*Pages 1--7 from Microsoft Word - 58555.doc* 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 21, 2006 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 e- mail: rosemary. kimball@ fcc. gov FCC TO HOLD INDIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE IN SAN DIEGO, CA, ON JULY 27- 28, 2006 Tribal Representatives, FCC Officials and Telecommunications Industry Representatives to Participate in an Interactive Educational Workshop and Roundtable Sessions Washington, DC -- The FCC will be holding a Regional Workshop and Roundtable on July 27 and 28 in San Diego, CA, as part of its Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI) program. This event is being sponsored in cooperation with the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) Tribal Digital Village, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and the Center for Native American Public Radio (CNAPR). The ITI is a comprehensive program that seeks to promote understanding, cooperation and trust among Tribes and Tribal organizations, the FCC, other governmental agencies, and the telecommunications industry. Its goals are to increase the telephone penetration rate and facilitate the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure on tribal lands and inform Tribes about federal government programs, including Universal Service Fund programs. ITI San Diego will focus on broadband deployment, a key component of the Commission’s Strategic Plan and current telecommunications issues, regulations and policies. Various panels will cover different components of broadband deployment, with a particular focus on wireless broadband, including the acquisition of spectrum, infrastructure development and business planning. There will also be panels on radio and television station development in Indian Country. An agenda is attached. This ITI event is free of charge to registrants. To register or obtain additional information, please call 1- 888- CALL- FCC (1- 888- 225- 5322) press number 6 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact information, call 202- 418- 2510, fax 202- 418- 2839, or e- mail your full contact information to iti- info@ fcc. gov. The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Sea World, 3737 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110. For reservations, call the hotel directly (619) 881- 6100 and mention the “FCC Tribal Communications Training.” 1 For more information on the Commission’s ITI program, ITI San Diego Regional Workshop and Roundtable, or Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, please contact Alice Elder, Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at 202- 418- 2168, alice. elder@ fcc. gov or Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney and Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at 202- 418- 0385, shana. barehand@ fcc. gov. Updates and further information will also be made available on the FCC’s Tribal Initiatives website at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ indians. - FCC - 2 Federal Communications Commission Indian Telecommunications Initiatives Regional Workshop and Roundtable San Diego, California July 27 and 28, 2006 Agenda July 27, 2006 7: 30 – 8: 15 Registration 8: 15 – 8: 30 Opening Invocation 8: 30 – 9: 15 Welcoming Remarks Monica Desai Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Denis Turner (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians) Executive Director, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) Joe Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh) Governor, Ohkay Owingeh President, National Congress of American Indians 9: 15 – 10: 30 FCC Regulatory Update: Discussion of FCC programs, rules and policies affecting communities and consumers in Indian Country. Moderator: Lauren Patrich, Special Counsel, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC Thomas Buckley Legal Counsel, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC David Furth Associate Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC Michael Carowitz Chief of Staff, Enforcement Bureau, FCC Lauren VanWazer Special Counsel and Associate Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC Michael Wagner Assistant Division Chief, Audio Services Division, Media Bureau, FCC Alice Elder Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC 3 10: 30 – 10: 45 Break 10: 45 – 11: 30 Wireless Spectrum Acquisition and Regulation: The FCC’s spectrum auction processes and strategies for secondary markets (including partitioning, disaggregation and leasing), unlicensed spectrum, and emerging technologies. Moderator: Lauren Patrich, Special Counsel, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC David Furth Associate Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC Lauren VanWazer Special Counsel and Associate Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC 11: 30 – 1: 00 Lunch 1: 00 – 2: 00 Promoting Broadband in Indian Country: Viewpoints of tribal planners and government representatives on implementing community- responsive service strategies. Moderator: Robert Somers, Attorney- Advisor, Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division, CGB, FCC Matt Rantanen (Cree) Director of Technology, Tribal Digital Village Ben Standifer (T’Ohono O’odham Nation) Chief Information Officer, T’Ohono O’odham Nation Steve Grey (Dine’) Chairperson, Navajo Nation Telecommunication Regulatory Commission 2: 00 – 3: 00 Developing Broadband in Indian Country: A discussion of technology options and infrastructure deployment plans. Moderator: Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney & Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC Michael Peralta (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians) Network Administrator, Tribal Digital Village Brandon Stephens (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Planner/ Grant Writer, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Valerie Fast Horse (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) Council Woman, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Director, Information Technology Department, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Co- Chair, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Telecom and Utilities Subcommittee 4 3: 00 – 3: 15 Break 3: 15 – 3: 25 Scott Deutchman Legal Advisor Office of Commissioner Michael Copps, FCC 3: 25 – 4: 45 Roundtable Discussion Friday, July 28th 9: 00 – 9: 15 Dan Gonzalez Chief of Staff Office of Chairman Kevin Martin, FCC 9: 15 – 9: 30 NCAI Report Virginia Davis Associate Counsel, NCAI Geoffrey Blackwell (Muscogee [Creek] Nation) Chairman, Telecommunications Subcommittee, NCAI 9: 30 – 10: 45 Business Planning for Tribal Telecom: A discussion of funding options for building and sustaining a viable telecommunications system. Moderator: Robert Somers, Attorney- Advisor, Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division, CGB, FCC Madonna Yawakie (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) President & CEO, Turtle Island Communications, Inc. Bill Largent (Ojibwa, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) Small Business Administration, Tribal Office Harry Hutson General Field Representative, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Pam Gallant Director, Low Income Programs, Universal Service Administration Company Susan White Senior Partner, ACKCO American Indian Professional Services Consultant to Administration for Native Americans 10: 45 – 11: 00 Break 11: 00 – 11: 15 Jonathan S. Adelstein Commissioner, FCC 11: 15 – 12: 30 Roundtable Discussion 5 12: 30 – 1: 45 Lunch 1: 45 – 2: 45 Broadcast Radio in Indian Country: Broadcast radio policy, the acquisition of spectrum and issues arising in developing and operating broadcast radio outlets in Indian Country. Moderator: Alice Elder, Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC Michael Wagner Assistant Division Chief, Audio Services Division, Media Bureau, FCC Loris Taylor (Hopi Tribe) Executive Director, Center for Native American Public Radio (CNAPR) Peggy Berryhill (Muscogee [Creek] Nation) Director of Station Services and Planning, CNAPR Mike Johnson Engineer Brown Broadcast Services, Inc. Lynn Chadwick Senior Director, Media Technologies Corporation for Public Broadcasting 2: 45 – 3: 30 Tribal Television Development: Television regulatory overview, acquisition of spectrum, and issues encountered in the development of tribal television outlets. Moderator: Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney & Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, CGB, FCC Michael Wagner Assistant Division Chief, Audio Services Division, Media Bureau, FCC Linda White Wolf (Chickasaw and Maori) Host, Arizona Native News, KAZ- TV Lynn Chadwick Senior Director, Media Technologies Corporation for Public Broadcasting 3: 30 – 3: 45 Break 3: 45 – 4: 45 Round Table Discussion 4: 45 – 5: 00 Wrap Up and Next Steps 6 Monica Desai Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 5: 00 Adjourn 7