Sec. 9. Technical assistance for spectrum management, contractual agreements, and procedural requirements
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At the request of an Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, or qualifying Tribal entity, the Commission, acting through the Office of Native Affairs and Policy, shall provide technical assistance and guidance for the most efficient and effective use of spectrum and spectrum management for the benefit of the Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, or qualifying Tribal entity that submitted the request, including deployment of wireless services or other full use of spectrum over Tribal lands.
This technical assistance and guidance shall include the following: Best practices for Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and qualifying Tribal entities to secure access to spectrum and manage spectrum. How to best expedite the immediate deployment of broadband and telecommunications services or other full use of spectrum over Tribal lands, including support for— infrastructure development, fiber buildout, adoption of digital literacy on Tribal lands, and other related activities to ensure Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations have full access to resources for robust deployment of broadband and telecommunications services or other full use of spectrum over Tribal lands; assistance for procedures enumerated under sections 5, 6, and 7; and participation in the Tribal Spectrum Market and other spectrum programs managed by the Commission.
Coordination with other Federal agencies for activities related to Tribal spectrum management, deployment of wireless services, infrastructure development, or other full use of spectrum over Tribal lands, or related activities, including coordinating with all applicable agencies with available Federal funding opportunities for which Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and qualifying Tribal entities are eligible to apply to further support deployment of broadband on Tribal lands.
The Commission, acting through the Office of Native Affairs and Policy, shall provide technical assistance and guidance to the Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, and qualifying Tribal entity that submitted the request on the activities under this Act, including, but not limited to— contractual negotiations to assign or lease spectrum to other Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, qualifying Tribal entities, or third-party licensees, including general information relating to activities under section 5(b) (including the fair market value of spectrum licenses, deployment of telecommunications services, and penalties under paragraph (3)(C)(ii) of such section) and participation in the Tribal Spectrum Market; and filing a Notice of Intent and associated procedures and timelines specified under section 6.
The Commission shall, acting through the Office of Native Affairs and Policy and at the request of an Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, or qualifying Tribal entity, provide technical assistance to apply for and participate in the Tribal Broadband Fund, other universal service support mechanisms, and the Tribal Spectrum Market. Requests under this paragraph from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and qualifying Tribal entities shall receive priority where telecommunications or wireless broadband services on Tribal lands have either not been deployed or have been inadequately deployed.
This includes assistance for associated backhaul, repairs to damaged infrastructure, or new infrastructure to deploy wireless broadband service. In addition to the technical assistance provided under paragraph (1), the Commission shall provide further technical assistance that includes training programs and grant assistance to Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, qualifying Tribal entities, the Director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, inter-Tribal government organizations, and universities and colleges with Tribal serving institutions for the purpose of immediate deployment of telecommunications or wireless broadband services, infrastructure development over Tribal lands, and related activities identified under this Act.
The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Commission shall provide technical assistance to Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and qualifying Tribal entities (and, if located on Tribal lands, to schools, libraries, health care facilities, public safety entities, Tribal chapter houses, community centers, government buildings of an Indian Tribe, and locations where Tribal, State, and Federal elections and census activities are carried out) to resolve barriers to the deployment and adoption of wireless broadband service and other services provided using spectrum, including— classes or other education related to computer literacy; acquisition of computers and related hardware and software; use of wireless broadband service and computers for public safety and emergency communications services and interoperability; use of spectrum and wireless broadband service and computers where Tribal, State, and Federal elections and census activities are carried out; use of spectrum and wireless broadband service and computers to respond to public emergencies, including health and biohazard threats and natural disasters; and such other areas as the Commission, or relevant Federal agencies that have a role conducting activities on Tribal lands, determines to be advisable to increase the deployment and adoption of wireless broadband service and other services provided using spectrum on Tribal lands, or where an Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, or qualifying Tribal entity holds a valid and active spectrum license.
Nothing under this section should limit or supersede the Commission’s, or other Federal agencies’, existing responsibilities or engagement with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations or communities, and qualifying Tribal entities.