Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1303


DA 21-1303
Released:  October 15, 2021

LISTENING SESSION FOR TRIBAL LEADERS, STAFF, AND OUTREACH PARTNERS ON EXPANDING TRIBAL LIBRARY PARTICIPATION IN THE E-RATE PROGRAM
Interactive Session will be held at 2:00 p.m. ET on October 27, 2021
	The Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy and the Wireline Competition Bureau will host a listening session for Tribal leaders, staff, and outreach partners to inform participants about the Commission’s efforts to increase Tribal libraries’ participation in the E-Rate Program.
	This interactive, one-hour session will discuss a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted on October 1, 2021, which proposes to update the definition of libraries in its rules to clarify that Tribal libraries are eligible to participate in the Commission’s E-Rate program.  The NPRM also solicits input on other steps the Commission could take to encourage and support Tribal schools and libraries’ participation in the E-Rate Program.
The E-Rate Program provides financial support to ensure schools and libraries can obtain affordable, high-speed broadband services and internal connections to connect today’s students and library patrons with next-generation learning opportunities and services.  Some Tribal libraries have been unable to receive support from the program, however, because they do not meet the current definition of a library in the Commission’s rules.
The interactive listening session will start with an overview of the NPRM, followed by an opportunity for Tribal participants to ask questions and provide informal feedback.  The Commission is particularly interested in getting suggestions from Tribal participants on how to increase awareness of the E-Rate Program among Tribal governments and institutions so more Tribal schools and libraries can sign up to receive the benefits of the E-Rate program.
Commission staff will prepare a written summary of the input received during the listening session and enter it into the public record for this proceeding.  In addition, interested parties may submit written comments at any time in the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System or request an individual meeting with Commission staff.  NPRM Comments are due November 15, 2021 and reply comments are due November 29, 2021 in CC Docket No. 02-6.
The listening session will take place at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 27, 2021.  To register, please send an email with your name, contact information, and Tribal affiliation to OctoberSessionLibraries@fcc.gov.  Pre-registration will allow full interactive participation via WebEx.
	The event will also be recorded and subsequently posted on the Commission’s YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/user/fccdotgovvideo.  Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).  Please include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you.  Requests for special accommodation should be made as early as possible.  Last minute requests will be accepted but may be impossible to fill.
For questions about the listening session or the NPRM more generally, please contact Lloyd Collier at Lloyd.Collier@fcc.gov.
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