NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500Fax-On-Demand   202 / 418-2830TTY 202/418-2555Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
April 15, 2010 John Giusti at (202) 418-2000
STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS 
ON THE PASSING OF DR. BENJAMIN L. HOOKS
With the passing of Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, the Federal Communications Commission 
and the country at large have lost a true trailblazer. Dr. Hooks – a lawyer, a Baptist minister, a 
civil rights leader, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient – served as the FCC’s first 
African-American Commissioner from 1972 to 1977. Through his leadership, his conviction and 
his flair, he gave a voice to minorities and the poor. When he started at the FCC, not a single TV 
station in this country was owned by an African-American, and employment of minorities and 
women in broadcasting was at abysmally low levels. Dr. Hooks set out to change this, and 
change it he did. He was instrumental in providing opportunities to get broadcast licenses into 
the hand of minorities – including Howard University, which ran the first African-American-
owned TV station – and in boosting minority employment in broadcasting from a meager 3 
percent to 15 percent during his tenure. We need to re-commit ourselves to the work done by Dr. 
Hooks so many years ago – to endeavor for a robust, inclusive media landscape that truly reflects 
the rich cultural diversity of all our nation's citizens.
This past December, I had the privilege of joining Dr. Hooks at the National Civil Rights 
Museum in his hometown of Memphis. We were there for an FCC Field Hearing on Digital 
Inclusion. Dr. Hooks recognized broadband technology as “the great enabler of the 21st
century.” He, more than anyone, understood the importance of access to full civic participation 
in our society. As we implement the National Broadband Plan, we should honor Dr. Hooks’ 
memory by ensuring equal opportunity in this Digital Age by bringing the benefits of enabling 
broadband technology and an open Internet to all Americans – no matter who they are, where 
they live, or the particular circumstances of their individual lives. As Dr. Hooks said in 
Memphis, “We can get there from here.”
Commissioner Hooks – just like Lawyer Hooks, Reverend Hooks and Executive Director 
Hooks – fought to change the reality of unequal opportunity in our communications industries.  
He did so through his unique combination of idealism and practicality. He made a difference on 
so many issues that came before the FCC, and for that we are grateful.
- FCC -