Greetings from the Federal Communications Commission.

We are pleased to announce that on Monday, June 3^rd, Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) staff will hold a Tribal consultation session from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT to coincide with the National Congress of American Indians Mid Year 24 Convention and Marketplace in Cherokee, North Carolina.  This session will be an informational presentation and opportunity for Tribal consultation on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System.  Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.

ONAP is coordinating Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations.  As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders are invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue.

ONAP’s consultation session is available to anyone attending NCAI’s conference on June 3^rd and we encourage you to attend and participate.  We also invite Tribal leaders to send their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance, if possible, or after the consultation.  Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.

These consultations will be facilitated by ONAP, and in addition to Tribal leaders, may be of special interest to communications and broadcasting personnel; social services, public safety and emergency management personnel; Tribal law enforcement; and other interested representatives from your Nation.

Filing Public Comments

We also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers:  PS 15-91 and PS 15-94.  The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.

If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.

Bambi Kraus
Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy