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Groundbreaking Tribal Priority Radio Broadcast Licensing Procedures Established by the FCC

NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA AND NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Traci Morris, Native Public Media (602) 810-4910
Jamie Gomez, National Congress of American Indians (202) 466-7767

GROUNDBREAKING “TRIBAL PRIORITY” RADIO BROADCAST
LICENSING PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE FCC

(Washington, DC) – In an unprecedented effort to open new opportunities in the broadcasting field for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) has adopted an order establishing a new “Tribal Priority” in the broadcast licensing regulatory process that will promote the allocation and licensing of new radio Tribal and Tribally controlled stations to provide coverage for Tribal communities and lands. Native Public Media (“NPM”) and the National Congress of American Indians (“NCAI”) hailed the FCC’s order as groundbreaking important step in the right direction to solve the pervasive problems of the lack of myriad communications services in Tribal communities. In addition to some of the lowest levels of telephony and broadband internet services in the nation, American Indians and Alaska Natives have been largely invisible in the broadcasting industry on all levels ranging from media access, to control and ownership of broadcast facilities.

Native Public Media and New America Foundation Report Propels Native Voice to Forefront of National Broadband Stage

For Immediate Release

November 19, 2009

Native Public Media and New America Foundation Report Propels Native Voice to Forefront of National Broadband Stage

Washington, D.C. - In Native America, broadband penetration on Indian lands is estimated at less than ten percent. Native Americans live in communities where broadband often is unavailable or unaffordable. Compounding this situation is a lack of data on Native broadband adoption, availability and connectivity.

In an unprecedented joint effort, Native Public Media and the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative released the New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses the first step in bringing national awareness to the deplorable state of broadband in Native American communities.

A foundational report, New Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country: Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses contains the first valid and credible data on Internet use among Native Americans.

Meeting Indian Country’s Communications Needs

For Immediate Release - July 3, 2009

Contacts:
Loris Taylor (928) 853-2430
Brad Bernthal (303) 492-0610

Meeting Indian Country’s Communications Needs
Native Public Media and Colorado Law School Address
Spectrum Issues in Indian Country

Native Public Media and the University of Colorado School of Law’s Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic propose changes in federal spectrum policy to address the needs of Native Americans in a new Paper entitled Spectrum Access in Indian Country.

“Spectrum, like land and water, is a finite resource that is vital and critical to the nation-building efforts of Indian Tribes,” says Loris Taylor (Hopi), Executive Director of Native Public Media. “Ubiquitous broadband access is essential to communications, health care, education, political engagement and economic stimulation on tribal homelands. In an increasingly digitalized world, we cannot afford to live without it.”

Native Public Media to Host 2009 Annual Native Radio Summit

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2009
Contact: Camille Lacapa, 602-810-8193
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NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA TO HOST ANNUAL NATIVE RADIO SUMMIT

Native Public Media will host the annual Native Radio Summit on April 1, 2009 at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters 34^th annual conference in Portland, Oregon.

Since 2001, Native Public Media has sponsored a one-day meeting specifically for the 33 Native-owned public radio stations in the country to discuss changes in the broadcast industry and public radio, hear reports on special projects, and exchange information about programming, fundraising, station management, engineering and community engagement in a peer setting. This year, the meeting will welcome representatives from 30 new Native licensees awarded construction permits since the FCC’s October 2007 non-commercial education filing.

Native Public Media Launches Media Blueprint Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 21, 2009

NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA LAUNCHES MEDIA BLUEPRINT PROJECT

Native Public Media (NPM) today announced the launch of its Media Blueprint Project naming Sascha Meinrath to work with Peggy Berryhill (Muscogee), Director of Media Architecture and Services as the lead research consultant, according to Loris Ann Taylor (Hopi), Executive Director. The Media Blueprint Project will determine how the Native media network can utilize new media technologies and platforms to enhance and expand the media capacity of Native America.

Native Public Media Expands Network Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 20, 2008

NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA EXPANDS NETWORK SERVICES

Native Public Media today announced the expansion of its network services program naming Peggy Berryhill (Muscogee) to a new position, Director of Media Architecture and Services, and Camille Lacapa (Hopi-Tewa and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) to Network Services Manager according to Loris Ann Taylor, Executive Director. Berryhill and Lacapa will be responsible for implementing national service plans that will develop the resources and assets needed to operate existing media outlets, utilize new platforms, and create media systems that inspire and facilitate active engagement by Native people.