Addressing the Digital Divide in Indian Country

Last week marked a significant chapter in Federal Communications Commission-Tribal relations, which included Chairman Genachowski's remarks to the Executive Council of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on March 2, 2010, followed by the 7th Annual FCC-NCAI Dialogue on Improving Telecommunications Access in Indian Country at the FCC on March 4. The Dialogue included Tribal leaders, Commissioners Copps, Clyburn, Baker and McDowell, Chairman Genachowski's Chief of Staff, the Chiefs of the Consumer & Governmental Affairs and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus, Public Safety Bureau, and other Commission staff.

The National Broadband Plan includes a number of Tribal-specific recommendations to benefit Indian Country. To enhance communications and consultation with Tribal governments, the Plan proposes three new mechanisms, including a government-wide Federal-Tribal Broadband Strategic Initiative; an FCC Office of Tribal Affairs; and an FCC-Tribal Task Force consisting of senior FCC Staff and Tribal leaders that will focus specifically on broadband deployment and adoption on Tribal lands. Other recommendations include:

• A "once-in-a-generation" transformation of the $8 billion Universal Service Fund to build 21st century communications networks, including on Tribal lands;
• Allowing more members of the Tribal community to share connectivity funded by the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs, helping more Tribal libraries qualify for E-rate funding, and creating a Tribal seat on both the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and the USAC Board of Directors;
• Creating a Tribal Broadband Fund to support sustainable deployment and adoption programs in Tribal lands;
• Providing funding to upgrade connectivity for federal facilities on Tribal lands;
• Expanding the FCC's Indian Telecommunications Initiative and allowing Tribal representatives to participate in our FCC University training programs at no cost.
• Improving data collection on Tribal lands;
• Exploring ways of improving Tribal access to and use of spectrum, including extending the new Tribal priority in broadcast radio services to the process for licensing fixed and mobile wireless licenses covering Tribal lands.