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: July 16, 2008 Matthew Nodine: (202) 418-1646 FCC AND USDA TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON RURAL BROADBAND IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND PHOENIX, ARIZONA Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that registration is still open for the two remaining regional educational workshops on rural broadband: September 18, 2008: Austin, Texas November 20, 2008: Phoenix, Arizona These workshops are designed to provide communities, organizations, and businesses in rural America seeking to bring the benefits of broadband to their communities with an opportunity to learn about the resources, programs, and policies of the FCC and USDA. They follow two workshops held earlier this year in Blacksburg, Virginia and Saginaw, Michigan. The topics to be covered at the workshops include the following: different technology platforms used to provide broadband services, USDA funding for broadband deployment, the Universal Service Fund, the FCC’s Rural Health Care Pilot program, and wireless spectrum access. The workshops will also provide communities and organizations an opportunity to share their experiences about broadband deployment in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The workshops will be held free of charge; however, attendees will be responsible for providing their own transportation, lodging, and meals. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please register no later than August 15, 2008 for the Austin workshop or October 10, 2008 for the Phoenix workshop. Below is the information required to register: o Community/Organization Name o Address o Phone Number o Email Address o Contact Person o Workshop Location You Wish to Attend o Number of Expected Attendees o Description of Accommodations Required for People with Disabilities (Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be made available upon request.) 2 There are several ways for you to register for a workshop: o Online. Go to the FCC’s website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/outreach/ruralbroadband/workshop and fill in the online registration form. o By Email. Send the information outlined above in an email to ruralworkshop@fcc.gov. o By Telephone. Call (877) 480-3201 and press Option 1. For TTY, dial (717) 338-2824. o By U.S. Mail. Send a letter with the information outlined above to: Federal Communications Commission Wireless Telecommunications Bureau ATTN: Matt Nodine 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 A community or organization can register for only one workshop. The contact person listed in the registration will receive additional information at a later date regarding the workshop selected, including the exact time and venue, as well as a detailed agenda. For additional information about the workshops, please visit the FCC’s website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/outreach/ruralbroadband/; send an email to ruralworkshop@fcc.gov; or contact Cecilia Sulhoff at (202) 418-0587 or Matt Nodine at (202) 418-1646. Further information on rural programs is available on the FCC/USDA Broadband Opportunities for Rural America website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/outreach/ruralbroadband, at a local USDA Rural Development office, and on the USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. - FCC – News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov.