**DA 06-1253**

**Released: June 9, 2006**

**FCC, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBAL CHAIRMAN'S ASSOCIATION'S TRIBAL
DIGITAL VILLAGE, THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND THE
CENTER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PUBLIC RADIO TO HOST INDIAN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES REGIONAL WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE**

**IN SAN DIEGO, CA, ON JULY 27-28, 2006**

**Tribal Representatives, FCC Officials and Telecommunications Industry
Representatives**

**to Participate in an Interactive Educational Workshop and Roundtable
Sessions**

Washington, D.C. -- As part of the FCC's Indian Telecommunications
Initiatives program ("ITI"), and in cooperation with Southern California
Tribal Chairman's Association ("SCTCA") Tribal Digital Village, the
National Congress of American Indians ("NCAI"), and the Center for
Native American Public Radio ("CNAPR"), the FCC will host its fifth ITI
Regional Workshop and Roundtable ("ITI San Diego") on July 27^th^ and
28^th^ in San Diego, California.

This ITI San Diego is being hosted in order to facilitate the
government-to-government relationship between FCC and the tribal nations
and in recognition of the FCC's trust relationship with the American
Indian community. This event is designed to increase the FCC's and
Tribal Nations' understanding of essential telecommunications issues
impacting the deployment of telecommunications services in Indian
Country and to perpetuate intergovernmental consultation between the
parties in order to identify and remove barriers to telecommunications
deployment in Indian Country. This ITI event will build upon the
successes of the FCC's previous ITI Regional Workshop and Roundtables,
held in Reno, Nevada, in July 2003, in Rapid City, South Dakota, in May
2004, on the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Reservation in Idaho in November
2004, and Albuquerque, New Mexico in July 2005.

ITI San Diego will focus on broadband deployment issues, a key component
of the Commission's Strategic Plan. On the first day, July 27^th^, and
the morning of the second day, July 28^th^, presentations and
discussions will focus on wireless methods of delivering broadband
solutions, strategies for aggregating demand and creating effective
partnerships, and how to acquire spectrum through FCC auctions, or
through the secondary markets processes. Panels are also planned that
will provide attendees with updates on legislative and regulatory
developments. On the afternoon of July 28^th^, the second day, sessions
will be devoted to the issues of broadcast radio in Indian country.
Representatives of CNAPR and the FCC's Media Bureau will address the
acquisition of spectrum through the FCC auctions process. CNAPR is a
centralized organization that provides technical, fundraising and
programmatic support to nearly 30 public radio stations serving Native
American listeners. CNAPR was launched in the autumn of 2004 with a
\$1.5 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The agenda for this ITI will build upon the experiences of the SCTCA
Tribal Digital Village. The Tribal Digital Village is an outgrowth of
the collaborative effort of the SCTCA and the University of California
at San Diego, known as the High Performance Wireless Research and
Education Network. In early 2001, the SCTCA received a \$5 million
Hewlett-Packard Philanthropy Digital Village grant to design and
implement a project to help their underserved tribal communities
establish high-speed Internet connectivity and to develop a variety of
creative network solutions to address the cultural and educational goals
of each community. The Hewlett-Packard grant provided for a three-year
Community Technology Partnership Plan, and included products, services,
and capital.

Over the past several years, the FCC has coordinated its ITI outreach
efforts extensively with NCAI, the oldest and largest inter-Tribal
government association in the United States, and its Telecommunications
Subcommittee. Together, NCAI and the FCC co-host their *Annual Dialogue
on Increasing Telecommunications Services in Indian Country*, an
intergovernmental consultative meeting between FCC Commissioners and
Senior FCC staff, and the Tribal leaders and representatives that
comprise the NCAI Telecommunications Subcommittee. Last year, NCAI and
the FCC held a joint regional meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

**The FCC's Indian Telecommunications Initiatives**

The FCC's ITI is comprehensive program that seeks to promote
understanding and cooperation and trust among Tribes and Tribal
organizations, the FCC and other governmental agencies, and the
telecommunications industry. The ITI program seeks to build
partnerships, identify potential solutions, and bring affordable,
quality telecommunications services to Indian Country. The ITI program's
goals - to increase the telephone penetration rate; facilitate the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure on tribal lands; and
inform Tribes about federal government programs, including Universal
Service Fund programs - are undertaken in Indian Country by the FCC
through targeted and effective Tribal outreach, coordination and
consultation. The Commission's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
(IGA), located within the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, is
responsible for coordinating the FCC's Tribal outreach and consultation.

**Registration for "ITI San Diego" and More Information**

This ITI event is free of charge to registrants. Tribal leaders and
representatives, and planning and economic development managers are
encouraged to attend. Telecommunications industry representatives are
also welcome to attend these intergovernmental meetings. To register for
the ITI San Diego Regional Workshop and Roundtable, or to obtain
additional information, please call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
press number 6 and follow the prompts to leave your full contact
information, call 202-418-2510, fax 202-418-2839, or e-mail your full
contact information to <iti-info@fcc.gov>.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Sea World, 3737 Sports
Arena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110. For reservations, call (toll free)
1-800-383-5430 and mention the conference.

For more information on the Commission's ITI program, ITI San Diego
Regional Workshop and Roundtable, or Office of Intergovernmental
Affairs, please contact Alice Elder, Chief, Office of Intergovernmental
Affairs at 202-418-2168, <alice.elder@fcc.gov> or Shana Barehand, Senior
Attorney and Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at
202-418-0385, <shana.barehand@fcc.gov>. Updates and further information
will also be made available on the FCC's Tribal Initiatives website at:
<http://www.fcc.gov/indians>.

**\*FCC\***