[Federal Register: January 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 15)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3700-3701]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja99-60]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

 
Sunshine Act Hearing

January 20, 1999.
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission

SUNSHINE ACT HEARING: Notice of the First Hearing In A Proposed Series 
of Hearings about Telephone Service For Indians On Reservations and 
Request For Comment From the General Public About Issues Relevant To 
That Subject.

TIME AND DATE: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m on January 29, 1999.

PLACE: The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th Street, N.W., 
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

STATUS: Chairman William Kennard and Commissioner Gloria Tristani of 
the FCC will hold a hearing in which representatives of Indian Tribes 
and Pueblos, officials of the state of New

[[Page 3701]]

Mexico, and executives from telecommunications service providers will 
testify and present other evidence concerning the level of telephone 
service available to Indians on reservations. The hearing will be open 
to the general public. The Commission requests that all interested 
parties submit comment on all testimony and evidence received in the 
hearing, and on all issues arising therein and relevant thereto, 
including, but not exclusively, the cost of telephone service to 
remote, low-population areas, the extent and quality of telephone 
service on reservations, and governmental jurisdiction and sovereignty 
issues. The Commission requests submission of written comment on all 
such issues on or before March 31, 1999. See BO Docket No. 99-11.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED. In comparison to other Americans, Indians on 
reservations have less access even to basic telephone service. The lack 
of telephone service limits the opportunities available to Indians on 
reservations. In particular, their access to medical care in 
emergencies is limited; they cannot reach prospective employers quickly 
and easily; and they cannot take advantage of commercial, educational, 
and other information available on the Internet. The FCC seeks to 
examine the causes for the low level of service and to determine what 
actions it might take to improve access to telephone service on Indian 
reservations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Jensen, at (202) 418-0990, e-mail 
ejensen@fcc.gov, of the Office of Communications Business 
Opportunities, and Bill Kehoe, at (202) 418-7122, e-mail 
bkehoe@fcc.gov, in the Common Carrier Bureau.

Federal Communications Commission.
Eric Jensen,
Deputy Director, Office of Communications Business Opportunities.
[FR Doc. 99-1704 Filed 1-21-99; 11:38 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P