Federal Communications Commission	DA XX-XXX


DA 26-737
Released:  July 16, 2026

CHAIRMAN CARR ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE NATIVE NATIONS COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE AND DATE OF FIRST MEETING
Chairman Brendan Carr today announced the appointment of five additional Tribal members to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Native Nations Communications Task Force (Task Force).  The Task Force is comprised of elected and appointed leaders, or their designees, from a broad cross section of Native Nations, as well as senior staff and decision-makers from across the Commission.
The appointment of the additional Tribal members raises the total current number of Tribal Task Force members from 20 to 25.  The FCC’s members will remain at five.
Bambi Kraus, Chief of the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy, serves as Task Force Co-Chair.  A Tribal Co-Chair will be elected by the Tribal members of the Task Force.
BACKGROUND
In December 2024, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the appointment of 21 Tribal members and five FCC members to the Task Force. Chairwoman Rosenworcel Appoints Native Nations Communications Task Force Members, Public Notice, 37 FCC Rcd 1069 (2024). 
  The FCC determined that increasing the number of Tribal Task Force members to 25 would provide the Task Force with a more comprehensive and diverse perspective on communications issues on Tribal lands. Since the original appointment of members in 2024, one Tribal Task Force vacancy was created due to attrition.
  Members will serve for three years, starting from the date of the first Task Force meeting in 2026.  The Task Force will conduct its first meeting, to be held virtually, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
MISSION
The Task Force’s mission is to provide guidance, expertise, and recommendations to specific requests from the FCC on a range of telecommunications issues that directly or indirectly affect Tribal governments and their people.  This will enhance the FCC’s ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities to ensure the availability of communications by wire and radio and encourage broadband deployment to all Americans.
MEMBERS OF THE NATIVE NATIONS COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE
The additional appointed Tribal Task Force members are:
The Honorable Troy Adkins, Chickahominy Tribe
The Honorable Jacob Keyes, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Godfrey Enjady, Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc.
Linnea Jackson, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District 
Danae Wilson, Nez Perce Tribe
EXEMPTION FROM THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT 
The Task Force, composed exclusively of Tribal officials, is not subject to the procedures set forth in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) See 5 U.S.C. App.2.
 because of an exemption provided under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). See 2 U.S.C. § 1534(b).
  The UMRA exemption is intended to promote the free exchange of ideas between officials of the federal government and state, local and tribal governments (or their designated employees) on matters of common interest while meeting in closed sessions. UMRA permits federal officials or their designated employees to speak with their state, local, and tribal counterparts without implicating the FACA as long as a two-part test set forth in 2 U.S.C. § 1534(b) is satisfied:  “(1) meetings are held exclusively between federal officials and elected officers of state, local, and tribal governments (or their designated employees with authority to act on their behalf) acting in their official capacities”; and (2) “such meetings are solely for the purpose of exchanging views, information, or advice relating to the management or implementation of federal programs established pursuant to statute, that explicitly or inherently share intergovernmental responsibilities or administration.”
  Accordingly, meetings of the Task Force are not open to the public.
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 and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 
FURTHER INFORMATION 
For further information, please contact the Office of Native Affairs and Policy at Native@fcc.gov.
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