*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 36005* NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 For Immediate Release: News Media Contact: February 24, 2004 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 e- mail: rosemary. kimball@ fcc. gov FCC TO RECEIVE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS Award Recognizes FCC Commitment to Indian Country Washington, DC – The FCC has been selected by the National Congress of American Indians (NCIA) to be 2004 recipient of the NCAI Leadership Award. The FCC has been selected for its “outstanding leadership and ongoing commitment and support to American Indians and Alaska Natives.” NCAI gives only three of these awards annually. One goes to Congress, one goes to the Administration, and one goes to another deserving entity. This year's recipients are House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo of California, the US Commission on Civil Rights, and the FCC. FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell said, “We are honored to be receiving the NCAI’s Leadership Award in recognition of our partnership in the digital migration and our strong commitment to ensure that all Americans, including American Indians and Alaska Natives, have access to the Nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.” NCAI is the oldest and largest national advocacy organization for Indian Nations. The award will be accepted by K. Dane Snowden, Chief of the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, on behalf of the Commission. It will be presented this evening at NCAI’s 6 th Annual Leadership Awards Banquet in Washington, DC. Tex G. Hall, President of NCAI, said, “We are honoring the Commission for its steadfast commitment to Indian Country and its dedication to ensuring that tribes and Indian peoples’ communication needs receive fair consideration at the Commission. We would especially like to highlight the FCC’s work in fostering the government- to-government relationships between tribes and the federal government. Through its consumer information, rulemaking process, and educational seminars, the FCC has worked hard to promote the availability of telecommunications services to individuals living on tribal lands, including both Indian reservations and Alaskan Native lands.” - FCC - 1