*Pages 1--7 from Microsoft Word - 60446.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: October 23, 2006 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 e- mail: rosemary. kimball@ fcc. gov Indian Telecommunications Initiatives Public Safety and Homeland Security Regional Workshop and Roundtable in Polson, Montana, Agenda Released Tribal Representatives, FCC and others to participate in intergovernmental Indian Telecommunications Initiatives program examining issues critical to Public Safety and Homeland Security Communications in Indian Country Washington, DC -- The Commission has released the agenda for Public Safety and Homeland Security Regional Workshop and Roundtable (“ ITI Montana”) that is scheduled to be held at Polson, MT, on October 24 and 25, 2006. The agenda is attached to this news release. ITI Montana is being sponsored in cooperation with the National Congress of American Indians (“ NCAI”), the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (“ ATNI”) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (“ CSKT”). This workshop is dedicated specifically to Public Safety and Homeland Security issues. The event is designed as a workshop and intergovernmental consultative meeting between FCC senior staff and the tribal leaders and representatives who have responsibility for homeland security, public safety, and information technology security, and will focus on such topics as emergency preparedness and critical infrastructure protection in the communications sector and public safety communications, the FCC’s pilot program for the provision of telemedicine services, interoperability and preparedness. The purpose of this event is to give the tribes tools to plan for the protection of critical communications infrastructure on, or serving, tribal lands. A final agenda will be released prior to the event. The FCC’s Indian Telecommunications Initiatives The FCC’s ITI is a comprehensive program that seeks to promote understanding and 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 goals -- to increase 1 the telephone penetration rate on Tribal lands; 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 tribal outreach, coordination and consultation. The FCC’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), located within the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, is responsible for coordinating the agency’s tribal outreach and consultation. Registration for “The Public Safety - Homeland Security ITI” and Additional Information The FCC’s Public Safety – Homeland Security ITI is free of charge and open to all interested parties. Tribal leaders and representatives that have public safety, IT security, and homeland security responsibilities are particularly encouraged to attend. To register for the ITI Workshop and Roundtable, or to obtain additional information, please call 1- 888- CALL- FCC (1- 888- 225- 5322) press number 5 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact information. Alternately, call 202- 418- 2513, fax 202- 418- 1414, or e- mail your full contact information to iti- info@ fcc. gov. For more information on the ITI Workshop and Roundtable or the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, please contact Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney and Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202- 418- 0385, shana. barehand@ fcc. gov , or Ginny Kennedy, Outreach/ External Affairs Coordinator, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202- 418- 2328, ginny. kennedy@ 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 11: 45 – 1: 00 Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness: The National Response Plan (NRP), National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Emergency Support Function # 2 (ESF #2) Moderator: William Lane, Chief Engineer, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, FCC Brian Carney, Manager, National Coordinating Center (NCC), National Communications System (NCS) Craig W. Mastapeter, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 1: 00 – 2: 30 Lunch (on your own) 2: 30 – 4: 00 Introduction to Federal Critical Infrastructure Preparedness Communications: Interoperability and Deployment in Indian Country Moderator: Gayle Radley Teicher, Senior Attorney, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Steve "Sid" Caesar, Director of Emergency Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) Dean Ross, National Emergency Manager, IHS Bill Kalin, Disaster Management e- Gov Initiative, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, Science and Technology, DHS Department of Interior (DOI) (Invited) 4: 00 – 4: 15 Break 4 4: 15 – 6: 00 Public Safety Communications near the Northern and Southern Borders of the United States, “Interoperability Montana” and Indian Country Moderator: Jeffrey Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, FCC Ben H. Standifer, Jr., Chief Information Officer, Tohono O'odham Nation Chris Christensen, Chief, Montana Public Safety Services Bureau Scott Bradford, Deputy Chief, Montana Public Safety Services Bureau Becky Berger, 9- 1- 1 Program Manager, Montana Public Safety Services Bureau Geoffrey C. Blackwell, Esq., Director, Strategic Relations and Minority Business Development, CNI, Inc., Chair, Telecommunications Sub Committee, NCAI Representative of the “Interoperability Montana” Tribal Consortia (Invited) Day Two Wednesday, October 25, 2006 (Best Western KwaTaqNuk Resort) 8: 00 – 8: 15 Welcoming Remarks Mike Marchand, First Vice President, ATNI 8: 15 – 9: 00 National Priority Systems: Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Wireless Priority Service (WPS) Brian Carney, Manager, National Coordinating Center (NCC), National Communications System (NCS) 5 9: 00 – 10: 15 Public Safety Communications and Interoperability in Indian Country: Challenges and Opportunities: Status Updates from Tribal Representatives Moderator: Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney & Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Rosalita M. Whitehair, Arizona Government Information Technology Agency Adam Haas, Principal, Converge Communications Brandon Stephens, Grant Writer/ Planner, Office of Planning and Development, Eastern Band of Cherokees Donna Begay, Chief Information Officer, Jackson Rancheria, Casino and Hotel Larry Blackhair, Unit Manager, Uintah River Tech 10: 15 – 10: 30 Break 10: 30 – 11: 00 Critical Infrastructure Programs: The FCC’s Rural Healthcare Initiative Jake Jennings, Senior Advisor, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis (OSP), FCC 11: 00 – 12: 00 FCC Update Moderator: Gayle Radley Teicher, Senior Attorney, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Rebecca L. Dorch, Director, Western Region, Enforcement Bureau (EB), FCC Kathy Harris, Deputy Chief of Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), FCC Jeffrey Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, FCC 12: 00 – 1: 30 Lunch (on your own) 6 1: 30 – 3: 00 Communications Network Reliability and Security Jeffrey Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, FCC Gregory MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer, Montana Broadcasters Association 3: 00 – 3: 15 Break 3: 15 – 4: 45 Tribal Critical Infrastructure and Public Safety Communications: Round Table and Facilitated Discussion All Speakers and Panelists 4: 45 – 5: 00 Wrap Up and Concluding Remarks Thomas Wyatt, Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC 7