Too often in Washington, words speak louder than actions. Tuesday, however, was not one of those times.

The “digital divide” sounds so faceless, so placeless. Who are these supposed people without an Internet connection in today’s day-and-age? Where are these places that have been left behind? And is it really that big of a deal?

If you’re anything like me, the words “net neutrality” and “open Internet” don’t exactly get the party going on your computer screen at lunch. At a convening of ethnic journalists yesterday in San Francisco, media justice activist Malkia Cyril compared the discussions around net neutrality to “talking about the galaxy: Who cares?” Sure, it’s important stuff. And yeah, we know it’s out there.

Recently, I had the pleasure of traveling with John Nichols and Bob McChesney on their book tour to promote the Death and Life of American Journalism.

I’ve been working to change the U.S. media system for three years now, and I spend a good deal of that time behind my desk. Having the opportunity to step out into communities that have been affected by our crumbling media system was fascinating – and reinforced what I hear through e-mails and phone calls: People across this country want quality journalism that is compelling, relevant, informative, combative and diverse.