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 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:  July  1,  2004  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rosemary.  kimball@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  SOLICITS  CONSULTATION  ON  DRAFT  TRIBAL  COMMUNICATIONS  SECURITY  PLAN 
 AT  NATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF  AMERICAN  INDIANS  MID-  YEAR  CONFERENCE 
 At  the  National  Congress  of  American  Indians  (NCAI)  Mid-  Year  Session,  held  in  Uncasville,  CT,  on  June  20-  23,  the  FCC  announced  that  it  was  seeking  consultation  with  Tribes, 
 Tribal  organizations  and  leaders  on  a  Draft  Tribal  Communications  Security  Plan  tribes  can  use  to  assist  in  protecting  communications  infrastructure  (Draft  Plan).  The  Draft  Plan  is  intended  to 
 provide  a  framework  to  assist  Tribal  Governments  in  planning  for  the  physical  protection  of  critical  communications  infrastructure  in  their  communities.  The  Draft  Plan  was  developed  in 
 furtherance  of  the  FCC’s  Indian  Telecommunications  Initiatives  (ITI)  and  is  part  of  the  FCC’s  Homeland  Security  Action  Plan. 


 In  announcing  the  Draft  Plan,  Kris  Monteith,  Deputy  Chief  for  Outreach  and  Intergovernmental  Affairs  in  the  FCC’s  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau,  stated: 
 “The  FCC  is  pleased  to  have  the  opportunity  to  consult  with  tribes  on  important  homeland  security  objectives.  Through  the  development  of,  and  consultation  on,  the  Draft  Plan,  the  FCC 
 hopes  to  assist  Tribes  in  planning  and  implementing  strategies  to  communicate  during  emergencies.” 


 At  the  Conference,  FCC  staff  also  participated  in  a  panel  discussion  on  telecommunications  infrastructure  development  and  provided  an  FCC  report  to  the 
 Telecommunications  Subcommittee.  In  addition,  the  FCC  hosted  a  booth,  to  share  important  consumer  information  and  to  demonstrate  its  Tower  Construction  Notifications  System  (TCNS). 
 The  TCNS  is  intended  to  increase  communication  in  the  context  of  the  review  required  by  Section  106  of  the  National  Historic  Preservation  Act  (NHPA).  It  provides  Tribes  and  Historic 
 Preservation  Officers  with  early  notification  of  proposed  towers  in  order  to  facilitate  compliance  with  the  Commission’s  rules,  and  streamlines  the  review  process  for  construction  of  towers  and 
 other  Commission  undertakings.  Tower  construction  notification  allows  companies  to  voluntarily  submit  notifications  of  proposed  tower  constructions  to  the  FCC.  The  Commission 
 subsequently  provides  this  information  to  federally-  recognized  Indian  Tribes,  the  Native  Hawaiian  Organization  (NHO),  and  State  Historic  Preservation  Officers  (SHPOs),  and  allows 
 them  to  respond  directly  to  the  companies  if  they  have  concerns  about  a  proposed  construction. 
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 The  FCC’s  ITI  is  comprehensive  program  that  seeks  to  promote  understanding,  cooperation  and  trust  among  Tribes  and  Tribal  organizations;  the  FCC  and  other  governmental 
 agencies;  and  the  telecommunications  industry.  The  ITI  program  seeks  to  build  partnerships,  identify  potential  solutions,  and  bring  affordable,  quality  telecommunications  services  to  Indian 
 Country.  The  ITI  program’s  goals  -  to  increase  the  telephone  penetration  rate;  facilitate  the  deployment  of  telecommunications  infrastructure  on  tribal  lands;  and  inform  Tribes  about  federal 
 government  programs,  including  Universal  Service  Fund  programs  -  are  undertaken  in  Indian  Country  by  the  FCC  through  targeted  and  effective  Tribal  outreach,  coordination  and 
 consultation. 
 The  FCC’s  Homeland  Security  Action  Plan  is  part  of  the  FCC’s  comprehensive  homeland  security  initiative  designed  to  evaluate  and  strengthen  measures  for  protecting  the 
 Nation’s  communications  infrastructure;  facilitate  rapid  restoration  of  that  infrastructure  in  the  event  of  disruption;  and,  develop  policies  that  promote  access  to  effective  communications 
 services  by  public  safety,  public  health  and  other  emergency  personnel  in  emergency  situations.  The  FCC’s  Office  of  Homeland  Security  and  the  Homeland  Security  Policy  Council  provide 
 consolidated  support  and  strategic  vision  for  the  Commission  in  meeting  its  homeland  security  objectives. 


 For  information  on  this  and  other  topics  of  interest  to  tribes,  visit  the  FCC’s  Tribal  Initiatives  Web  site  at  www.  fcc.  gov/  indians. 
 For  information  on  this  and  other  topics  of  interest  to  consumers,  visit  our  Web  site  at  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb 
 To  receive  information  on  this  and  other  FCC  consumer  topics  through  the  Commission’s  electronic  subscriber  service,  click  on  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb/  emailservice.  html. 
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