Baucus Pushes to Increase Technology on Tribal Lands (fwd)

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BAUCUS PUSHES TO INCREASE TECHNOLOGY ON TRIBAL LANDS

Senator Questions Role Of Federal Commission In Providing
Telecommunications For Tribes

May 20, 2003

            (Washington, D.C.) - In an effort to improve telecommunications
and create jobs in Indian Country, Montana Senator Max Baucus and Senators
Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D) are asking the Federal Communications
Commission to provide information on the status of telecommunications on
tribal lands.
             ?The availability and affordability of telecommunications in
 Indian Country is of extreme importance to the economic well-being of Indian
people and the entire nation,? Baucus and the senators said in a  letter
to the FCC.   ?Collecting accurate data on the status of telecommunications
on Indian lands will lead to a better understanding of the problems Indian
people face.?
             Noting the FCC and states have struggled with how best to promote
and advance telecommunications on tribal lands, Baucus is seeking to clarify
what the agency is doing to boost the use of technology in tribal areas.
             Baucus said the FCC is obligated to promote and advance telecommunications
into all areas of the country, including Indian lands.  However, telecommunications
on many tribal lands is inadequate.  Baucus and the senators want answers
on what the FCC is  doing to promote and advance telecommunications on tribal
lands.
             Baucus said the economies in Native American communities are
suffering from a lack of telephones, computer and Internet access. The luxury
of a telephone is taken for granted by most Americans, Baucus said, pointing
to a U.S. Department of Commerce study showing telephone ?penetration? levels
on many reservations can range from 20-70 percent compared to the national
average of over 98 percent.
             Due to the difficulty of accessing telephone service on many
of the nation?s reservations, access to Internet service is even more difficult.
 Previous Commerce studies show that when Native Americans gain access to
computers and the Internet, they are among the highest users of those tools
for information, such as job listings.
             ?We ask the FCC to collect and report more accurate data on
the status of telecommunications on Indian lands,? the senators wrote. ?This
will allow lawmakers a better understanding of the problems Indian
 people face.?
             Baucus said he is committed to helping advance technology on
tribal lands because it will help them compete in today?s world and boost
the economy by creating jobs.  Baucus may introduce a bill later this spring
to accomplish this goal.
             ?I?m committed to working together with Senators Daschle and
Johnson and the FCC to help provide Indian people with the technology they
need to compete in today?s world,? Baucus said. ?Expanding all Montanans?
access to technology will help create jobs and boost the economies on the
reservations.?

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(sorry, no indentified news source)