PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 11-614 Release Date: April 5, 2011 OFFICE OF NATIVE AFFAIRS AND POLICY ANNOUNCES DEADLINES FOR COMMENTS ON NATIVE NATIONS NOTICE OF INQUIRY CG Docket No. 11-41 Comment Date: May 20, 2011 Reply Comment Date: July 5, 2011 On March 3, 2011, the Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking comment on a wide range of issues related to improving communications services for Native Nations, including a Native Nations Priority, a Native Nations Broadband Fund, adoption and utilization of communications services on Tribal lands, the need for a uniform definition of Tribal lands to be used agency-wide in rulemakings, and the need to strengthen consultation and coordination with Native Nations.1 The NOI was released on March 4, 2011. The Commission set the comment and reply comment deadlines for the NOI as 45 and 90 days, respectively, after publication of the summary of the NOI in the Federal Register. On April 5, 2011, a summary of the NOI appeared in the Federal Register.2 Accordingly, interested parties may file comments on or before May 20, 2011, and reply comments on or before July 5, 2011. All pleadings are to reference CG Docket No. 11-41. Comments and reply comments must include a short and concise summary of the substantive arguments in the pleading. Comments and reply comments must also comply with Section 1.49 and all other applicable sections of the Commission’s rules.3 We direct all interested parties to include the name of the filing party and the date of the filing on each page of their comments and reply comments. All parties are encouraged to utilize a table of contents, regardless of the length of their submission. We also strongly encourage parties to track the organization set forth in the NOI in order to facilitate our internal review process. 1 Improving Communications Services for Native Nations, CG Docket No. 11-41, Notice of Inquiry, 26 FCC Rcd 2672 (2011). 2 76 Fed. Reg. 18759 (Apr. 5, 2011). 3 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.49. 2 Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or by filing paper copies. § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number, in this case CG Docket No. 11-41. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. o Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to each of the following: (1) The Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, fcc@bcpiweb.com; (2) Cynthia Bryant, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 4-B522, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: cynthia.bryant@fcc.gov; and (3) Rod Flowers, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 4-C487, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: rod.flowers@fcc.gov. Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. They may also be purchased from BCPI, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300 or (800) 378-3160, fax: (202) 488-5563, Internet: www.bcpiweb.com, or email to fcc@bcpiweb.com. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 3 This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.4 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required.5 Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules.6 For further information, please contact Cynthia Bryant, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-8164 or by email at cynthia.bryant@fcc.gov. - FCC - 4 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 6 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).