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DA 19-787
August 20, 2019
FCC ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR VACANCIES ON ITS NATIVE NATIONS COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE 
By this Public Notice the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the deadline to submit nominations to fill Tribal vacancies on the Native Nations Communications Task Force (Task Force) from August 26, 2019 to September 25, 2019. See Chairman Pai Announces New Appointments to the Native Nations Communications Task Force, Public Notice, 33 FCC Rcd 10152 (2018) (Task Force PN).  
  Information about the function of the Task Force, who is eligible to be nominated and procedures to submit nominations can be found in the Task Force Vacancies Public Notice See FCC Announces Vacancies in the Membership of its Native Nations Communications Task Force and Seeks Nominations (Task Force Vacancies Public Notice), DA 19-707 (July 25, 2019).
 at https://www.fcc.gov/document/native-nations-communications-task-force-vacancies-pn.   Members appointed by the Chairman of the Commission to fill the vacancies will serve through the end of the Task Force’s current three-year term, which runs through October 2021. See Task Force PN, 33 FCC Rcd at 10512.

The Task Force’s mission is to make recommendations to the Commission on communications-related issues that affect Tribal interests.  The Task Force is intended to provide an effective means for Tribal thought leaders to exchange ideas and develop recommendations to the Commission on, among other things, the availability of communications facilities and services–including, but not limited to, broadband–on Tribal lands, which will in turn enhance the Commission’s ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities to ensure the availability of communication by wire and radio and encourage broadband deployment to all Americans. See 47 U.S.C. § 151; 47 U.S.C. § 1302.
  Since its establishment in March 2011, the Task Force has been composed of senior Commission
staff and elected or appointed leaders from federally recognized Tribal governments or governmental entities, or their designated employees, and has helped the Commission fulfill its commitment to increasing broadband deployment and adoption on Tribal lands. See Task Force PN, 33 FCC Rcd at 10512.

The issues to be considered by the Task Force may include but are not limited to: (i) executing the Commission’s Tribal Consultation policy; (ii) identifying barriers to broadband deployment that are unique to Tribal lands; and (iii) ensuring Tribal concerns are considered in all Commission proceedings related to broadband and other Commission undertakings that affect Tribal interests regarding communications services and facilities.
Nominations
All nominations should be submitted by email to native@fcc.gov.  If it is not possible to submit the required information through email, please contact Janet Sievert at (202) 418-1362 (voice) to determine another method of delivery.  If submitting by regular mail, send to: Federal Communications Commission, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Attention: Janet Sievert (4B-544), 445 12th St., S.W., Washington, D.C.  20554.
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).
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact Janet Sievert, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, (202) 428-1362 (voice) or janet.sievert@fcc.gov.
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