‘‘(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;
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 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. ATTAINMENT OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE PRINCIPALS
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 delivery of telecommunications and
information services to Native Americans, including
Alaskan Natives, at just, reasonable, and affordable
rates is a Federal responsibility that should be as-
sured by means of the Federal support mechanisms
established under this section, taking into account
any support mechanisms established 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 and information services 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 telecommunications and information serv-
ices to Native Americans, including Alaskan Natives, at
just, reasonable, and affordable rates.’’.
SEC. 4. 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.’’.
Æ