My Giving Tuesday Story: CUB Board President Gordon Levitt

The holidays are a great time to reflect on what’s truly important in our lives and how we invest our time and resources. In my role as Oregon CUB’s Board President, I join the staff and my fellow members of the Board of Governors in reflecting on the future of our state’s energy and telecommunications systems. How can utilities equitably provide power and transmit data to millions of customers across our large state? How can we come together across political and geographic divides to address the interconnected challenges of climate change and digital inequality?

I grew up in rural Oregon (outside of Mosier) and know what it feels like to be a step behind in accessing the power of the internet. In high school, exploring and joining new, data-intensive social media platforms like Facebook was difficult. As these sites became an increasingly important method for building modern community, I was not taking part in crucial conversations, and had to catch up once I arrived at college. Although the future role of social media is uncertain given recent backlash, it is a key aspect of society now, and I’ve always felt a bit behind my peers. How many kids growing up in rural Oregon right now are missing out on timely access to information and opportunities? Even where I live now in Salem, and in Oregon’s other urban communities, affordable internet access is a barrier to our low-income neighbors.

It’s not just social media and TV streaming services that are at stake for communities without access to fast internet. The issue goes far deeper: it’s the opportunity for businesses to profitably compete in an increasingly fast-paced and global market; It’s the opportunity to effectively run smart devices that integrate with renewable energy resources to efficiently power our transition to green energy; and it’s the opportunity to bridge the digital divide – one of the drivers of the worst wealth inequality our nation has seen in at least 100 years.

CUB has diligently researched and tracked this issue for several years, and has recently made great strides toward alleviating digital inequality across Oregon. Our advocacy team was instrumental in the 2018 passage of statewide Net Neutrality legislation that effectively prohibits broadband internet service providers from using paid prioritization or other discriminatory practices to limit certain customers’ or communities’ internet access. And just this year, CUB won significant digital equity victories in the merger agreement between Northwest Fiber and Frontier Communications, including millions of dollars of broadband infrastructure investment in rural communities.

There are many other such examples demonstrating the critical role CUB plays in protecting Oregon consumers’ interests. CUB is a unique organization that balances the passionate pursuit of forward-thinking policy with the knowledge that utility services are the lifelines of modern society. Increasing costs quickly or at the wrong time can be difficult for marginalized customers. There is a delicate dance between the business interests of the utilities and the public policy interests of government. CUB knows how to speak both of these languages, and is dedicated to representing the interests of all Oregonians in negotiating the delivery of affordable, reliable, safe, and clean utility service.

None of this important work would be possible without the support of our members. You can join CUB as a member for as little as $5 annually. My foremost goal for the organization is to increase awareness of the important work we do and to build a broad membership base that will support and sustain CUB’s advocacy work on behalf of utility consumers.

Making investments to help folks access opportunity, from Mosier, to McDermitt, to Manzanita, is crucial for our shared prosperity as Oregonians. Despite the division we’ve witnessed recently, I sincerely believe that equitably modernizing our utility services is a goal that we can all get behind and invest in. Today, on this Giving Tuesday, I urge you to join CUB or to renew your membership. If you are already a member, dig deep and contribute a little extra. After all, every dollar counts! Thank you for your support and happy holidays.

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