NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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: June 23, 2008 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511 Email: rosemary.kimball@fcc.gov FCC TO HOLD SEVENTH INDIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES (ITI) REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE SALT LAKE CITY, UT JULY 16-17, 2008 Washington, DC -- The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI), is holding its seventh regional workshop and roundtable in Salt Lake City, UT, on July 16, from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM and July 17 from 7:30 AM to 2:45 PM. It will be held at the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 South Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115. It will focus on issues pertaining to the Digital Television (DTV) transition and telecommunications development and deployment in Indian Country. A draft topical agenda is attached. The program is being run in cooperation with the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA), Native Public Media (NPM), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Native American Journalist Association (NAJA), Native Voice One (NV1), Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT), Utah’s Division of Indian Affairs, and KRCL Radio Free Utah ( 90.9 FM). This FCC effort is a collaboration and coordination with the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community that will feature meaningful discussions and information exchanges on topics of particular interest to the tribes. For example a key focus of ITI Salt Lake City will be to identify and implement effective mechanisms for educating consumers living in tribal areas about the digital television (DTV) transition and making sure that they understand the specific steps that may need to take in order to continue watching free over-the-air television after February 17, 2009. ITI Salt Lake City will also feature information exchanges about effective strategies for the deployment of telecommunications on Tribal lands, particularly in geographically isolated areas and communities. The FCC’s Indian Telecommunications Initiatives The FCC’s ITI is a comprehensive program that seeks to promote understanding, cooperation and trust among Tribes and Tribal organizations, the FCC, 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 advanced telecommunications infrastructure on Tribal lands; and inform Tribes about federal government programs, including Universal Service Fund programs, and consumer outreach initiatives such as the DTV transition - are undertaken in Indian Country by the FCC through targeted outreach, coordination and consultation. The ITI is designed to increase the FCC’s and Tribal Nations’ understanding of essential telecommunications issues impacting the deployment of telecommunications services in Indian Country and to perpetuate intergovernmental consultation between the parties in order to identify and remove barriers to telecommunications deployment in Indian Country. The Commission’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), located within the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), is responsible for coordinating the FCC’s Tribal outreach and consultation. ITI Salt Lake City will continue to enhance the government-to-government relationship between the FCC and the Tribal nations in recognition of the FCC’s trust relationship with the AI/AN community. This event builds upon the successes of the FCC’s previous ITI Workshops and Roundtables, held in Rapid City, South Dakota, in May 2004, on the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Reservation in Idaho in November 2004, Albuquerque, New Mexico in July 2005, San Diego, California in July 2006, Polson, Montana in October 2006, and Albuquerque, New Mexico in July 2007. Registration for “ITI Salt Lake City” and More Information The ITI is free of charge to registrants. For the convenience of attendees a small block of rooms, under the “FCC Indian Telecommunication Initiative Workgroup” have been reserved two miles away from the meeting site at the Monaco Hotel, 15 West 200 South Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, for reservations call (877) 294-9710. Tribal leaders and American Indian/Alaska Native community representatives are encouraged to attend the ITI. Telecommunications industry representatives are also welcome to attend these intergovernmental meetings. To register for the ITI Salt Lake City or to obtain additional information, please call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), press number 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, and then 6. Follow the prompts to leave your full contact information, fax 202-418-2839, or e-mail your full contact information to iti-info@fcc.gov. For more information about the ITI Salt Lake City Workshop, the FCC’s ITI program, or the FCC’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, please contact Shana Barehand, Senior Attorney and Liaison to Tribal Governments at 202-418-0385, shana.barehand@fcc.gov. Updates and further information about the ITI Salt Lake City will also be made available on the FCC’s Tribal Initiatives website at: http://www.fcc.gov/indians. - FCC - Agenda Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:30 - 8:15 AM Digital-to-analog TV Converter Box Demonstrations and Discussion Session 8:15 - 8:30 AM Invocation 8:30 - 9:30 AM Welcoming Remarks & Program Overview, FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Utah Tribal Representatives Welcome Partners Welcome 9:30 – 9:45 Break 9:45 -11:30 AM FCC Updates: DTV: Consumer Education and Outreach, DTV Enforcement, Educational Requirements of ETCs Universal Service: Lifeline/Link-Up, Rural Health Care Pilot, Schools and Libraries Wireless: Spectrum Auctions, E106 process Consumer Initiatives 12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch (sponsored by the National Tribal Telecommunications Association) – Facilitated open forum discussion on tribal telecommunications deployment. 1:00 – 1:30 PM Digital-to-analog TV Converter Box Demonstrations 1:30 – 2:30 PM Tribal Telecom “Not Just Plain Old Telephone Service”-- Overview of innovative ways that telecom is getting out to Indian Country. 2:30- 2:45 PM Break 2:45 – 3:45 PM Practical Considerations for Tribes when Developing Tribal Telecom 3:45- 4:45 PM Broadband Deployment – Overview of broadband delivery options Thursday, July 17, 2008 7:30 – 8:00 AM Digital Television Transition Demonstration of Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Open Discussion with the FCC and NTIA staff 8:00 - 9:00 AM “February 17, 2009 – Are you Ready?” DTV transition Overview & TV Converter Box Coupon Program – Partnering to Promote Consumer Awareness FCC NTIA NCAI 9:00 – 10:30 AM Broadband Deployment -- Strategies for Deploying Broadband in Indian Country 10:30 - 10:45 AM Break 10:45 – 12:00 PM Business Strategies for the Successful Deployment of Telecommunications on Tribal Lands. 12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch 1:00 – 1:30 PM Digital-to-analog TV Converter Box Demonstrations 1:30 - 2:15 PM NCE Window follow-up and tribal radio stations 2:15 - 2:45 PM Open Forum Discussion