli...

The Trump FCC Threatens Press Freedom When It’s Needed Most “The government has no place in the newsroom.” That was once a near-universal principle articulated by leaders on both sides of the aisle, including then–FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.

This is HORRIBLE. CBS settles with Trump and pays $16 million over 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. apnews.com/article/trum...
Read about why from our prior blog:
uccmediajustice.org/the-trump-fc...

This is not only lawless, as so many government actions are, but the Trump FCC just defended this decision vigorously in court. Not that consistency seems to be a bar to inhumane actions.

If you are coming to Kansas City - please come visit me and the rest of the great @uccmediajustice.org board members who will be there!

And it sure seems like a court my consider it an "undue burden" if the law were challenged under this provision.

UCC Media Justice Urges Vote to REMOVE 5-Year Artificial Intelligence Regulation Moratorium UCC Media Justice strongly supports efforts to amend the reconciliation bill to REMOVE any version of the AI moratorium or pause.

We have opposed and continue to oppose the newest version of the AI moratorium included in the budget reconciliation bill as of today, including the Cruz-Blackburn compromise. 🧵

Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could mean slower Wi-Fi for you The FCC would be forced to sell unlicensed spectrum

In addition to the very bad AI moratorium attached to the Senate's budget reconciliation bill, there is also another very bad threat to everyone's wi-fi.
www.theverge.com/news/694479/...

US Supreme Court set to rule on FCC fund for phone, broadband access The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on Friday on the legality of how the Federal Communications Commission funds a multi-billion dollar effort to expand phone and broadband internet access to low-income and rural Americans and other beneficiaries.

Like many in my circle, we're all waiting for the final Supreme Court decisions of the term, in particular the FCC Universal Service Fund case www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration's bid to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.

Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration's bid to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.

Take the Know Peace Online Pledge! Commit to showing up with integrity online today.

This is a great new campaign by @uccmediajustice.org -- join in!
actionnetwork.org/forms/pledge...

Take the Know Peace Online Pledge! Commit to showing up with integrity online today.

This is a great one sign up and join in!
actionnetwork.org/forms/pledge...

Federal damage to affordable, equitable broadband and digital inclusion In recent days, major new proposals from the Trump Administration and the majority in Congress are damaging further mechanisms that would have provided low-cost broadband to households in need.

Major new proposals from the Trump Administration and the majority in Congress are damaging further mechanisms that would have provided low-cost broadband to households in need.

Policy Advisor @cleanza.bsky.social breaks down the damage on the UCC Media Justice blog:

Let digital equity not just be a goal but a gospel. God is still speaking and God is speaking in the language of today.

We are called to occupy the digital space. ... We must teach people not just to consume tech but to create it. Not just get jobs but own companies.

"We must build sanctuaries in cyberspace."

"We must be spirit-led and tech literate."

"If we don't get digital equity right we will repeat the mistakes of the past with fastest wi-fi."

"This digital Pentecost requires us to come out of our rooms into the streets."