FCC Tribal Workshop at Indian Island, Maine

Host Tribe: Penobscot Nation

Dates: Thursday, Nov. 2 and Friday, Nov. 3 (ends at noon on second day)

Location: Council Room, Nick Sapiel Building, 27 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME 04468

This event was designed to provide information that can help Tribal Nations identify and evaluate opportunities to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in Tribal communities. It was also designed to provide information about FCC policies and programs to address the lack of adequate communications services on Tribal lands nationwide.

Tribal government leaders, Tribal service provider and IT managers, government and community planners and managers, Tribal enterprise specialists, and representatives of Tribal social service agencies, schools, and libraries are all persons who attended this event.

Sessions at the FCC workshop on November 2-3, 2023, included:

• A training session on the Broadband Data Collection and broadband map, tailored to Tribal leaders, Tribal providers and other Tribal filers.
• An introduction to the FCC rulemaking process, including how to file comments, meeting with FCC staff about rulemakings, and keeping up with the FCC proceedings.
• Presentations on the Universal Service Fund and FCC programs, including Affordable Connectivity Program and E-Rate Tribal Library Program, that support the deployment of communications infrastructure and services in Tribal communities.
• Presentations from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Other updates on current FCC proceedings.

Registration was free.