*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 49291.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 05- 1651 June 10, 2005 FCC AND NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS TO HOST INDIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM, ON JULY 28- 29, 2005 Tribal Representatives, FCC Officials and Telecommunications Industry Representatives to Participate in Interactive Educational Workshop and Roundtable Sessions Washington, D. C. - As part of the FCC’s Indian Telecommunications Initiatives program (ITI), and in cooperation with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest and largest inter- Tribal government association in the United States, the FCC will host its fourth ITI Regional Workshop and Roundtable on July 28 and 29 in Albuquerque, NM, at the Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Place NE. FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps will be making keynote remarks. The FCC has coordinated its ITI outreach efforts extensively with NCAI and its Telecommunications Subcommittee over the past several years. Together, NCAI and the FCC co- host their Annual Dialogue on Increasing Telecommunications Services in Indian Country, an intergovernmental consultative meeting between FCC Commissioners and Senior FCC staff, and the Tribal leaders and representatives that comprise the NCAI Telecommunications Subcommittee. This event marks the first occasion that NCAI and the FCC have cooperated to hold a joint regional meeting in Indian Country. A preliminary agenda for the event will be released soon. The “ITI- NCAI” event is free of charge to registrants. It will address in detail issues, regulations and policies important to telecommunications deployment to stimulate economic opportunities on Tribal lands. Tribal leaders and representatives, planning and economic development managers, and telecommunications industry representatives will benefit from attending this intergovernmental meeting. Among several important planned topics, discussions will highlight new options for broadband services, public safety and homeland security planning, and new telecommunications technologies. This ITI event will build upon the successes of the FCC’s previous ITI Regional Workshop and Roundtables, held in Reno, Nevada, in July 2003, in Rapid City, South Dakota, in May of 2004, and on the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Reservation in Idaho in November of 2004. 1 The “ITI- NCAI” Program “ITI- NCAI” is designed to increase the understanding of essential telecommunications issues and policies affecting Indian Country and to increase the intergovernmental consultation with American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages on telecommunications issues and policies. The Workshop discussions on July 28 will address telecommunications issues facing Indian Country with the goal of providing clear, practical information that Tribal leaders and decision- makers can use to prioritize their Tribal economic development goals and telecommunications deployment agendas. Building upon the past ITI regional workshops, “ITI-NCAI” will examine issues involving accessing high speed internet services, accessing wireless spectrum, universal service support regulations involving Tribal governments, and homeland security and public safety communications planning, among other subjects. Regional specific issues will also be examined and interactive, solution- oriented sessions will target how telecom infrastructure deployment, emerging and different telecommunications technologies, and strategic planning and government programs can be used to benefit Tribal communities. The July 29 Roundtable Session will provide an interactive consultative opportunity for federal officials and Tribal leaders and representatives to discuss Tribal telecommunications needs and priorities, and Commission rules, programs, and policies affecting telecommunications services and related economic empowerment in Indian Country. The “ITI- NCAI” Roundtable will provide an opportunity for Tribes to discuss priorities in regional and national telecommunications policy making efforts and local Tribal efforts to deploy effective telecommunications systems and increase subscribership. This Roundtable planning session will be hosted by the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau in the context of the trust relationship shared by the FCC and the Tribes. The FCC’s Indian Telecommunications Initiatives The FCC’s ITI is comprehensive program that seeks to promote understanding and cooperation and trust among Tribes and Tribal organizations, the FCC and other governmental agencies, and the telecommunications industry. The ITI program seeks to build partnerships, identify potential solutions, and bring affordable, quality telecommunications services to Indian Country. The ITI program’s goals - to increase the telephone penetration rate; facilitate the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure on tribal lands; and inform Tribes about federal government programs, including Universal Service Fund programs - are undertaken in Indian Country by the FCC through targeted and effective Tribal outreach, coordination and consultation. The Commission’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), located within the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, is responsible for coordinating the FCC’s Tribal outreach and consultation. For further information on the ITI or IGA, please contact CGB Acting Deputy Chief and IGA Chief Sue McNeil at 202- 418- 7619, sue. mcneil@ fcc. gov, or Senior Attorney and FCC Liaison to Tribal Governments Geoffrey Blackwell at 202- 418- 8192, geoffrey. blackwell@ fcc. gov. Registration for “ITI- NCAI” and More Information Tribal leaders and representatives, and planning and economic development managers are encouraged to attend. Telecommunications industry representatives are welcome to attend these intergovernmental meetings. To register for the ITI- NCAI Regional Workshop and Roundtable, or to obtain additional information, please call 1- 888- CALL- FCC (1- 888- 225- 5322) press number 5 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact information, call 202- 418- 2513, fax 202- 418- 1414, or e- mail your full contact information to iti- info@ fcc. gov. 2 The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 1000 Woodward Place NE in Albuquerque. Participants can make reservations online at www. embassysuites. com or by calling 1- 800- EMBASSY. The hotel’s direct telephone number is: 505- 245- 7100. For more information on the ITI- NCAI Regional Workshop and Roundtable please contact Geoffrey Blackwell, FCC Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at 202- 418- 8192, geoffrey. blackwell@ fcc. gov; or Ginger Clark, FCC Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at 202- 418- 2050, ginger. clark@ fcc. gov. Updates and further information will also be made available on the FCC’s Tribal Initiatives website at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ indians. *FCC* 3