Benton releases report on Native Ameicans and telecommunications technology

27 May 1999

Contact: Rachel Anderson
(202) 638-5770
rachel@benton.org

Increasingly, Native Americans are recognizing that telecommunications and information technologies are essential to their future prosperity. Tribes are looking for opportunities to acquire the infrastructure required to take full advantage of the social benefits offered by access to communications technologies. Many tribes, however, are in the early stages of this endeavor and federal agencies, foundations, businesses and policy makers have yet to fully include tribes and Indian people in growth and development opportunities in the telecommunications and technology sectors.

This spring, the Benton Foundation published its latest report, Native Networking: Telecommunications and Information Technology in Indian Country, to provide government policymakers and tribal leaders with essential resources and analysis of important issues facing tribes in the Digital Age. The report addresses critical telecommunications and information technology policy issues, focusing on the interaction between Indian sovereignty and federal and state regulation in a quickly changing policy and practice arena.

Native Networking was created to serve as a central document where tribes, policymakers and others could access information about telecommunication and information technology resources. Designed as a tool for reference, training, planning, and general educational purposes, the report details telecommunications and information technology practices in Native communities. Included are extensive lists of funding sources (federal, private and corporate), current projects in Indian country and technology-focused Native businesses and organizations.

The Benton Foundation is a private foundation that helps to define the public interest in the digital age through research, publishing, convening and public education. Benton bridges the worlds of philanthropy, community practice and public policy in pursuit of its mission: to realize the social benefits made possible by the public interest use of communications.

This report, as well as other Benton publications, is available on our Web site at www.benton.org/Library. Additional hard copies can be ordered online at shop.benton.org, or by calling, toll-free, 1-877-2-BENTON (1-877-223-6866).