Draft Presentation

Ken Robbins, President of the National Center for American Indian
Enterprise Development

ITTI 2001 Industry Conference

June 5, 2001

Thank you Wallace (Coffey) and Good Morning. I am Ken Robbins, a member
of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and President of the National Center
for American Indian Enterprise Development (National Center).

I am excited about this ITTI 2001 Industry Conference and am honored to
participate. This is a first and a leading conference in the new and
developing American Indian economy.

Today, I am going to give you a quick overview of the National Center
and will also identify some technology-oriented business opportunities
and funding in utilities infrastructure, environment, and education.

I have a short video that gives a good overview of the National
Center...

The video is a little outdated, we recently opened an office in
Marietta, Georgia by way of our separate subsidiary, UIDA Consulting
Group.

The National Center delivers comprehensive business development services
for tribes and Indian businesses nationally but focus on 29 states.

# Our vision is to see healthy flourishing Indian Country economies in areas that Indian People want to see developed. We believe it is our time to move from poverty to prosperity.

# 

And it is apparent that a very high priority for the development of
healthy reservation and Alaskan Village economies rests with our ability
and desire to tap into technological opportunities.

In order for us to use technology to its fullest, a strong
infrastructure needs to be in place in each Indian community. Tribal
representatives will need to take the lead in implementing long-term
plans that create infrastructure and IT opportunities. For gaming
tribes, this is one excellent way to diversify gaming dollars into
business development for tribal communities.

## During the National Center's 2001 Reservation Economic Summit, Gerald Vaughan, of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed one way to bring Internet access to reservations communities is by way of building cellular towers. Mr. Vaughan estimated the cost of a tower at \$300,000 and a coverage area of 200 sq. miles. The FCC's Tribal Land Bidding Credits can be used to defray these costs and, if tribes elect to go this way, tribal utility infrastructure business opportunities might include:

-   Constructing, owning and leasing of towers- JD Williams spoke of
    unique advantages that tribes have available to them. Here is a
    construction advantage. If the tribe brings the materials into
    Indian Country and builds a structure there is no State sales tax to
    pay. This savings could be utilized in a win/win way with a private
    sector joint venture partner on large projects;

-   Providing equipment, supplies, or services for the towers;

-   Installing new switches and routers for these towers;

-   Engineering for underground lines to towers;

-   Laying Fiber Optic/Microwave lines; or

-   Leasing the towers after others have constructed them.

Other options include the utilization of satellite technology, wired
extensions, spectrum auctions, and the development of alternative energy
sources as possible business opportunities.

Tribes could create satellite service companies that work with existing
telecommunications satellite corporations. The tribe could bypass, for
example, licensing requirements and infrastructure development by
working with large corporations that have satellites now in place.
Indian Country residents could offset their phone cost with programs
such as the Universal Service Support Programs. The tribally owned
satellite service company could charge a fee to establish billing,
maintenance and customer care and to recuperate its investment in the
purchase of necessary equipment such as fixed phones, tri-mode hand held
kits, and car kits.

## Tribes could also joint venture with existing equipment corporations or service providers to develop wired extensions from adjacent networks. The National Center developed a joint venture teaming model based on a national study of successful joint ventures between tribal enterprises and U.S. corporations. The study is a little outdated, but the tribal policies and the model for developing a teaming relationship are still appropriate. I am happy to share the study with anyone here, interested.

Another future opportunity for tribes could be the tapping into
auctioned spectrums over reservation lands for regulation and
profitability. Air space may be an untapped resource for many Indian
communities.

If Indian Country does not exercise their sovereign rights, states may
step in to capture these opportunities. Some tribes are implementing
their sovereignty via creating local development authorities, tribal
utility commissions, and tribal utility authorities. Pat Spears will
talk more on these issues in a few minutes.

Possible special programs or funding sources for the above utility
infrastructure development includes:

-   FCC Spectrum Auctions and Bidding Credits of 15% to 45% of the net
    high bid are offered to Small Businesses participating in auctions;

-   FCC Tribal Land Bidding Credits to provide greater incentives for
    wireless carriers to serve tribal lands. Credit amount is \$300,000.
    For the first 200 square miles of qualifying tribal land an
    applicant commits to serve and \$1500 for each additional mile;

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-   Department of Agriculture's (DOA) Rural Utility Service, which has
    \$100 million to loan for the construction and installation of
    broadband telecommunications services in rural America-for
    communities of up to 20,000 inhabitants; and

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-   Department of Commerce's (DOC) Technology Opportunities Program
    (TOP) was funded at \$45.4 million in 2001 budget for competitive
    grants. The program provides resources to rural and underserved
    communities for advanced telecommunications technologies. In 2000
    TOP funded three tribal projects:

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-   The Round Valley Indian Health Center for telemedicine;

-   The Pueblo of Santa Ana for a wireless community network;

-   The Suquamish Indian Tribe for wireless community ed. Services;

-   Susan Masten, of NCAI, mentioned \$ 1 billion available for loans
    and grants by way of Senate Bill #3114 which was supported by
    Senator Baucus and recently passed;

Other Utilities Infrastructure Opportunities may include:

-   On and Off Reservation Local and Long Distance Phone Companies;

-   Cable TV Companies and Radio Stations; and

-   Developing Land Mobile Radio equipment and service companies.

The DoA\'s Rural Utility Services has \$ 5 million available in grants
to finance and install new transmitters for weather radio systems in
rural America with 50,000 or less inhabitants.

Additionally, there are other readily available markets for Land Mobile
Radio equipment. For example, land mobile radio equipment is the largest
reoccurring line item in U.S. Air Force (USAF) Logistics Centers.
Yesterday, it was mentioned that a tribe won a \$225 million USAF
contract as part of the USAF Native American Initiatives. This raises
business opportunities generated by Federal Programs available to assist
Indian Country in procuring contracts.

Some existing programs that create opportunities within Indian Country
include:

-   Department of Defense's (DOD) 5% Incentive Program for the Use of
    Indian Subcontractors-if any of your organizations contract with DOD
    you can get a 5% bonus on any subcontract you award to an Indian
    firm;

-   Small Business Administration\'s (SBA) 8(a) - for sole source
    contracting opportunities with federal agencies;

-   HUB zones - also for sole source contracting opportunities with
    federal agencies, all reservations are HUBzones;

-   Indian Preference and Buy Indian - now can be utilized by all
    agencies, in light of the long established history of these programs
    and the current direction of Affirmative Action, this may be our
    best tool for Indian business contracting opportunities; and

-   Enterprise Zones (for investor incentives), Federal Empowerment
    Zones and Enterprise Communities Programs (for primarily water
    infrastructure development).

As infrastructure is developed in Indian Country many Technology related
business opportunities will emerge including:

-   Wireless service companies;

-   Financing associated with IT;

-   Local area or digital network service providers;

-   Internet access companies;

-   Cellular equipment companies;

-   Computer hardware and software firms;

-   Global marketing companies to capture the International interest in
    the American Indian, e.g. Germany;

-   Indian Country based temp services firms-As Internet technology
    impacts our communities we should be able to capture opportunities
    associated with the declining US baby boomer population. Data
    processing and many other types of work could be completed on
    reservation where overhead costs should be lower than metropolitan
    areas making the service-price competitive.

Business Opportunities in Environment include-Energy generated Wind and
Solar Power firms. The DoA's Utility Services firm has loaned over \$4
million to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority to finance off grid
renewable energy systems in rural areas for un-served customers. This
funding provides electric service where cost of overhead or underground
line extensions is prohibitive.

Business opportunities could lie in working with existing companies that
can assist Indian Country in generating alternative sources of energy
and in advanced long term battery technology since the wind does not
always blow and the sun does not always shine. Other business
opportunities include the development of backup power in areas such as
diesel or natural gas. With the current energy shortage in the U.S., a
tremendous opportunity lies in tribal energy generation via development
of businesses from [the]{.underline} natural resource stage to that of
the end user. Resources include natural gas, coal, oil, and water.

Tribes are linking via telecommunications for sharing of information and
best practices regarding fisheries and water rights. The Columbia River
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission established a telecommunications network
linking the Yakima, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Tribes. The
network enhances the Tribes' ability to manage fisheries in the Columbia
River Basin.

The EPA offers \$ 2.5 billion in contract opportunities and \$ 4 billion
in grants and the National Center has recently signed a MOU with
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify EPA business
opportunities for Indian Country.

The DoA\'s Rural Utility Services has distance learning and telemedicine
grant and loan programs. Distance learning is one way tribes with
community colleges could help tribes without community colleges.

HUD provides cities, states and tribes with \$80 million for developing
Community Technical Centers.

Technical Learning Centers. Dr. David Gipp will share his expertise,
experience, and success in this field in a few minutes.

E-Rate for Schools and Libraries-A Universal Service Program has up to
\$2.25 billion available annually to provide discounts of 20% to 90% for
basic local and long distance telephone services, Internet access, and
acquisition and installation of equipment to provide internal
connections.

Development of a long-term strategy for infrastructure development and
technology development on Indian Country lands needs to begin with a
technical assessment of each Indian community since all tribes/villages
are different. This in itself is a great business opportunity for
businesses that do this type of consulting.

There is no one complete listing available for defining all business
opportunities. It is an emerging and changing market and new economy and
change creates opportunity. Our panel of expertise will discuss some of
these ideas, along with new and other opportunities further.

It is a great honor to be here and I thank you for your important time.

Internet Resources

  --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
  Procurement Opportunities   http://pro-net.sba.gov/index7.html

  Federal Grant Resources     http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

  Agency Grant Programs       http://www.doc.gov/osdbu/grants1.htm

  EPA Indian Programs         http://www.epa.gov/indian/

  EPA Office of Acquisition   http://www.epa.gov/oam/
  Management                  

  Dept. of Commerce's TOP     http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/index.html
  (Technology Opportunity     
  Program)                    

  Fcc universal service       www.sl.universalservice.org/apply/

  American Indian reference   http://www.codetalk.fed.us/seaonap.html

  American Indian reference   http://nativeedge.hud.gov/

  American Indian legal       http://tribaljurisdiction.tripod.com
  reference                   

  Health opportunity          http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/01043.htm

  State reference             http://deq.state.wy.us/outreach/SBGuide/SBintro.htm

  Publication site            http://www.benton.org/Library/Native/

  Publication site            http://alpha.nmsu.edu/\~tech

  Thomas legislative info     http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query
  site                        

  Council of Energy Resource  http://www.certredearth.com/
  Tribes                      
  --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| **Opp         | **T   | ** | *   | ** | **Con     | **Contact**   |
| ortunity/2001 | ype** | Es | *Fi | Me | tractor** |               |
| Forecast**    |       | t. | sca | th |           |               |
|               |       | \$ | l** | od |           |               |
|               |       | Am |     | ** |           |               |
|               |       | ou | **Y |    |           |               |
|               |       | nt | ear |    |           |               |
|               |       | ** | Qt  |    |           |               |
|               |       |    | r** |    |           |               |
+===============+=======+====+=====+====+===========+===============+
| 10.855        | Educ  | Va | NA  | NA | Dept of   | Assistant     |
| Distance      | ation | ri |     |    | Ag        | A             |
| Learning and  | Techn | es |     |    | riculture | dministrator, |
| Telemedicine  | ology |    |     |    |           | Teleco        |
| Loans and     |       | \$ |     |    |           | mmunications, |
| Grants: To    |       | 20 |     |    |           | Rural         |
| encourage and |       | 0M |     |    |           | Utilities     |
| improve the   |       |    |     |    |           | Service, Room |
| use of        |       |    |     |    |           | 4056, South   |
| telemedicine, |       |    |     |    |           | Bldg., U.S.   |
| teleco        |       |    |     |    |           | Department of |
| mmunications, |       |    |     |    |           | Agriculture,  |
| computer      |       |    |     |    |           | 1400          |
| networks, and |       |    |     |    |           | Independence  |
| related       |       |    |     |    |           | Ave., SW.,    |
| advanced      |       |    |     |    |           | Washington,   |
| technologies  |       |    |     |    |           | DC            |
| to provide    |       |    |     |    |           | 202500-1500.  |
| educational   |       |    |     |    |           | Phone: (202)  |
| and medical   |       |    |     |    |           | 720-9554      |
| benefits      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| through       |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| distance      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| learning and  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| telemedicine  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| projects to   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| people living |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| in rural      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| areas and to  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| improve rural |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| opportunities |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| 10.760 Water  | Env   | \$ | NA  | NA | Dept of   | Assistant     |
| and Waste     | ironm | 3K |     |    | Ag        | A             |
| Disposal      | ental |  - |     |    | riculture | dministrator, |
| Systems for   | Techn | \$ |     |    |           | Water and     |
| Rural         | ology | 4M |     |    |           | Environmental |
| Communities:  |       |    |     |    |           | Programs      |
| To provide    |       |    |     |    |           | Rural         |
| basic human   |       |    |     |    |           | Utilities     |
| amenities,    |       |    |     |    |           | Service,      |
| alleviate     |       |    |     |    |           | Department of |
| health        |       |    |     |    |           | Agriculture,  |
| hazards and   |       |    |     |    |           | Washington,   |
| promote the   |       |    |     |    |           | DC 20250.     |
| orderly       |       |    |     |    |           | Phone: (202)  |
| growth of the |       |    |     |    |           | 690-2670      |
| rural areas   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| of the nation |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| by meeting    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| the need for  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| new and       |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| improved      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| rural water   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| and waste     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| disposal      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| facilities.   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| Development   | Educ  | \$ | 3^  | 8( | U.S.      | Annette       |
| of Education  | ation | 1  | rd^ | a) | Dept. of  | Hancock,      |
| and Outreach  |       | 00 |     |    | HUD       | Director,     |
| Campaigns     |       | K- |     |    |           | Program       |
| Designed to   |       | 50 |     |    | Office of | Support       |
| reach limited |       | 0K |     |    | Fair      | Division      |
| English       |       |    |     |    | Housing & |               |
| proficiency   |       |    |     |    | Equal     | 202-708-0759  |
| communities   |       |    |     |    | Op        | or            |
| across the    |       |    |     |    | portunity |               |
| country (OPC  |       |    |     |    |           | 800-372-9757  |
| #61V2)        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| Office of     | Educ  | \  | 2^  | G  | U.S.      | Annette       |
| Native        | ation | $1 | nd^ | SA | Dept. of  | Hancock,      |
| American      |       | M+ |     | Sc | HUD       | Director,     |
| Program       |       |    |     | he |           | Program       |
| Grantee       |       |    |     | du | Public    | Support       |
| Training (OPC |       |    |     | le | and       | Division      |
| #76V2)        |       |    |     |    | Indian    |               |
|               |       |    |     |    | Housing   | 202-708-0759  |
|               |       |    |     |    |           | or            |
|               |       |    |     |    |           |               |
|               |       |    |     |    |           | 800-372-9757  |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| Office of     | Educ  | \$ | 3^  | G  | U.S.      | Annette       |
| Native        | ation | 50 | rd^ | SA | Dept. of  | Hancock,      |
| American      |       | 0K |     | Sc | HUD       | Director,     |
| Program Staff |       |  - |     | he |           | Program       |
| Training (OPC |       | \$ |     | du | Public    | Support       |
| #77V2)        |       | 1M |     | le | and       | Division      |
|               |       |    |     |    | Indian    |               |
|               |       |    |     |    | Housing   | 202-708-0759  |
|               |       |    |     |    |           | or            |
|               |       |    |     |    |           |               |
|               |       |    |     |    |           | 800-372-9757  |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| Renewable     | E     | \  | NA  |    | Dept of   | Office of     |
| Energy: To    | nergy | $1 |     |    | Energy    | Utility       |
| conduct       | t     | 0K |     |    |           | Technologies, |
| balanced      | echno |  - |     |    |           | Contact:      |
| research and  | logy/ | \$ |     |    |           | Gloria        |
| development   | infr  | 10 |     |    |           | Elliott.      |
| efforts in    | astru | 0K |     |    |           | Phone: (202)  |
| the following | cture |    |     |    |           | 586-4142      |
| energy        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| technologies; |       |    |     |    |           | www.doe.gov   |
| solar         |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| buildings,    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| p             |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| hotovoltaics, |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| solar         |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| thermal,      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| biomass,      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| alcohol       |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| fuels, urban  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| waste, wind,  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| hydropower    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| and hydrogen, |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| and           |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| geothermal.   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| Grants will   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| be offered to |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| develop and   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| transfer to   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| the           |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| nonfederal    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| sector        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| various       |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| renewable     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| energy        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| technologies. |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| 10.760 Water  | Env   | \$ | NA  | NA | Dept of   | Assistant     |
| and Waste     | ironm | 3K |     |    | Ag        | A             |
| Disposal      | ental |  - |     |    | riculture | dministrator, |
| Systems for   | Techn | \$ |     |    |           | Water and     |
| Rural         | ology | 4M |     |    |           | Environmental |
| Communities:  |       |    |     |    |           | Programs      |
| To provide    |       |    |     |    |           | Rural         |
| basic human   |       |    |     |    |           | Utilities     |
| amenities,    |       |    |     |    |           | Service,      |
| alleviate     |       |    |     |    |           | Department of |
| health        |       |    |     |    |           | Agriculture,  |
| hazards and   |       |    |     |    |           | Washington,   |
| promote the   |       |    |     |    |           | DC 20250.     |
| orderly       |       |    |     |    |           | Phone: (202)  |
| growth of the |       |    |     |    |           | 690-2670      |
| rural areas   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| of the nation |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| by meeting    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| the need for  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| new and       |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| improved      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| rural water   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| and waste     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| disposal      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| facilities.   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+
| S.761 Native  | Techn | \$ | NA  | NA | NA        | NA            |
| American      | ology | 20 |     |    |           |               |
| Telec         | infr  | 0K |     |    |           |               |
| ommunications | astru | ca |     |    |           |               |
| Improvement   | cture | p; |     |    |           |               |
| and Value     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| Enhancement   |       | \$ |     |    |           |               |
| Act\': A bill |       | 1B |     |    |           |               |
| to establish  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| a program to  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| make loans to |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| eligible      |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| Indian tribes |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| (or tribal    |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| entities that |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| have entered  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| into a        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| partnership   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| with a        |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| telec         |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| ommunications |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| carrier) to   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| enable such   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| tribes to     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| provide for   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| the           |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| development   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| of            |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| telec         |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| ommunications |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| i             |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| nfrastructure |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| (wireline or  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| wireless) on  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| lands under   |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| the           |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| jurisdiction  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| of the tribe  |       |    |     |    |           |               |
| involved.     |       |    |     |    |           |               |
+---------------+-------+----+-----+----+-----------+---------------+