[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 12809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6319]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Sunshine Act Meeting

March 8, 1999.
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

SUNSHINE ACT HEARING: Notice of the Second Hearing in a Series of 
Hearings about Telephone Service for Indians on Reservations, and a 
Request for Comment from the General Public about Issues relevant to 
that Subject.

TIME AND DATE: Scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 on March 23, 1999.

PLACE: The Gila River Indian Community at the Sprung Facility, 5550 
West Wild Horse Path, Chandler, Arizona.

STATUS: Chairman William Kennard and other FCC Commissioners, including 
Commissioner Susan Ness and Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, will 
preside over the hearing. Representatives of Indian tribes and of 
Indian-owned telephone companies operating on reservations, 
representatives of non-Indian telephone companies, executives from 
telecommunications service providers, representatives of the State of 
Arizona, and technology experts will testify about the level of 
telephone service currently available on reservations. In addition, 
testimony will address measures that tribes, telecommunications service 
providers, the FCC, and states can take to improve access to affordable 
telephone service on reservations. Specific issues include the cost of 
telephone service to remote, low-population areas; the availability of 
911 and enhanced 911 services on reservations; the availability of 
advanced services, including high-speed Internet access, on 
reservations; deployment of alternative technologies; rights-of-way 
issues; and governmental and sovereignty issues.
    The hearing will be open to the general public. The Commission 
requests that all interested parties submit written comments on all 
testimony and evidence received during the hearing, and on all issues 
arising from the FCC's inquiry, on or before May 28, 1999. Such 
comments should be submitted in BO Docket No. 99-11.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: In comparison to other Americans, relatively 
few Indians on reservations have access to even basic service. This 
lack of telephone service limits the opportunities available to Indians 
on reservations. In particular, access to medical care in emergencies 
is limited; prospective employers cannot be reached quickly and easily; 
and commercial, educational, and other information available on the 
Internet is not available. The FCC seeks to examine the causes for low 
levels of service and to determine what actions might be taken to 
improve access to telephone service on Indian reservations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Jensen of the Office of 
Communications Business Opportunities at (202) 418-0990, e-mail 
[email protected]; William Kehoe of the Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 
418-7122, e-mail [email protected]; or Belford Lawson of the Office of 
Communications Business Opportunities at (202) 418-7264, e-mail 
[email protected].

Federal Communications Commission.
Eric Jensen,
Deputy Director, Office of Communications Business Opportunities.
[FR Doc. 99-6319 Filed 3-11-99; 3:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P