FCC ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR MARCH 3RD OPEN MEETING

NEWS Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
February 10, 2011 Robert Kenny: 202-418-0506
Email: Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov

FCC ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR MARCH 3RD OPEN MEETING

Washington, D.C. — Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that the following items will be on the tentative agenda for the next open meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2011. The meeting will be in two parts, the first dedicated to communications issues affecting Native Nations, and the second to other Commission business:

• Native Nations Spectrum NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to explore a range of recommendations to help close the wireless gap on Tribal Lands.
• Tribal and Rural Radio Orders and FNPRM: Orders revising rules or establishing waiver standards that will make it easier for Native Nations to provide radio service to areas that are the functional equivalent of Tribal Lands and to Tribal Lands that are small or irregularly shaped. A further notice invites additional comment on adopting a Tribal Bidding Credit and alternative ways to foster radio service by Native Nations on their lands. Also, an order adjusting policies for determining whether proposed new radio stations or station moves constitute an equitable distribution of radio service under Section 307(b) of the Communications Act.
• Omnibus NOI on Improving Communications Services for Native Nations: A Notice of Inquiry that explores ways to overcome the barriers to deployment of communications services to Native Nations communities, and to improve consultation and coordination with Native Nations.
• NPRM to Streamline and Clarify the Commission’s Rules Governing Retransmission Consent: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on changes to rules governing or affecting retransmission consent negotiations between broadcasters and multichannel video
  programming distributors.
• Lifeline/Link Up Reform and Modernization NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to reform the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline and Link Up programs to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; improve program administration, accountability, and fiscal responsibility; and modernize the program in light of market and technology changes, including to support pilot programs for broadband adoption.
• Advanced Communications Services NPRM: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on rules implementing provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The NPRM proposes rules requiring providers of advanced communications services and manufacturers of equipment used for those services to make their products accessible to people with disabilities.
• Video Description NPRM: Also implementing the CVAA, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to reinstate the video description rules adopted by the Commission in 2000, as directed by Congress.

Topics selected for FCC open meeting agendas are posted on the Commission’s website approximately three weeks prior to the Commission’s next monthly meeting. The FCC will also issue a public notice of the “Commission Meeting Agenda” one week before the meeting and announce at that time the items that are scheduled for the agenda.

Commission meetings are open to the public, who can attend in person at the FCC headquarters (445 12^th Street SW, Washington, D.C.), or watch the live stream at www.fcc.gov/live.
–FCC–
For more news and Information about the FCC go to: www.fcc.gov

President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future through Expanded Wireless Access

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 10, 2011

President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future through Expanded Wireless Access

Initiative expands wireless coverage to 98% of Americans, reduces deficit by nearly $10 billion, invests in nationwide public safety network

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama will today detail his plan to win the future by catalyzing the buildout of high-speed wireless services that will enable businesses to grow faster, students to learn more, and public safety officials to access state-of-the-art, secure, nationwide, and interoperable mobile communications.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a National Wireless Initiative to make available high-speed wireless services to at least 98 percent of Americans. The Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative laid out today will make it possible for businesses to achieve that goal, while freeing up spectrum through incentive auctions, spurring innovation, and creating a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety.  It will also reduce the national deficit by approximately $10 billion.

The President will announce the new initiative at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, a city where local businesses have been able to grow as a result of broadband access, with particular benefit in exporting goods to new markets around the world.  He will also see a demonstration of how the university’s WiMAX network has enabled distance learning for university and community students.

For more details on the President’s Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative, please see the fact sheet below:

The White House
FACT SHEET: President Obama’s Plan to Win the Future through the Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative

In his State of the Union address, President Obama set the goal of enabling businesses to provide high-speed wireless services to at least 98 percent of all Americans within five years.  The rollout of the next generation of high-speed wireless—the “4G” technology now being deployed in the United States by leading carriers—promises considerable benefits to our economy and society.  More than 10 times faster than current high speed wireless services, this technology promises to benefit all Americans, bolster public safety, and spur innovation in wireless services, equipment, and applications.  By catalyzing private investment and innovation and reducing the deficit by $9.6 billion, this initiative will help the United States win the future and compete in the 21st century economy.

•    Nearly Double Wireless Spectrum Available for Mobile Broadband: The President has set the goal of freeing up 500 MHz of spectrum for everything from smartphones to wireless broadband connectivity for laptops to new forms of machine-to-machine communication within a decade.  Critical to realizing this goal are “voluntary incentive auctions” and more efficient use of government spectrum, estimated to raise $27.8 billion over the next decade.

•    Provide At Least 98% of Americans with Access to 4G High-Speed Wireless: Private investments are extending 4G to most of the Nation, but leaving some rural areas behind.  The President’s initiative would support a one-time investment of $5 billion and reform of the “Universal Service Fund” to ensure millions more Americans will be able to use this technology.

•    Catalyze Innovation Through a Wireless Innovation (WIN): To spur innovation, $3 billion of the spectrum proceeds will go to research and development of emerging wireless technologies and applications.

•    Develop and Deploy a Nationwide, Interoperable Wireless Network for Public Safety: The President’s Budget calls for a $10.7 billion commitment to support the development and deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband network to afford public safety agencies with far greater levels of effectiveness and interoperability.  An important element of this plan is the reallocation of the D Block for public safety and $500 million within the WIN Fund.

•    Cut the Deficit By $9.6 Billion Over the Next Decade: Nearly $10 billion of spectrum auction revenue will be devoted to deficit reduction.
Details of the President’s Initiative

•    Nearly Double Wireless Spectrum Available for Mobile Broadband.  The number of “Smartphones” will soon pass both conventional mobile phones and computers around the world, promising lower costs for such devices, more functionality, and greater demand for bandwidth (speed).  4G deployment is rising to meet this demand, but it relies on access to the “airwaves” that is currently constrained by a spectrum crunch that will hinder future innovation.

To address this challenge, the President’s initiative has set the goal of freeing up 500 MHz of spectrum.  Specifically, the plan provides:

o    Win-win incentives for government holders.  New financial-compensation tools and a commitment to using advanced technologies more effectively will enable government agencies to use spectrum more efficiently.

o    Win-win incentives for commercial holders.  As recommended in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, legislation is needed to allow the FCC to conduct “voluntary incentive auctions” that enable current spectrum holders to realize a portion of auction revenues if they choose to participate.

•    The majority of the freed up spectrum would be auctioned for licensed mobile broadband, raising a projected $27.8 billion over the next decade, and a remainder would be for unlicensed use.

•    A Goal of 98% of Americans with Access to 4G High-Speed Wireless. America’s businesses are building out 4G networks to much of the nation, with some major companies crediting the President’s recent tax incentives for accelerating their efforts. Nevertheless, absent additional government investment, millions of Americans will not be able to participate in the 4G revolution.  To that end, the President’s Budget supports the 4G buildout in rural areas through a one-time $5 billion investment.  This investment, to be managed by the FCC, will help catalyze universal service reform to provide access to higher-speed wireless and wired broadband, dovetail with the need for public safety to have a wireless network available in rural areas, and extend access from the almost 95% of Americans who have 3G wireless services today to at least 98% of all Americans gaining access to state-of-the-art 4G high-speed wireless services within five years.  Extending access to high-speed wireless not only provides a valuable service to Americans living in those areas—access to medical tests, online courses, and applications that have not yet been invented—but also catalyzes economic growth by enabling consumers and businesses living in those areas to participate in the 21st century economy.

•    A Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund to Help Drive Innovation. This $3 billion fund will advance our economic growth and competitiveness goals, supporting key technological developments that will enable and take advantage of the 4G rollout and pave the way for new technologies.  The WIN Fund will support basic research, experimentation and testbeds, and applied development in a number of areas, including public safety, education, energy, health, transportation, and economic development.

•    Develop and Deploy A Nationwide, Interoperable Wireless Network For Public Safety. The 9/11 Commission noted that our homeland security is vulnerable, in part, due to the lack of interoperable wireless communication among first responders.  The rollout of 4G high speed wireless services provides a unique opportunity to deploy such a system in conjunction with the commercial infrastructure already being developed and deployed.  To seize that opportunity, President Obama is calling for an investment of $10.7 billion to ensure that our public safety benefits from these new technologies: $3.2 billion to reallocate the “D Block” (which is a band of spectrum that would be reserved and prioritized for public safety and not auctioned as called for under existing law); $7 billion to support the deployment of this network; and $500 million from the WIN Fund for R&D and technological development to tailor the network to meet public safety requirements.  This investment, in coordination with the investment in rural buildout, will ensure that the rollout of 4G in rural areas serves the needs of public safety and the broader community.

•    Cut the deficit by $9.6 billion over the next decade. The President’s proposals to auction off spectrum freed up from the government and voluntarily relinquished by current commercial users, is estimated to raise $27.8 billion. This total is above-and-beyond the auction proceeds that are used to provide an incentive for private and government users as well as the auction proceeds that are expected even absent the President’s proposal. After the cost of the investments proposed by the President, the initiative would reduce the deficit by $9.6 billion over the next decade.

Building on Progress
The Administration has already made progress on its decade-long spectrum goal and on expanding broadband access.

•    A 115 MHz downpayment on the President’s 500 MHz goal. Last June, President Obama issued a Memorandum calling for action by the Federal government and Congress to enable large swaths of spectrum to be used more efficiently.  The NTIA has already taken steps to make good on that commitment.  In particular, the agency has identified 115 Megahertz of Federal spectrum that can be freed up as part of a “fast track” process for exclusive or shared use, selected another 95 MHz of valuable spectrum for immediate evaluation, and has a workplan for evaluating other Federal spectrum bands that can be used more efficiently.

•    Recovery Act investments by the Commerce and Agriculture Departments have boosted deployment and adoption of broadband technology.  The Recovery Act provided around $7 billion to expand broadband access and adoption, with more than $2.5 billion going to the Rural Utility Service at Agriculture for rural areas and $4.4 billion going to National Telecommunications and Information Administration at Commerce to support a number of broadband initiatives.  In particular, NTIA provided around $400 million in grants to jurisdictions using wireless broadband for public safety.

Native Nations Day at the FCC

On Thursday, March 3, 2011, in conjunction with the National Congress of American Indians Executive Council Winter Session, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host “Native Nations Day” at the FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. This day’s events will focus directly on the issues of Tribal Nations and Native Communities. The all-day event will consist of two parts. The first is an open Commission meeting in the morning at which the five FCC Commissioners will meet to consider and vote on proceedings relating to the provision of communications services in Indian Country, including a number of issues related to the deployment of broadband, broadcast, wireless and satellite services for tribal communities. One of these items will be a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) being developed by the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy. The NOI is intended to get input from tribal leaders on a broad range of telecommunications issues. The second part of Native Nations Day, held in the afternoon, will be a listening session at which tribal leaders have the opportunity to share information and views on communications topics with FCC senior staff and invited Commissioners.

What: Native Nations Day at the FCC
Date: Thursday March 3, 2011 Time: 9:45 am (9:15 early arrival for security purposes)
Where: FCC Headquarter, 445 12th Street SW Washington DC 20554
FCC Contact: Dan Rumelt, FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy, 202-418-7512 or Dan.Rumelt@fcc.gov

Leaders Convene to Help Communities Assess Needs for Public Access Technology Responds to Recommendations of the National Broadband Plan

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to announce the selection of the Digital Inclusion Working Group. The working group will meet January 24-26 in Washington, DC and assist in the development of a Framework for Digitally-Inclusive Communities that can be used by local communities to assess their complex needs for public access technology.

The framework is a response to the National Broadband Plan, which recognized the pivotal roles that libraries and community-based organizations play in providing access to high-speed internet. The National Broadband Plan called on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to develop tools to help communities assess their needs for public access technology. IMLS is working with the University of Washington and the International City/County Management Association to identify the characteristics of digitally inclusive communities in order to guide strategic public and private investments.

This announcement launches an effort to engage a broad range of stakeholders in the development of the framework. The 16-member high-level working group includes leaders from libraries, community-based organizations, business, local government and non-governmental organizations who will contribute to the development of the proposed framework. Phase two of the process will enlist a broad network of professional organizations and interested parties to further review and critique the framework.

A series of town meetings is also planned to provide additional input and to highlight promising practices.

The members of the high level working group are:

Steve Albertson, Community Voice Mail
Mary Carr, Spokane Community College
Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
Catherine K. De Rosa, OCLC WebJunction
Jon Gant, University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Chris Gates, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
Martín Gómez, Los Angeles Public Library
C. Lincoln (Link) Hoewing, Verizon
John Horrigan, Technet
Mike Lee, AARP
David Keyes, City of Seattle
Traci L. Morris, Homahota Consulting
Mare Parker-O’Toole, Medfield (MA) Public Library
Frances Roehm, Skokie (IL) Public Library
Jane Smith Patterson, e-NC
Sarah Washburn, TechSoup
From more information please see http://tascha.uw.edu/research/inclusionframework.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit http://www.imls.gov.

Dept. of Interior Releases Draft Consultation Policy to Tribal Leaders

Date: January 14, 2011
Contact: Kendra Barkoff (DOI) 202-208-6416
Paul Tsosie (AS-IA) 202-208-7163
Secretary Salazar, Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk
Submit Draft Consultation Policy to Tribal Leaders Framework Provides Greater Role for Tribes  in Federal Decisions Affecting Indian Country

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today provided the Department’s draft Tribal Consultation Policy to the leaders of the nation’s 565 federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes for their review and comment. Receiving input from Indian country on the draft policy will guide the Department in carrying out President Obama’s directive to all federal departments to develop ways to improve communication and consultation with Tribal leaders in order to develop positive solutions for issues affecting the First Americans.

“Our goal is a comprehensive, transparent and effective policy on which the Tribes can rely,” Secretary Salazar said. “We must have a policy that embodies the best consultation practices available, responds to the needs of Tribal leaders to be more engaged in policy development and promotes more responsible decision-making on issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives,” Salazar said. “The success of this policy depends greatly on the depth of input received from Indian Country.” “Meaningful, good faith consultation makes the Department’s operations and governance practices more efficient and effective,” said Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk. “Forging a strong role for Indian Tribes’ involvement at all stages in the government’s decision-making process will benefit Federal Indian policy for generations to come.”

The draft policy contains detailed requirements and guidelines for Interior officials and managers to ensure they are using the best practices and most innovative methods to achieve meaningful consultation with Indian Tribes. The Department will identify and seek to address impediments, both external and internal, to improving its consultation processes. In order to increase accountability, bureaus and office heads will implement training, performance standards, and comprehensive annual reporting to the Secretary on the results of their consultations, including the scope, cost and effectiveness of these efforts. The draft policy was developed in response to President Obama’s Nov. 5, 2009 White House Memorandum on Tribal Consultation, which signaled this Administration’s commitment to strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Tribal nations. The President’s memorandum supported tribal consultation as “a critical ingredient of a sound and productive Federal-tribal relationship” and called on all federal agencies to develop plans of action to establish tribal consultation policy.

Secretary Salazar directed departmental and bureau officials to conduct an assessment of current policy and convene a series of meetings with tribal representatives aimed at improving current tribal consultation practices. The process included extensive meetings in seven cities with 300 tribal representatives and more than 250 federal officials participating. With the input gained in these meetings, Salazar established a Tribal Consultation Team (TCT) to draft the new, comprehensive consultation policy. This team included tribal representatives from each Bureau of Indian Affairs region in addition to Departmental representatives. Brian Patterson, Clan Representative of the Oneida Nation, Robert Tippeconnie, Secretary/Treasurer of the Comanche Nation, and Governor Norman Cooeyate of the Zuni Pueblo served as co-chairs of the TCT and along with the other tribal representatives were integral to the success of the process, ensuring that the draft policy is a direct result of collaboration with tribal leaders.

The policy creates a framework for synchronizing the Department’s consultation practices with its bureaus and offices by providing an approach that applies in all circumstances where statutory or Administrative opportunities exist to consult with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. Each Interior bureau and office will be required to examine and change their own consultation policies to ensure they are consistent with the final approved departmental policy.

The 60-day Tribal comment period ends on March 14. There will also be an additional 60-day public comment period beginning in April. The draft policy also will be submitted to Interior bureaus for a 14-day period of employee review and comment. All comments will be evaluated and considered as improvements are made to the current draft policy. The final Tribal Consultation Policy will be signed by Secretary Salazar and added to the Departmental Manual.

To view the Draft Tribal Consultation Policy, click here DA-11-50A1.
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GAO Report on Federal Agencies’ Non-Compliance With NAGPRA, Recommendations for the Obama Administration Among Topics at Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Meeting

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gao-report-on-federal-agencies-non-compliance-with-nagpra-recommendations-for-the-obama-administration-among-topics-at-tribal-historic-preservation-officers-meeting-99925414.html

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nearly two decades after the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed federal auditors say the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and other key federal agencies that all have significant collections of Native American remains and cultural objects have not fully complied with NAGPRA.

The results of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: After Almost 20 Years, Key Federal Agencies Still Have Not Fully Complied with the Act,” will be discussed at the 12th annual meeting of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers or NATHPO hosted by the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin Aug. 9-13 in Green Bay, Wis.

After decades of desecration or sending Native American human remains to museums or anthropology labs for study, Congress enacted NAGPRA in 1990 to protect indigenous human remains and cultural objects. The law also requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return Native American human remains and cultural items to their respective families and tribal homelands. The agencies and museums are required to take inventory and notify tribes about their collections and work in collaboration with tribes in determining a cultural link to the remains or objects. But some federal agencies have not identified or reported all the remains or cultural items in their possession, according to the GAO report.

Representatives from the GAO, including lead auditor Jeff Malcom, assistant director of the GAO Natural Resources and Environment Team, on Aug. 11 will discuss their findings, conclusions and recommendations of the recently published report.

“Native people from around the country are gathering next week to come together and talk about pressing cultural issues in Indian country, with a focus on the GAO report on NAGPRA,” NATHPO General Chairman Reno Franklin said.

GAO representatives will also be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 to talk with tribal preservation officers about the NAGPRA report and two other studies currently in review: Smithsonian repatriation efforts and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

On Aug. 10, President Obama-appointee Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, will discuss challenges to protecting tribal cultural properties and share his experiences in working with Indian country as the California State Historic Preservation Officer. Donaldson will also address challenges and changes, and accept recommendations from tribal historic preservation officers for the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement and productive use of our nation’s historic resources. The council advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.

On Aug. 9, NATHPO will host an all-day pre-conference NAGPRA training session on how to use the newly finalized NAGPRA regulations (43 CFR 10.11) to return “culturally unidentifiable” Native American remains and associated funerary objects. Cost of the meeting is between $100 and $600, depending on membership.

Additional activities include tours of the Forest County Potawatomi Cultural Center, Library & Museum, the Menominee Cultural Museum and Menominee Logging Museum and the Oneida Nation Museum. Burton W. Warrington, Policy Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, will address the assembly on Aug. 10. Also on Aug. 10, National Park Service representatives will discuss current and emerging Park and Tribal issues and innovative partnerships, including gathering of plant materials for traditional uses. For more information, go to www.nathpo.org.

About NATHPO

Founded in 1998, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers is the only national non- profit membership organization of tribal government officials who are committed to preserving, rejuvenating and improving the status of tribal cultures and practices by supporting Native languages, arts, dances, music, oral traditions, cultural properties, tribal museums, tribal cultural centers, and tribal libraries. NATHPO activities include monitoring the Congress, administration and state activities on issues that affect tribes.

SOURCE National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)

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http://www.nathpo.org

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF GEOFFREY BLACKWELL TO LEAD NEW INITIATIVES FOR INDIAN COUNTRY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

June 22, 2010 John Giusti (202) 418-2000

john.giusti@fcc.gov

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS

APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF GEOFFREY BLACKWELL

TO LEAD NEW INITIATIVES FOR INDIAN COUNTRY

“I commend and applaud the Chairman’s decision to appoint Geoffrey Blackwell to lead the Commission’s new initiatives for Indian Country.  As we work to ensure the deployment and adoption of broadband throughout this great land of ours, there has never been a more critical time for us to breathe new life into our trust relationship, working government-to-government, with Native Americans.

“The enabling power of broadband must leave no American behind—including the original Americans.  I have seen first-hand the state of communications in Indian Country.  We can, we must, do better.  In so many places where Native Americans live, poverty endures, unemployment is at levels no society should tolerate, education languishes and even basic public safety falls far short of what people have a right to expect.  Up-to-date, state-of-the-art communication facilities and services are still strangers across most of Indian Country.  Even plain old telephone service—which so many of us take for granted—is at the shockingly low level of less than 70 percent household penetration on many of the tribal lands.  And we don’t even begin to have reliable data on the status of Internet subscribership on tribal lands, because no one has bothered to collect it.  Anecdotally, we know that broadband access on tribal lands is minimal—well below 10 percent.  That’s not just unacceptable.  It’s a national disgrace.  Broadband is critical technology for the economic growth—perhaps even the survival—of these communities.

“The Chairman has charged Geoff with the essential task of implementing the National Broadband Plan’s recommendations for the deployment and adoption of broadband on tribal lands, including the establishment of an Office of Tribal Affairs.  I am working hand-in-hand with the Chairman and my colleagues to make this a reality as quickly as possible.

“I have had the privilege of working closely with Geoff before, and believe his leadership will do much to restore a productive dialogue between the FCC and the sovereign tribal governments.  I believe that the Chairman could have picked no better person to give the issues of Indian Country visibility and a deeper understanding here at the FCC.”

– FCC –