*Pages 1--8 from Microsoft Word - 50309.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- 2038 July 19, 2005 FCC ANNOUNCES THE AGENDA FOR “FCC- NCAI ITI ALBUQUERQUE REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE” JULY 28- 29, 2005, IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO FCC and National Congress of American Indians to participate in intergovernmental Indian Telecommunications Initiatives program examining issues critical to telecom and broadcast deployment in Indian Country 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 Hotel Albuquerque. The agenda will examine technology deployment issues on Tribal lands and the related economic empowerment of Indian Country. Tribal leaders and technology representatives, economic development and community planning managers, and telecommunications industry representatives are encouraged to attend these intergovernmental meetings. Subjects addressed will highlight increased opportunities for increased delivery of distance learning, telemedicine, public safety, e- commerce, and governmental involvement through telecom and broadcast technologies. FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps will be making keynote remarks. The event is free of charge to registrants. 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. The “ITI- NCAI” Program Hosted in the context of the trust relationship shared by the FCC and Tribal Nations, this event is designed to increase the understanding of essential telecom and broadcast issues and policies affecting Indian Country and to increase the intergovernmental consultation with Tribal Nations. Regional specific issues will be examined in interactive, solution- oriented sessions targeting how infrastructure deployment, emerging technologies, strategic planning and government programs can be used to benefit Tribal communities. “ITI-NCAI” is designed to increase the understanding of essential telecom and broadcast deployment issues and policies affecting Indian Country and to increase the intergovernmental consultation with Tribal Nations. The Workshop on July 28 is designed to provide clear, practical information that Tribal Nations can use to prioritize their economic development goals and telecom and broadcast deployment agendas. “ITI- NCAI” will examine issues involving development of broadband services, accessing wireless spectrum, universal 1 service support regulations involving Tribal governments, radio broadcasting, and homeland security and public safety communications planning, among other subjects. The July 29 Roundtable, hosted by NCAI and the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, will provide an interactive consultative opportunity for federal officials and Tribal representatives to discuss telecommunications needs and priorities, and Commission rules, programs, and policies affecting Tribal lands. 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. 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. 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. 2 THE “ITI- NCAI” REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE AGENDA: Federal Communications Commission Indian Telecommunications Initiatives FCC- NCAI ITI REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE Embassy Suites Hotel Albuquerque Sandia Ballroom I- III Albuquerque, New Mexico July 28- 29, 2005 Workshop Agenda – July 28, 2005 8: 00 AM Registration 8: 30 AM OPENING Master of Ceremonies Geoffrey C. Blackwell (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) Senior Attorney and Liaison to Tribal Governments Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Opening Invocation Amadeo Shije (Zia Pueblo) Chairman All Indian Pueblo Council 8: 45 AM WELCOMING REMARKS Amadeo Shije (Zia Pueblo) Chairman All Indian Pueblo Council The Honorable Joe Garcia Governor, San Juan Pueblo First Vice President, National Congress of American Indians Daniel Gonzalez Chief of Staff, Office of Chairman Kevin J. Martin Federal Communications Commission 9: 15 –9: 45 AM KEYNOTE ADDRESS The Honorable Michael J. Copps Commissioner Federal Communications Commission 9: 45– 11: 15 AM KEY ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRIBAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Presentations by Tribal leadership and administrative officials, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, and a Tribal broadcasters association on issues that impact decision- making and goals in tribally- driven telecom 3 Sue McNeil Acting Deputy Chief, Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC 12: 55 PM CLOSING PRAYER 1: 00 PM ADJOURN *FCC* 8