The mission of the Native Nations Communications Task Force is to provide guidance, expertise, and recommendations to specific requests from the Federal Communications Commission on a range of telecommunications issues that directly or indirectly affect Tribal governments and their people. This will enhance the Commission's ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities to ensure the availability of communications and encourage broadband deployment, to all Americans.
On December 2, 2024, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed twenty-one Tribal members and five FCC members to the Task Force. The 2025 Task Force will consist of twenty-one Tribal members and five FCC senior staff members, each serving a three-year term. The Task Force will meet twice a year, once in person in Washington, DC, and once in Indian country. These meetings are supplemented by video/teleconferences throughout the year. At the first meeting of the Task Force the Tribal members will select a Tribal Co-Chair; the FCC Co-Chair is selected by the FCC Chair.
News
December 2, 2024: In a Public Notice, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the appointment of twenty-one Tribal members and five FCC members to the FCC's Native Nations Communications Task Force.
November 30, 2023: In a Public Notice, the FCC announced an extension of the deadline until December 29, 2023, for nominations and recommitment letters for membership on the Native Nations Communications Task Force to start in 2024.
October 16, 2023: In a Public Notice, the FCC announced the extension of the Commission’s Native Nations Communications Task Force’s term of the current Native Nations Communications Task Force until the end of 2023, and seeking applications for membership to serve on a renewed Task Force to start at the beginning of 2024.
June 1, 2022: The FCC posted a Handbook on Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands adopted by the Tribal members of the Task Force on May 16, 2022. The Handbook is intended to bring awareness of the various steps involved in broadband deployment, whether wireless or wireline, including developing networks, forming partnerships, establishing sound regulatory policies and practices, and creating sustainable business models. It also provides guidance related to assessing both current and future needs and designing systems to meet those needs, whether a Tribe seeks to provide communications services itself or through a third party.
Members of the Native Nations Communications Task Force
The following individuals represent their respective Tribal Nation:
| Tiffany Circle | Chief Information Officer | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Washington |
| Sam Cohen | Government Affairs and Legal Officer | Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation |
| Fred Corey | Information Technology Director | Mi'kmaq Nation |
| Guthrie Ducheneaux | President, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority | Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe |
| Lee Fine | Information Technology Director | Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana |
| Melissa Francis | Tribal Council Member | Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point |
| Anthony Giacobbe | Director, Seneca Energy and Telecom | Seneca Nation |
| Sharon Hildebrand | Vice President | Tanana Chiefs Conference |
| Donald Long Knife | Information Technology Specialist | Fort Belknap Indian Community |
| Marissa Merculieff | Director, Office of Justice and Governance Administration | Aleut Community of St. Paul (ASCPI) |
| Will Micklin | Chief Executive Officer | Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians |
| Allyson Mitchell | General Manager, Mohawk Networks | St. Regis Mohawk Tribe |
| Jason Neilitz | Information Technology Director | Sokaogon Chippewa Community |
| Robert Pollard | Information Technology Director | Blue Lake Rancheria |
| Kevin Shendo | Education Director | Pueblo of Jemez |
| Josh Snow | President, Trace Fiber Networks, LLC | Chickasaw Nation |
| Paula Starr | Chief Information Officer | Cherokee Nation |
| Teresa Taylor | Project Manager, Office of Economic Policy | Lummi Nation |
| Sherry Treppa | Outreach Consultant to Tribal Executive Council | Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe |
| Jonathan Walters | Information Technology Director | Samish Indian Nation |
| Jason Williams | Director of Information, Technology & Corporate Security | Chugachmiut |
The Federal Communications Commission members are:
- Bambi Kraus, Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy and Task Force FCC Co-Chair
- Allison Baker, Associate Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau
- David Furth, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
- Janet Moran, Associate Division Chief, Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
- Lisa Scanlan, Deputy Division Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau
Exemption from the Federal Advisory Committee Act
Pursuant to the "intergovernmental communication" exemption of UMRA,[1] the Task Force is not subject to, and is not required to follow, the procedures set forth in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App 2 (1988).[2]
Accessible Formats
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
Further Information
For further information, please contact the Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-2930, Native@fcc.gov.