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
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For Immediate Release News Media Contact:
February 3, 2010 Janice Wise (202) 418-8165
Email:  janice.wise@fcc.gov
FCC ADOPTS ORDER TO PROMOTE NATIVE AMERICAN RADIO AND STREAMLINE 
BROADCAST RADIO ASSIGNMENT AND ALLOTMENT PROCEDURES
Washington, D.C.:  The Federal Communications Commission adopted a First Report and Order that 
gives tribes a priority to obtain broadcast radio licenses in tribal communities.  The Order provides an 
opportunity for tribes to establish new service specifically designed to offer programming that meets 
the needs of tribal citizens.  The Order also fosters localism and diversity, key media policy goals of 
the Commission and the Congress.
“The Commission is proud to adopt new rules that will help tribes expand their unique radio 
programming, a service that focuses on the promotion of tribal culture, language, and historic 
preservation,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.   
Although well over a million Native Americans and Alaska Natives live on over 55 million acres 
of tribal lands across the United States, only 41 radio stations are currently licensed to native tribes.  
To address this imbalance, the First Report and Order establishes the Tribal Priority under the Section 
307(b) processing rules.  The Tribal Priority gives precedence to federally recognized Native 
American Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, or companies controlled by tribes that want to establish 
new radio stations designed to serve communities located on tribal lands.  
In addition, the First Report and Order made improvements to the Commission’s radio 
application and assignment procedures, assisting qualified applicants to more rapidly introduce new 
radio service to the public.  These improvements include:
· Prohibiting an AM applicant that obtains a construction permit through a dispositive 
Section 307(b) preference from downgrading the service level that led to the dispositive 
preference;
· Requiring technical proposals for new or major change AM facilities filed with Form 175 
applications to meet certain minimum technical standards to be eligible for further 
auction processing; and
· Giving the Media and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus authority to cap AM 
filing window applications.
The Commission concurrently adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking 
comment on:  (1) whether the FCC should help applicants acquire new commercial radio stations by 
establishing an auction bidding credit for federally recognized Native American tribes and Alaska 
Native Villages; and (2) whether and how to extend the Tribal Priority to tribes that do not possess 
tribal lands.  Comment deadlines for these proposals will be announced in a subsequent Public 
Notice.   
Action by the Commission January 28, 2010, by First Report and Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 10-24).  Commissioners Copps, McDowell and Clyburn issuing separate 
statements.  MB Docket No. 09-52.
Media Bureau contacts: Tom Nessinger or Peter H. Doyle, (202) 418-2700; TTY, (202) 418-
7172.  
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