FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMM I SSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIR MAN 
The llonorable Maria Cantwell 
United States Senate 
311 I Iart Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510 
Dear Senator Cantwell: 
January 23,20 15 
Thank you for your letter regarding the lack of broadband access for Americans li ving on 
Tribal lands. In your letter, you urge the Commission to engage in formal Tribal consul tation 
with Tribal Nations regarding the importance of the high-cost loop support (IICLS) mechanism 
in deployment of broadband services on Tribal lands. You a lso express concern regarding recent 
IICLS reforms. Your views are very important and will be included in the record o f the 
proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review. 
I wholeheartedly agree with your view that access to broadband technology is critical for 
Tribal communities to participate full y in today's economy. I have personally seen the lack of 
communications services and infrastructure across Indian Country, which has created a hi story of 
isolation that has limited economic and educational opportunities. That is why expanding high­
speed broadband connections to all co rners of the country is a top priori ty for the Commission. 
Nowhere could meeting this objective be more impactful than on Tribal lands. 
The Commission is strongly committed to working with Tribal Nations through 
meaningful and vigorous efforts on a regular basis in all regions of the country . We are also 
committed to ensuring that Tribal concerns are appropriately considered and addressed as part of 
the Commission's broader effo rts to improve broadband deployment throughout the United 
States. At the National Congress of American Indians 2014 Executive Counci l Winter 
conference, I emphasized the importance of establi shing a re invigorated Tribal consultation 
process that addresses many goals, including: ( I) improving access to world class broadband 
infrastructure; (2) access to spectrum and wireless infrastructure; and (3) ensuring a diversity of 
media ownership voices in Indian Country. I al so stressed the need fo r Tribal community 
planners and policy representatives to build relationships with the Commission's Office of 
Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP). ONAP has developed and manages a comprehensive plan to 
strengthen the Commission's consultation and training efforts in all regions of the country. This 
includes Commission-hosted regional Tribal training and consultation workshops and 
participation in many Indian Country outreach events. In 2014, for example, ONAP hosted five 
regional consultation workshops. 
In addition, thi s October, the Commission took steps to reinvigorate the FCC-Native 
Nations Broadband Task Force, with the appointment of 31 members representing 20 Tribal 
Nations and 11 Bureaus and Office~ within the Commission. The Task Force, comprised of 
Page 2-The Honorable Maria Cantwell 
elected and appointed leaders from federally-recognized Tribal governments or governmental 
entities and senior staff from across the Commission, acts as a consultative sounding board for 
Commission proposals and develops additional recommendations for broadband deployment and 
adoption. The voices of this Task Force are important to our efforts to close broadband gaps on 
Tribal lands and ensure that the concerns ofTribal governments are considered at the 
Commission. I look forward to their contributions as we work together to bring world class 
connectivity to Tribal Nations. 
Finally, the Commission, with ONAP's leadership, plans to build upon its ongoing 
consultative relationship with the Tribal Nations who own and operate rate-of-return carriers. 
Upon ONAP's creation in 2010, the very first meeting in which ONAP staff participated in 
Indian Country was the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTT A) conference on 
the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. NTTA's primary members are the eight Tribally­
owned rate-of-return carriers. In each year since 2010, ONAP has actively engaged with NTTA 
both in Indian Country and at the Commission. In 20 15, the Commission plans to continue to 
engage and consult with Tribal Nations, NTT A, and others in Indian Country on long-term 
reform of rate-of-return support. 
I recognize that the challenges before us are great. But working together, we will seize 
upon technological opportunities to improve lives across Indian Country. I appreciate your 
interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. 
~;ILL 
Tom Wheeler