[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18759-18761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7961]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[CG Docket No. 11-41; FCC 11-30]
Improving Communications Services for Native Nations
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a wide range
of issues concerning how its rules and policies could be modified to
provide greater economic, market entry, communication adoption
opportunities, and incentives for Native Nations. The Commission also
seeks government-to-government consultation with Native Nations, input
from inter-Tribal government associations and Native representative
organizations, and input from the public on the best ways to move
forward. The Commission is committed to ensuring that all Americans
have access to emerging services and technologies, with Native Nations
being at the forefront of the Commission's efforts.
DATES: Comments are due on or before May 20, 2011, and reply comments
due on or before July 5, 2011.
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ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by [CG Docket No. 11-41
and/or FCC 11-30], by any of the following methods:
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the Internet by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow
the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments. For
ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should
include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the
applicable docket or rulemaking number, which in this instance is CG
Docket No. 11-41.
Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet
e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to
[email protected], and include the following words in the body of the
message, ``get form .'' A sample form and
directions will be sent in response.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing
hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class,
Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.
In addition, parties must serve one copy of each pleading with the
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445
12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, or via email to
[email protected]. Parties must also send a courtesy copy of their filing
to Rod Flowers, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 4-C487,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Bryant, Office of Native
Affairs and Policy at (202) 418-8164 (voice), (202) 418-0431 (TTY), or
e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
Improving Communications Services to Native Nations, Notice of Inquiry
(Native Nations NOI), document FCC 11-30, adopted on March 3, 2011, and
released on March 4, 2011, in CG Docket No. 11-41.
The full text of document FCC 11-30 and copies of any subsequently
filed documents in this matter will be available for public inspection
and copying via ECFS, and during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. They may also be purchased from the
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc.,
Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554,
telephone: (800) 378-3160, fax: (202) 488-5563, or Internet: http://
www.bcpiweb.com. Document FCC 11-30 can also be downloaded in Word or
Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov or http://
www.fcc.gov/indians.
Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may file
comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the
DATES section of this document. Comments and reply comments must
include a short and concise summary of the substantive discussion and
questions raised in the document FCC 11-30. The Commission further
directs all interested parties to include the name of the filing party
and the date of the filing on each page of their comments and reply
comments. The Commission strongly encourages that parties track the
organization set forth in document FCC 11-30 in order to facilitate its
internal review process. Comments and reply comments must otherwise
comply with 47 CFR 1.48 and all other applicable sections of the
Commission's rules.
Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1200 et seq., this matter shall be treated as
a ``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the
Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making oral ex parte presentations
are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain
summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing
of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description
of the views and arguments presented is generally required. Other rules
pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in 47 CFR
1.1206(b).
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or
(202) 418-0432 (TTY).
Synopsis
The Native Nations NOI seeks consultation and comment on 11
specific categories of communications issues affecting Native Nations
and Americans living on Tribal lands--the lands of federally recognized
American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages--as well as Hawaiian
Home Lands. The first five sections of the document seek comment on
issues that cut broadly across the many different substantive areas
within the Commission's regulatory mission. With a better understanding
of these critical issues, the Commission can more effectively work with
Native Nations to break down barriers and find genuine solutions. For
example, the NOI seeks comment on whether a Native Nations priority,
analogous to the one presently found in the Commission's rules for
radio broadcast licensing, should be adopted more broadly to make it
easier for Native Nations to provide other communications services to
their own communities.
The Native Nations NOI also seeks comment on the basic tools that
Native Nations need in order to build sustainable business and
deployment models to address the significant communications
infrastructure needs, market challenges, and demand aggregation
requirements specific to Tribal lands. Further, recognizing the
uniqueness of Tribal lands, the document seeks comment on the
challenges and barriers faced by Native Nations in achieving broadband
adoption and utilization. The Native Nations NOI also seeks comment on
whether the Commission should adopt a single definition of Tribal lands
for all communications-related regulation and, if so, precisely what
that definition should encompass. The other issues on which the Native
Nations NOI seeks comment delve into specific substantive areas of the
Commission's existing rules. For example, the Native Nations NOI seeks
comment on the Universal Service Fund's eligible telecommunications
carrier (ETC) designation process on Tribal lands, including the nature
and extent of those designations and requirements for the consultative
process with Native Nations. The Native
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Nations NOI also examines public safety and interoperability challenges
on Tribal lands, including the widespread lack of 911 and E-911
services.
The Native Nations NOI also seeks comment on how to improve the
Commission's processes and Best Practices--pursuant to Section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act--for the protection of Native
sacred sites and consultation with Native Nations and Native Hawaiian
Organizations in the review of communications tower sitings. In
addition, the Native Nations NOI seeks comment on ways to make
satellite-based services available for Native Nations, by addressing
issues of cost, equipment, and market-entry points for Native Nations.
The Native Nations NOI seeks comment on the extent to which persons
with disabilities living on Tribal lands experience barriers in using
communications services and advanced technologies, and asks how the
Commission can address those barriers. The Native Nations NOI also asks
how the Commission can best structure a productive and efficient
nation-to-nation consultation process unique to the mission of the
Commission and the needs of Native Nations, recognizing that many
consultations with the Federal government are occurring on many
different and inter-related issues at any given time.
Finally, recognizing that the Native Nations NOI may not cover all
of the communications challenges facing Native Nations and their
communities, the document invites comment on other matters involved in
the provision of communications services to Native communities that may
warrant future Commission action.
Ordering Clauses
Pursuant to sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 7(a), 11, 214, 225, 254,
255, 301, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), 303(y), 308, 332, 403, 706,
and 716 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151,
152, 154(i), 154(j), 157(a), 161, 214, 225, 254, 255, 301, 303(c),
303(f), 303(g), 303(r), 303(y), 308, 332, 404, 706, and 716, and
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f,
document FCC 11-30 is adopted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-7961 Filed 4-4-11; 8:45 am]
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