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:
March 2, 2010 Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506 
Email: Jen.Howard@fcc.gov
CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI HIGHLIGHTS STRATEGY FOR INCREASING 
BROADBAND ACCESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY
Less Than Ten Percent of Residents of Tribal Lands Estimated to Have Broadband Access
Washington, D.C. -- Increased access to broadband in Indian Country could create jobs and 
economic growth, and the National Broadband Plan now being developed by the Federal 
Communications Commission will make many recommendations to speed the process, said FCC 
Chairman Julius Genachowski Tuesday.
“Broadband has the potential to help Tribal communities advance farther, faster, than any new 
technology in our lifetime,” said Chairman Genachowski in a speech before a conference of the 
National Congress of American Indians. “We have to develop a meaningful plan to create jobs 
and economic growth in Indian Country, to unleash new waves of innovation and investment, 
and to improve education, health care, energy efficiency, public safety, and self-governance in 
Tribal lands.”  
The best evidence indicates that the broadband deployment rate on Tribal lands is less than 10 
percent, and anecdotal evidence suggests that actual usage rates may be as low as 5 to 8 percent, 
compared to 65 percent nationwide.
“When we talk about bringing the technology of the future to Tribal lands, I recognize the 
tremendous challenges we’ve faced in the past, and understand that we must approach these 
issues through their own unique lens,” Chairman Genachowski said.
Working recommendations in the National Broadband Plan include:
· Creating a separate Tribal Broadband Fund to support sustainable deployment and adoption 
programs in Indian Country
· Improve data-gathering on tribal lands
· Help Tribal communities acquire technical broadband skills and expertise by expanding the 
FCC’s Indian Telecommunications Initiative
· Allow Tribal representatives to participate in the FCC University training programs at no 
cost
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed the FCC to submit a National 
Broadband Plan to Congress that addresses broadband deployment, adoption, affordability, and 
the use of broadband to advance solutions to national priorities.
Read Chairman Genachowski’s full remarks: 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296645A1.pdf
--FCC--
For more information about the National Broadband Plan, go to www.broadband.gov