The FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) has announced two upcoming FCC Tribal Broadband, Telecom, and Broadcast Training and Consultation Workshops (Workshops). The first Workshop will be held at Black Oak Casino & Resort, Tuolumne, CA on January 31-February 2, 2017 and the second Workshop will be held at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, Salamanca, NY on March 7-9, 2017. The Workshops will include sessions on FCC programs and policies that impact communications issues in Tribal communities, emphasizing how deployment of communications infrastructure can support Tribal economic development, Tribal schools and libraries, low-income families, and health care clinics, as well as Tribal radio stations, public safety departments, and Tribal governments. Both Workshops will include an introduction to communications technologies and terminology designed for Tribal officials, Tribal government project managers and other Tribal representatives. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will present information on a broad range of grant and loan programs available to Tribal Nations. The FCC’s Native Learning Lab (Lab), a computer-based mobile resource designed to provide hands-on training will be open throughout the events. The Universal Service Administration Company’s (USAC) E-rate Tribal Liaison will also conduct a full-day Schools and Libraries E-rate training session. And, concurrently, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will convene a two-day session on current issues affecting Tribal review of FCC undertakings under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106). Detailed workshop information and registration information can be found on the FCC’s web site at https://www.fcc.gov/general/native-nations#block-menu-block-4.
