FCC Consulted With Tribes on Infrastructure Order, CTIA Says
CTIA denied allegations by some tribes that the FCC didn’t do the required consultations before acting on revised wireless infrastructure rules. Tribal interests made the claim in several recent filings before a vote set for Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting (see 1803150058).…
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CTIA filed in docket 17-79 on a call last week with Will Adams, aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr. “Contrary to recent filings asserting that the Draft Second Order does not properly reflect the Commission’s trust responsibility to Tribal Nations, the Commission’s proposals reflect years of discussions between industry, Tribes, and the Commission and will advance the goal of facilitating broadband deployment without diminishing Tribes’ ability to protect historic sites of cultural or religious significance,” CTIA said. Major tribal groups didn't comment. While not directly addressing Thursday’s draft order, Brenda Bethune, mayor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, said she spoke by phone with Commissioner Mignon Clyburn on infrastructure more generally. Clyburn is from the state. “The Mayor opened the meeting by sharing Myrtle Beach’s desire to be a smart city, with the latest and best wireline and wireless connections for its residents and visitors alike,” said a filing. “But in meeting residential and visitor communications needs, the city also sought to preserve the integrity of the community’s look, which the City has invested over $110 million to achieve.” TechFreedom reported on questions the group raised in a call with Carr about the order. The group “discussed whether the Commission’s analysis contained in the proposed Order is adequate to justify excluding new structures -- or at least new structures on previously undisturbed ground -- from [National Historic Preservation Act] review,” TechFreedom said. “We discussed whether the process by which the Commission developed that part of the proposed amendment is adequate to fulfill the FCC’s special trust relationship with America’s tribes.” The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council Monday said the FCC should balance interests on the order. The order promises to speed deployment of small cells and be good for the economy, MMTC said. “Noting the objections of several Native American tribes and organizations to certain elements of the process, MMTC strongly encourages the Commission to work closely with the tribal and environmental associations and stakeholders to resolve their concerns expeditiously and fairly.”