Telecommunications: Challenges to Assessing and Improving Telecommunications For Native Americans on Tribal Lands
GAO-06-189
Published: Jan 11, 2006. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2006.
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Highlights
An important goal of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is to ensure access to telecommunications services for all Americans. The Federal Communications Commission has made efforts to improve the historically low subscribership rates of Native Americans on tribal lands. In addition, Congress is considering legislation to establish a grant program to help tribes improve telecommunications services on their lands. This report discusses 1) the status of telecommunications subscribership for Native Americans living on tribal lands; 2) federal programs available for improving telecommunications on these lands; 3) barriers to improvements; and 4) how some tribes are addressing these barriers.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| To facilitate Internet access for tribal libraries, Congress may wish to consider amending the Communications Act of 1934 to allow libraries eligible for Library Service and Technology Act funds provided by the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to either a state library administrative agency or to a federally recognized tribe to be eligible for funding under the E-rate program. | Congress did not pass legislation consistent with the Matter for Congressional Consideration. | |
| Congress may wish to consider directing FCC to (1) determine what additional data is needed to help assess progress toward the goal of providing access to telecommunications services, including high-speed Internet, for Native Americans living on tribal lands; (2) determine how this data should regularly be collected; and (3) report to Congress on its findings. | Congress passed legislation to address our matter for Congressional consideration. |
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Topics
CensusData collectionFederal aid to localitiesIndian landsInternetNative AmericansPolicy evaluationPopulation statisticsSurveysTelecommunication policyTelecommunicationsTelecommunications systemsTelephonesUniversal serviceWireless