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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  JONATHAN  S.  ADELSTEIN 
 Re:  In  the  Matter  of  Extending  Wireless  Telecommunications  Services  to  Tribal  Lands;  WT  Docket  No.  99-  266 
 My  family’s  presence  on  the  Great  Plains  has  endured  for  four  generations.  I  grew  up  in  South  Dakota,  which  also  is  home  to  more  than  62,000  American  Indians.  I  feel  duty-  bound  by 
 my  heritage  to  ensure  that  the  benefits  of  the  most  advanced  telecommunications  reach  all  Americans,  particularly  those  who  live  on  tribal  lands. 


 I  fully  endorse  the  previous  Commission’s  decision  to  provide  incentives  for  wireless  telecommunications  carriers  to  serve  individuals  living  on  tribal  lands.  I  also  support  today’s 
 decision  to  extend  the  time  period  during  which  winning  bidders  can  negotiate  with  tribes  to  obtain  the  certification  required  for  obtaining  a  bidding  credit. 


 I  believe,  however,  that  we  need  to  explore  additional  modifications  to  the  tribal  lands  bidding  credit  system  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  credit  is  utilized  to  its  fullest  possible  extent. 
 We  most  do  more  as  an  agency  to  support  the  deployment  of  wireless  services  in  tribal  areas,  particularly  those  that  are  underserved  by  traditional  wireline  services.  This  proceeding 
 represents  one  of  our  best  opportunities  to  truly  make  a  difference  to  the  types  of  communications  services  available  on  tribal  lands. 


 The  order  indicates  that  since  the  inception  of  the  tribal  lands  bidding  credit,  there  have  been  10  auctions,  with  375  winning  bidders  purchasing  10,479  licenses.  While  27  winning 
 bidders  to  date  have  initially  indicated  that  they  would  be  seeking  the  tribal  lands  credit,  of  those  applicants,  only  five  have  submitted  the  required  certification. 


 I  strongly  support  the  Second  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking,  which  includes  questions  regarding  the  construction  period  associated  with  the  bidding  credit  and  the  size  of  the 
 discount  offered  by  the  tribal  land  bidding  credit  program.  Given  that  the  program  has  met  with  such  limited  success,  it  may  be  that  the  incentives  just  are  not  enough. 


 Finally,  I  strongly  encourage  interested  tribes  and  wireless  carriers  to  participate  in  this  proceeding  and  the  several  other  proceedings  referenced  in  the  item  that  are  looking  at  service 
 area  sizes  and  performance  requirements.  The  Commission  wants  to  hear  from  you,  so  that  we  can  learn  how  best  to  facilitate  and  improve  wireless  service  on  tribal  lands. 
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