And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] forwarded for informational purposes only...contents have not been verified From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 02:49:50 EDT Subject: FCC Phone Plan Targets Reservations FCC Phone Plan Targets Reservations .c The Associated Press By KALPANA SRINIVASAN WASHINGTON (AP) - In the agency's first focused study of the problem, the Federal Communications Commission is looking at ways to encourage phone and wireless carriers to expand their services to underserved areas, particularly American Indian reservations. The commission's proposal could result in additional federal funds being set aside as incentives for carriers to extend their services to reservations. It also could help low-income consumers pay for those services, officials said. ``It's shameful that we enter the 21st century when the basic telecommunications services of the 20th century are not enjoyed by the nation's oldest people,'' FCC Chairman Bill Kennard said in an interview. While nearly 95 percent of American homes have telephones, only about one half of American Indian homes do, Kennard said. A report issued in April by the Benton Foundation, a nonprofit public policy group, revealed the problem was much worse on some reservations where 80 percent of homes do not have telephones. The FCC held hearings on the matter earlier this year on Indian reservations. ``If you think for a moment what it's like not to have a telephone in 1999, you can understand why we need to have a sense of urgency,'' Kennard said. Because some reservations lack basic infrastructures, such as phone lines, wireless and satellite services offer other ways to get telecommunication services to reservations, Kennard said. The commission is looking at incentives, such as discounted licenses, to encourage wireless carriers to expand their services. Officials may also relax certain limits on the height and power of wireless transmission towers - specifications that were designed for an urban environment, but may not provide effective service on a reservation or rural land. Members of the public, industry and others would be able to comment on the proposals, which are subject to revision, before any final order is made. The FCC also wants to look at the factors impeding efforts to improve phone service on reservations. Lack of financial incentives for carriers to serve sparsely populated or remote areas and even cultural issues may account for limited service and low numbers of subscribers, officials say. In May, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, urged the FCC to expedite action to bring services to American Indian communities. ``Unless your agency acts quickly, I am concerned that our country's national policy of guaranteeing every citizen - no matter where they live - affordable basic phone service will be threatened,'' wrote Campbell, R-Colo. AP-NY-08-05-99 0248EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
