June 2009

Indian Telecommunications Initiatives

Regional Workshop and Roundtable Discussion
Federal Communications Commission
Rapid City and Pine Ridge, South Dakota
July 27-29, 2009
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291477A1.doc

This multi-faceted workshop and roundtable will focus on ways to expand the deployment of new broadband technologies in Indian Country. The first day in Rapid City, South Dakota, will have sessions discussing an overview of telecommunications law, and the technology of telecommunications. The following day will focus on the importance of broadband technology in rural and tribal areas, what some tribes are doing to obtain broadband, and what more can be done to expand broadband deployment on tribal lands. Day two will also feature a keynote address by FCC Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps. The event will culminate on day three with a tour of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Reservation in nearby Pine Ridge. Representing another important building block for a national broadband plan, ITI South Dakota will feature opportunities for FCC staff to interact with tribal officials, staff from other government agencies, as well as tribal citizens, and hear about issues and challenges faced by tribes in securing and expanding broadband access in tribal communities.

On the announcement of ITI South Dakota, Acting Chairman Copps said:

"I am looking forward to going to South Dakota to hear and see first hand the promises and challenges of getting broadband to Indian Country. Obtaining the input and involvement from tribal leaders on broadband issues is an essential part of developing a national broadband plan."

The program is being run in cooperation with the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA), Native Public Media (NPM), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT), Oglala Sioux Tribe, South Dakota, Office of Tribal Government Relations, and The Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association.

This FCC effort is a collaboration with the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community that will feature meaningful discussions and information exchanges on telecommunications topics of particular interest to the tribes. ITI South Dakota will also feature information exchanges about effective strategies for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure on Tribal lands, particularly in such socio-economically, culturally and geographically isolated areas with rugged terrain. The event builds upon the successes of the FCC's previous ITI Workshops and Roundtables on the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Reservation in Idaho in November 2004; Albuquerque, New Mexico in July 2005; San Diego, California in July 2006; Polson, Montana in October 2006; Albuquerque, New Mexico in July 2007; and Salt Lake City, UT in July 2008.

Registration for "ITI South Dakota" and More Information

ITI South Dakota is free of charge to registrants. For the convenience of attendees a small block of rooms, under the "FCC Indian Telecommunication Initiative Workgroup" have been reserved two miles away from the meeting site at the Holiday Inn Rapid City Rushmore Plaza, 505 North 5th Street, Rapid City, SD, 57709. For reservations call (605) 348-4000. Tribal leaders and American Indian/Alaska Native community representatives are encouraged to attend the ITI. Telecommunications industry representatives are also welcome to attend these intergovernmental meetings. To register for ITI South Dakota, please contact Kamala Hart in the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-1765 or email her at kamala.hart@fcc.gov.

For more information about ITI South Dakota or the FCC's ITI program, please contact Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney and Liaison to Tribal governments, at 202-418-0385, shana.barehand@fcc.gov. Updates and further information about ITI South Dakota will also be made available on the FCC's Tribal Initiatives website at: http://www.fcc.gov/indians.

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Benton

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