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Tribal Telecom 2012

Date: 
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 12:00am - Friday, February 3, 2012 - 12:00am
Location: 
Phoenix, AZ

Tribal Sovereignty and Development in the Digital Age
Wild Horse Pass, Gila River Indian Community

Why Should You Attend?
To enter the digital age and information economy, tribes must bridge the digital divide. As digital communications and the Internet become increasingly entwined with economics, employment, government, cultural expressions and social interaction, Native American communities continue to lack access to this digital revolution. For communications infrastructure and services, and particularly for newer technologies, many tribal communities are critically unserved and underserved, with access to broadband often unavailable or too expensive.
 
Unlike many infrastructure projects, communications systems in America have not been the product of government programs, but rather commercial carriers bringing the latest technology to those who will pay for it. Tribal-centric models are now being recognized as viable and critical for Native American communities. 
 
This conference brings together tribal leaders, administrators, enterprise executives, government agency representatives, and professionals, to share information, explore opportunities, and pursue solutions to better enable tribes to bridge the digital divide in Indian Country.
 
What Topics Will Be Discussed?
  • FCC Regulations and Tribal Initiatives
  • Models of Telecom Service Delivery
  • Bringing Broadband to Indian Country
  • Financing Telecom Infrastructure Projects
  • New Media, Technology and Internet Use
  • Structuring Tribal Enterprises and Joint Ventures
  • Tax, Accounting and Regulatory Issues
  • Other Tribal Communications Topics
Who  Should  Attend?
  • Tribal Leaders, Business Managers, Executive Directors
  • Tribal Telecom, Energy and Utility Executives
  • Tribal CIOs, CFOs, Accountants, Attorneys
  • Tribal Tax Administrators
  • Native Media and Broadband Providers
  • Tribal Economic Development Directors
  • Others Interested in Communications on Tribal Lands
Who Is Sponsoring this Event?
This conference is part of a research and education project focusing on telecommunications regulation and taxation in Indian Country. The project is funded in part through a grant from USDA Office of Tribal Relations to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington state (Ron Allen, Chair), for which the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe EDA (Doug Sellon, Executive Director) provides administrative services. Principals on the project include Randy Evans, Law Office of Randal T. Evans, PLLC; Jim Dunstan, Mobius Legal Group, PLLC; and Corrine Wilson, CPA, Moss Adams, LLP. The project will result in a Telecommunications Regulation and Taxation in Indian Country handbook, as well as the Tribal Telecom 2012 conference. This event is being coordinated with a number of inter-tribal organizations and tribal leaders from across the country.