Webinar on FCC Action on Wireless Infrastructure and Section 106

About the Event:

Indian Cuntry has been discussing the importance of Tribal consultation and consent as it relates to the impacts of infrastructure projects that have impacts on cultural and natural resources outside of reservation boundaries. Last Friday, March 31st, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (17-84) that would overhaul the Tribal Review component of the Section 106 process regarding wireless telecommunications infrastructure in an effort to streamline wireless deployment. 

The FCC is collecting comments on this draft rulemaking for three weeks, after which the Commission will vote on whether to issue a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at its April 20th Open meeting.  

Because of the importance of the tribal voice on any projects that impact tribal consent on projects that affect cultural and tribal resources, NCAI will host a webinar, along with our partners USET and NATHPO to inform Indian Country of the potential impacts of this rulemaking and to seek input on the response to the FCC.  The text of the Draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be found here. 

When: Monday, April 10th at 3PM EST/2PM Central/1pm Mountain and 12PM Pacific. To register and to find more information on NCAI's webinar click here. 

Who Should Join?

• Tribal Leaders;
• Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and Cultural Departments;
• Telecommunications Experts and Technology Officers;
• Regional and Tribal Organizations;
• Infrastructure and Public Works Professionals; and
• Anyone who supports Section 106 of the American Historic Preservation Act

As the wireless industry moves to newer technology that requires deploying many more smaller cells, Industry seeks to streamline the Historic Preservation review process, including the Tribal Section 106 Review through the Tower Constructions Notification System at the FCC. The draft NPRM considers what types of wireless infrastructure (small cells, pole replacements, collocations, rights of way) Tribes will be able to review through 106, the fees tribes charge as consultants in the 106 process and the timeframe for which tribes can respond to the proposed site and its effects on historic properties and cultural resources. All tribes will be affected by this Proposed Rule and should make sure their voice is heard by filing comments with the FCC.

Comments on the draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be accepted until April 20th, when it will be considered at the FCC open meeting. Following the vote the formal rulemaking process will begin. Comments for docket 17-84 can be filed through the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System.