Federal Communications Commission DA 19-158 DA 19-158 Released: March 7, 2019 FCC SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR NEW WORKING GROUP OF THE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOCUSED ON INCREASING BROADBAND INVESTMENT IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES GN Docket No. 17-83 The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) solicits nominations for membership on a new Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). This new working group will assist the BDAC in providing advice and recommendations to the Commission on new ways to encourage the deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure and services to low-income communities. The work of this new BDAC group will help further the Commission’s top priority—closing the digital divide for all Americans. Nominations for membership on the BDAC’s Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group should be submitted to the FCC no later than March 19, 2019. Nominees for membership on the BDAC need not reapply. The Commission will automatically consider these existing nominees both for membership on the BDAC and for membership on the new Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group. The Commission welcomes new nominations for individuals who wish to serve on the new Working Group, and procedures for submitting nominations are set forth below. The BDAC is organized under, and operates in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The BDAC’s mission is to make recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet access, or “broadband,” which will in turn enhance the Commission’s ability to carry out its statutory responsibility to encourage broadband deployment to all Americans. The BDAC’s Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group will be charged with making recommendations on additional measures, other than the provision of universal service funds, that can be taken at the federal, state, and local government levels to accelerate investment in the deployment of high-speed fixed and mobile broadband services to low-income areas, as well as strategies to increase adoption and use of broadband services in low-income communities. WHO MAY APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP The Commission seeks applications for this working group from across a broad spectrum of public and private organizations, governmental units, and individuals involved with or interested in increasing deployment of high-speed broadband to low-income communities, including representatives from states and localities, industry, and consumer and community organizations. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving nominations and expressions of interest from individuals and organizations in the following categories that have experience with efforts to improve access to high-speed broadband in low-income areas: · Federal, state, local, territorial and Tribal government agencies—which we encourage to nominate, for example, officials dedicated to facilitating increased adoption and/or use of broadband services, or other types of community outreach to low-income populations. · Consumer and community organizations with experience in issues concerning the availability, adoption, and use of broadband services in low-income areas. · Rural and urban Internet service providers that use licensed or unlicensed spectrum, fiber optics, copper wires, or coaxial cables, or any other means to offer high-speed broadband service—which we encourage to nominate, for example, individuals with experience deploying high-speed broadband infrastructure and services in low-income communities. · Independent network builders and networking equipment installers—which we encourage to nominate, for example, individuals with experience working to expand access to broadband services in low-income areas. · Industry trade associations—which we encourage to nominate, for example, individuals with expertise in community outreach to low-income areas, or in identifying regulatory and other barriers to deployment of high-speed broadband in low-income rural and urban areas. · Qualified representatives of other stakeholders and interested parties with experience on these issues whose participation would further the diversity and balance of this working group. Members will be selected to achieve balance in the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to address effectively the issues to be considered by this working group. Members nominated by specific entities or organizations to serve on the working group will be appointed as representatives of the entities or organizations that have nominated them. As appropriate, members may also be appointed for their individual expertise as “special Government employees” as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 202(a). Because working group members seeking to serve in their individual capacities as special Government employees due to their individual expertise may not be registered federal lobbyists, any such nominees who are registered federal lobbyists will not be considered for appointment on the working group. OBLIGATIONS OF WORKING GROUP MEMBERS Members will serve at the discretion of the Chairman of the Commission. Members must be willing to commit to serving on the working group until March 1, 2021, the date that the BDAC’s charter expires. The time commitment for participation on this working group will be substantial. However, the meetings will be conducted informally, using suitable technology to facilitate the meetings, subject to oversight by the Designated Federal Officer of the BDAC. APPLICATION PROCEDURE, DEADLINE AND MEMBER APPOINTMENTS All nominations should be received by the Commission as soon as possible, but no later than March 19, 2019. No specific nomination form is required; however, each nomination must include the following information: · Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a description of the organization, sector or other interest the nominee will represent; · Nominee’s mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number; · A statement summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and reasons why the nominee should be appointed to the working group; · A statement, if the nominee will represent a specific organization, describing the organization as well as the benefit of having the organization represented on the working group; and · A statement confirming that the nominee, if seeking appointment for the individual’s expertise and not as a representative of an organization or entity, is not a registered federal lobbyist. For applicants seeking to represent an organization or company, the applicant’s nomination to the working group must be confirmed by an authorized person (e.g., organization or company official) that such organization or company wants the nominated person to represent it on the working group. For example, this confirmation may be in the following format: “I am [insert official’s name], the [insert official’s title] at the [insert name of organization - e.g., company, government entity, trade association, etc.], with responsibilities for [concise description of position]. My organization would like [insert proposed member’s name], who is currently [an employee of/consultant/attorney to the company] to serve as our representative on the Commission’s Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.” Please note this Public Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which the Commission will solicit nominations to identify qualified candidates; however, all candidates for membership on the working group will be subject to the same evaluation criteria. All nominations, including the requisite statements listed above, should be submitted by e-mail to BDAC@fcc.gov. ACCESSIBLE FORMATS 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 & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For additional information about the BDAC’s Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group, please contact Paul D’Ari at 202-418-1550, or Paul.DAri@fcc.gov; or Justin Faulb at 202-418-1589, or Justin.Faulb@fcc.gov. 3