‘‘(6) the Telecommunications Act of 1996 re-
quires the Federal Communications Commission to
implement the recommendations from the Joint
Board by May 8, 1997;
‘‘(7) the benefits of Federal universal service
policies have often not reached Indian country;
‘‘(8) the Federal Government and the States
have not historically adequately required tele-
communications carriers to provide telecommuni-
cations services on Indian lands; and
‘‘(9) the United States recognizes the sov-
ereignty of Indian tribes in relation to the States
through a government-to-government relationship, as
reflected in the Constitution, treaties, Federal stat-
utes, and the course of dealings of the United States
with Indian tribes.
‘‘(b) POLICY REQUIRED.—Within 120 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall
initiate a proceeding to develop and establish an official
policy regarding the relations between the Commission
and American Indians, including Alaskan Natives. In es-
tablishing such policy, the Commission shall—
‘‘(1) recognize—
‘‘(A) the special needs of American Indi-
ans, including Alaskan Natives, as determined
under subsection (a);
‘‘(B) the sovereign authority of tribal gov-
ernments; and
‘‘(C) the trust obligations of the United
States;
‘‘(2) promote the exercise of sovereign authority
of tribal governments over the establishment of com-
munications policies and regulations within their ju-
risdictions;
‘‘(3) seek to promote Native Americans’, includ-
ing Alaskan Natives’, participation in the consump-
tion and provision of telecommunications services on
Indian lands; and
‘‘(4) not preclude the opportunity for improved
negotiations between tribes and the States.
‘‘(c) NOTICE OBLIGATIONS.—The policy established
pursuant to subsection (b) shall include procedures for
giving Native Americans, including Alaskan Natives, no-
tice and the opportunity for meaningful participation and
comment in any proceedings affecting tribal lands, includ-
ing competitive bidding conducted under section 309(j) of
bands of frequencies in geographic coverage areas under
the jurisdiction of tribal governments.
‘‘(d) FORBEARANCE.—The Commission shall forbear
from applying any provision of this Act or any regulation
thereunder to the extent that such forbearance—
‘‘(1) is necessary to ensure compliance with the
trust responsibility of the United States; and
‘‘(2) is consistent with the public interest.
‘‘(e) TRIENNIAL REVIEW.—The Commission shall re-
view and revise as necessary the policies established pursu-
ant to subsection (b) at least once every 3 years after the
establishment of such policies.’’.
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
309(j)(3)(B) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(3)(B)) is
amended by inserting ‘‘Indian tribes, Alaskan Native vil-
lages,’’ after ‘‘including’’.
SEC. 
3. 
DESIGNATION 
OF 
ELIGIBLE 
TELECOMMUNI-
CATIONS CARRIERS FOR THE PROVISION OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
Section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 214(e)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
‘‘(6) SERVICE AREAS WITHIN INDIAN LANDS.—
With respect to the designation of eligible tele-
communications carriers for, and of service areas
within, any lands under the jurisdiction of a tribal
government (within the meaning of section 7871 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
7871)), the Commission shall exercise the authority
of, and comply with the requirements of this sub-
section on, State commissions. In exercising such
authority and complying with such requirements, the
Commission shall comply with the policies estab-
lished pursuant to section 12 of this Act.’’.
SEC. 4. ATTAINMENT OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE PRINCIPLES
IN INDIAN COUNTRY.
Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 254) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (7) as
paragraph (8); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (6) the
following new paragraph:
‘‘(7) ACCESS BY NATIVE AMERICANS.—Because
States have not historically exercised the authority
to require telecommunications carriers to deliver
services on Indian lands, and because of the trust
responsibilities of the United States, the responsibil-
ity to ensure the availability of quality telecommuni-
cations services to Native Americans, including Alas-
kan Natives, at just, reasonable, and affordable
rates is a Federal responsibility that should be as-
sured by means of the Federal universal service
support mechanisms established under this section,
taking into account any support mechanisms estab-
lished by the States.’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(l) 
MAINTENANCE
OF
NATIVE
AMERICAN
SUBSCRIBERSHIP
AND
AFFORDABILITY
DATA.—The
Commission shall prescribe such regulations as are nec-
essary to obtain reliable statistics concerning the extent
of subscribership to, and the affordability of, telecommuni-
cations on Indian lands. Such data shall be maintained
by the Commission in a form that is easily accessible to
the public. The Commission shall periodically review and
summarize such data in its annual reports under section
4(k), and shall, on the basis of such review, take such
other actions as are necessary to carry out the purposes
of this section with respect to the delivery of universal tele-
communications services to Native Americans, including
Alaskan Natives, at just, reasonable, and affordable
rates.’’.
SEC. 5. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT POLICY INITIA-
TIVES.
Section 103 of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C.
902) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(d) NATIVE AMERICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN-
FRASTRUCTURE POLICY INITIATIVES.—In carrying out
the authority to serve as the President’s adviser under
subsection (b)(2)(D), the Assistant Secretary and the
NTIA shall be responsible for designing and proposing
policy initiatives to encourage investment in, and the de-
ployment of, telecommunications systems on Indian
lands.’’.
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