The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it’s extending the deadline from Aug. 27 to Sept. 27 to receive applications to fill Tribal vacancies on the Native Nations Communications Task Force (Task Force).
The Task Force’s mission is to inform the FCC on Tribal interests and concerns when it comes to communications-related issues, such as broadband deployment barriers in Tribal lands.
Applicants must be “elected leaders from Federally recognized Tribal governments or governmental entities (e.g. Tribal utility commissions), or their designated employees,” according to the FCC press release.
Members will serve until the end of the Task Force’s current term, which extends until October 2022. The Task Force typically meets twice a year, with supplemental virtual meetings throughout the year. However, the FCC is currently deciding when to resume in-person meetings.
“In filling the vacancies, the Commission seeks to balance representation of different geographic regions, Task Force members’ subject-matter expertise, and the diversity among Tribal Nations in terms of culture, priorities, and economic development,” the release says.
“The Commission is particularly interested in applicants with diverse professional experience and backgrounds in broadband, telecommunications, broadcast, information technology, and infrastructure deployment and broadband adoption.”
Applications should be submitted via email to native@fcc.gov by Sept. 27. If applicants require a different delivery method, they can contact Janet Sievert at (202) 418-1362.
