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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).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
March 3, 2011 Dan Rumelt: 202-418-7512

e-mail: Dan.Rumelt@fcc.gov

CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI NAMES MEMBERS TO THE

FCC-NATIVE NATIONS BROADBAND TASK FORCE

Washington, DC FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski named 30 members to serve on the new
FCC-Native Nations Broadband Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of elected and appointed
leaders from across the Native Nations and senior staff and decision-makers from across the
Commission. Chairman Genachowski also named Geoffrey Blackwell, Chief of the Commission's
Office of Native Affairs and Policy, as co-chair. Another co-chair will be elected from among the
Native Nation representatives on the Task Force by those representatives. The Task Force will assist
the Commission in fulfilling its commitment to increase broadband deployment and adoption on Tribal
lands.
"The Task Force will help guide the Commission as it works to create a regulatory environment
that helps Native Nations develop the infrastructure necessary for providing broadband and other
telecommunications services," Chairman Genachowski said. "The Task Force will be an invaluable
resource for the Commission and Native Nations as we work together to improve telecommunications
services in Native communities. It will also be instrumental in advancing the FCC's government-to-
government relationships with Native Nations, he said."
"I am honored that Chairman Genachowski has appointed me to serve as a Task Force co-
chair," Blackwell said. "I take this appointment very seriously. I look forward to working with the
Task Force in developing proposals and recommendations that will be useful to the Commission in its
decision- making that affects Native communities, and in growing our consultation and coordination
programs."
Chairman Genachowski named the following members to the Task Force representing Native
Nations and communities:
Honorable Susie Allen: Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Honorable Marlin Fryberg: Tulalip Tribes
Honorable Joe Garcia: Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo
Honorable Jeffrey Harjo: Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Honorable Bradley John: Seneca Nation of Indians
Honorable Bill Kekahbah: Kaw Nation
Honorable Joseph Manuel: Gila River Indian Community
Honorable Jim Shakespeare: Northern Arapaho Tribe
Mark Bilton-Smith: Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
Lewis Christman: Tule River Indian Tribe
Valerie Fast Horse: Coeur d'Alene Tribe

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Debby Gallenberg: Sokaogon Chippewa Community
Pearl Mikulski: Kawerak
Carroll Onsae: Hopi Tribe
Matthew Rantanen: Pala Band of Mission Indians
Brian Tagaban: Navajo Nation
Michael White: Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
James Williams: Tanana Chiefs Conference
Michelle York: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Chairman Genachowski named the following Task Force members from the Federal
Communications Commission:

Geoffrey Blackwell: Office of Native Affairs and Policy

Irene Flannery: Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

David Furth: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

Jane Jackson: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Elise Kohn: Wireline Competition Bureau

Mark Lloyd: Office of General Counsel

Kris Monteith: Media Bureau

Robert Nelson: International Bureau

Jamison Prime: Office of Engineering and Technology
Thomas Reed: Office of Communications Business Opportunities
Suzanne Tetreault: Enforcement Bureau
Task Force responsibilities include assisting in developing and executing a Commission
consultation policy, eliciting input to ensure that Native concerns are considered in all Commission
proceedings related to broadband, developing additional recommendations for promoting broadband
deployment and adoption on Tribal lands, and coordinating with external entities, including other
federal departments and agencies.
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News and other information about the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov
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