HEIDI HEITKAMP COMMITIEES: NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY HART SENATE BU ILDING 110 BANKING, HOUSING AND WASHINGTON, DC 20510 URBAN AFFAIRS PH: 202- 224- 2043 FAX: 202-224- 7776 HOMELAND SECURITY AND TOLL FREE: Hl00-223-4457 tinitcd ~ tatcs ~ cnatc GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov WASHINGTON, DC 20510 INDIAN AFFAIRS SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP November 28, 2017 The Honorable Ajit Pai 1027 Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12'11 St NW Washington, D.C. 20554 Dear Chairman Pai, I write regarding the recent changes to the Lifeline program that will directly impact tribal lands across the country. I am concerned that eliminating resellers from pa11icipating in the Tribal Lifeline program and the enhanced support that tribal residents receive will have a significant and lasting negative impact on low-income Native Americans who depend on the program to access affordable voice and internet services. As you well know, the Lifeline program was created under President Reagan to help lower­ income Americans access essential telephone services. As wireless phones and broadband internet access have been incorporated into the Lifeline program over the past 12 years, Lifeline has continued to be an avenue for them to pat1icipate in today's digital economy. The Fourth Report and Order, which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved on November 16 to alter the Lifeline program on tribal lands, stands to negatively affect over 1,000 tribal members in N011h Dakota when their eligible telecommunications carrier, a reseller of wireless service, is no longer permitted to offer Lifeline. Currently, there are no facility-based providers ready and able to serve those tribal locations, creating a service gap. Verizon and AT&T, which own the majority of spectrum and wireless equipment in N011h Dakota, have historically shown reluctance to pai1icipating in the Lifeline program leaving nearly the entire state without a wireless Lifeline provider. Decreasing the accessibility of wireless Lifeline will have a significant and dispropo11ional impact on tribal members and younger people as they tend to rely solely on wireless services to connect to the internet. Additionally, eliminating the enhanced suppo11 tribal residents receive for Lifeline services takes away vital assistance to a population where often over half live below the poverty line. To many tribal residents, the enhanced support was the only reason they were able to afford telecommunications services, and I am concerned that eliminating this supp01i will prevent them from pat1icipating in the digital age. I hope that you can answer the following questions as I continue to evaluate these changes: " Did the FCC consult or seek public conunent from tribes in N011h Dakota regarding these changes to the Tribal Lifeline program? If so, what was the response from North Dakota tribes? BISMARCK OFFICE: DICKINSON OFFICE : FARGO OFFICE: GRAND FORKS OFFICE: MINOT OFFICE: 228 FEDERAL BUILDING 40 1ST AVENUE WEST 306 FEDERAL BUILDING 33 s_ 3Ro ST.. su1TE B 105 FEDERAL BUILDING 220 EAST ROSSER AVENUE SUITE 202 657 SECOND AVENUE NORTH GRAND FORKS, ND 5820 1 100 FIRST STREET S.W. BISMARCK, ND 5850 1 DICKINSON, ND 5860 1 FARGO, ND 58102 PH: 701-775-9601 MINOT, ND 58701 PH: 701-258-4648 PH: 701-225-0974 PH: 701-232-8030 - 1-800-223-4457 FAX: 701-746- 1990 PH: 701-852-0703 FAX: 701-258-1254 FAX: 701 -225-3287 FAX: 701 -232-6449 FAX: 701-838-8196 " Was a cost-benefit analysis performed for this change and was the loss of service on tribal lands accounted for in this analysis? How many tribal members in North Dakota and across the country will lose service as a result of this Order? " What plans does the FCC have to ensure those currently with service continue to receive affordable service despite the lack of a wireless Lifeline provider as defined under the new Order? I appreciate you considering my concerns and look forward to your reply. Sincerely, )~~\ ~ka~iJ~ United States Senate Cc: Federal Communications Conunissioner Michael O'Rielly Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr 11-16-17; 15: ; TMBC I-Records 91 14770916 # 1/ 2 TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS Highway 5 West, Box 900, Belcourt, ND 58316 Telephone: (701) 477-2600 Fax: (701) 477-0916 Website: www.tmbci.org FAX TRANSMISSION DATE: 11116117 ----------------------------------..--- TO: Senator Heitkamp FAX NUMBER: 202-224-7776 FROM: Acting Chainnan Marcellais SUBJECT: Proposed changes to tribal lands subsidies, Lifeline program PAGES: 2 (Including this cover sheet) COMMENT ·-----------·--------------------------------------··--- ------------------------------------------ ·-------------·------------------------------------------..--------------- If all pages are not received, please call (70 I) 4 77-2600 and ask for ----- 11/16/2017 10:31AM (GMT-05:00) 11-16-17;15:28 ;TMBCl-Records 912022247776 14770916 # 21 2 TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA IND/ANS 4180 Hwy 281 P.O. BOX900 BELCOURT, ND 58316 (701) 477-2600 Fax: (701) 477-0916 Website: www.tmbci.org Chairman Ajit Pai Federal Communirntions Comm.ission 445 12' 11 St. S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 RE: Proposed changes to tribal lands subsidies, Lifeline prngnun_ Dear Chairman Pai: On behalf of the Tu1tle Mountain I3ancl of Chippewa Indians a tribe or approximalely 34,000 members, we would respectfully request your reconsideration or removing the subsidy which serves rnrnl area. Our Tribe is very rural and poor. 75% of our members live below the pove1i.y level and at least 420 families rely upon the Lifeline program to reach all government services, 911, police and fire, and social services. ChangllS to the Lifeline program will adversely affect many families with small children residing within our reservation, leaving them with no communications access. Please maintain the monthly subsidies for rural reservations, so that oi1r community may continue to have access to c~ncrgcncy services and related programing. Ycry Truly Youts, ~~;;-~-- Roman Marccllais Acting Chaimmn CC: Tribal Government. 11/16/2017 10:31AM (GMT-05:00)