The Federal Communications Commission has established an Office of Native Affairs and Policy, according to a press release issued by the commission on Aug.12.
With its main agenda aimed at bringing the benefits of a modern communications infrastructure to all Native communities, the new office will work to promote the deployment and adoption of communications services and technologies throughout Indian Country by, among other things, ensuring robust government-to-government consultation with tribal governments and increased coordination with Native organizations.
“The Office of Native Affairs and Policy is a historic milestone and the culmination of many years of effort by leaders in Indian Country and at the FCC,” said Geoffrey Blackwell, who heads the office. “There is a lot of good hard work that remains on the path ahead. As tribal nations and Native communities exercise their sovereignty and self-determination to ensure a bright future for their generations, the entire agency now has a new capability to engage with them. Many people throughout the FCC have worked diligently on behalf of tribes for a number of years. …”
The office, which will be part of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, will handle ongoing consultation and coordination with American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, Native Hawaiian organizations and other Native and tribal entities and will be the official commission contact point for these activities.
Showing posts with label FCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FCC. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
More Broadband on the Horizon for Indian Country
Tribal communities have some of the lowest broadband penetration rates in the country — some, in fact, don’t have it at all. But that will likely change as the federal government executes its plan to double the amount of commercial wireless spectrum that is currently available.
In a Presidential Memorandum issued on June 28, President Obama outlined how federal agencies will work together to free up 500 MHz of federal and non-federal spectrum over the next 10 years.
The memorandum directs the FCC, in collaboration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to develop a specific plan and timetable for identifying and making the spectrum available by Oct. 1, 2010.
The memorandum is one part of a four-point plan developed by the Obama Administration to increase spectrum, which is part of the broader National Broadband Plan. Other steps include enacting legislation to facilitate the transition; taking inventory of the spectrum now in use; and developing tools that allow spectrum to be used more efficiently (tapping into underutilized spectrum and spectrum-sharing technologies).
Once the spectrum is freed up — and some may be available within the next five years — most will be auctioned off for licensed mobile broadband. Some, though, will be available for free for unlicensed use.
The need for additional spectrum is undeniable. In recent years, according to the White House, the amount of information flowing over some wireless networks has grown at more than 250 percent per year. Over the next five years, the amount could be 20 to 45 times what it was in 2009.
The need for broadband in tribal communities is undeniable too. Here the penetration rate is estimated at less than 10 percent.
Loris Ann Taylor, executive director of Native Public Media, said, “Freeing up spectrum for tribal-centric deployment in Indian Country can provide great opportunities for information systems, technology start ups, mobile use and connectivity for residential and anchor institutions. This, in turn, could spur critically needed jobs and other economic and social benefits for Native Americans.”
As tribes are included in the National Broadband Plan, it’s important that they are part of its implementation. In early June, the FCC established a Native Nations Broadband Task Force to assist the agency in increasing broadband deployment and adoption in Indian Country. Then on June 22, the FCC appointed Geoffrey Blackwell, a tribal economic infrastructure expert, to work with tribes in carrying out the plan’s recommendations for bringing broadband to all tribal communities. He will also oversee the new task force and establish an Office of Tribal Affairs.
On the spectrum-freeing initiative, Taylor said, “Tribal consultation will be critical to the White House effort; and, as a result, it is critically important that the new Office of Tribal Affairs at the FCC is fully staffed and budgeted to help guide tribes’ inter-governmental involvement as wireless spectrum is freed up.”
In a Presidential Memorandum issued on June 28, President Obama outlined how federal agencies will work together to free up 500 MHz of federal and non-federal spectrum over the next 10 years.
The memorandum directs the FCC, in collaboration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to develop a specific plan and timetable for identifying and making the spectrum available by Oct. 1, 2010.
The memorandum is one part of a four-point plan developed by the Obama Administration to increase spectrum, which is part of the broader National Broadband Plan. Other steps include enacting legislation to facilitate the transition; taking inventory of the spectrum now in use; and developing tools that allow spectrum to be used more efficiently (tapping into underutilized spectrum and spectrum-sharing technologies).
Once the spectrum is freed up — and some may be available within the next five years — most will be auctioned off for licensed mobile broadband. Some, though, will be available for free for unlicensed use.
The need for additional spectrum is undeniable. In recent years, according to the White House, the amount of information flowing over some wireless networks has grown at more than 250 percent per year. Over the next five years, the amount could be 20 to 45 times what it was in 2009.
The need for broadband in tribal communities is undeniable too. Here the penetration rate is estimated at less than 10 percent.
Loris Ann Taylor, executive director of Native Public Media, said, “Freeing up spectrum for tribal-centric deployment in Indian Country can provide great opportunities for information systems, technology start ups, mobile use and connectivity for residential and anchor institutions. This, in turn, could spur critically needed jobs and other economic and social benefits for Native Americans.”
As tribes are included in the National Broadband Plan, it’s important that they are part of its implementation. In early June, the FCC established a Native Nations Broadband Task Force to assist the agency in increasing broadband deployment and adoption in Indian Country. Then on June 22, the FCC appointed Geoffrey Blackwell, a tribal economic infrastructure expert, to work with tribes in carrying out the plan’s recommendations for bringing broadband to all tribal communities. He will also oversee the new task force and establish an Office of Tribal Affairs.
On the spectrum-freeing initiative, Taylor said, “Tribal consultation will be critical to the White House effort; and, as a result, it is critically important that the new Office of Tribal Affairs at the FCC is fully staffed and budgeted to help guide tribes’ inter-governmental involvement as wireless spectrum is freed up.”
Thursday, July 10, 2008
FCC to Host Workshop for Tribes on DTV Transition
The Federal Communications Commission will host a roundtable and workshop July 16-17 in Salt Lake City as part of the Indian Telecommunications Initiates initiative. Federal officials will discuss the digital television (DTV) transition and telecommunications development in Indian Country. Details of the meeting are available here.
The July meeting will take place at the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 S. St.To register for the free meeting, call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), press number 6 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact information. Or fax your information to 202-418-2839, or send an email to iti-info@fcc.gov.
For more information, contact Shana Barehand, FCC senior attorney and liaison to tribal governments, at 202-418-0385 or shana.barehand@fcc.gov. More information can also be seen at the FCC's Tribal Initiatives website at www.fcc.gov/indians.
The July meeting will take place at the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 S. St.To register for the free meeting, call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), press number 6 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact information. Or fax your information to 202-418-2839, or send an email to iti-info@fcc.gov.
For more information, contact Shana Barehand, FCC senior attorney and liaison to tribal governments, at 202-418-0385 or shana.barehand@fcc.gov. More information can also be seen at the FCC's Tribal Initiatives website at www.fcc.gov/indians.
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