Osage Nation Utility Authority Meeting

OSAGE NATION UTILTY AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
TELECONFERENCE
Date: 24 February, 2021
Time: 9am-10am CST
 
Location: Teleconference
 Call-In Number:
Dial-in Number: 1-302-202-1110
Conference Code: 531529
 

  1. Call to Order:
  2. Prayer: Mike Wellner
  3. Roll Call: Gary Burd
  4. Safety Message: Emergency Sirens - Paul Bemore
  5. Approve Meeting Agenda: 
  6. Approve January 12, 2021 Minutes:
  7. Old Business
    1. Broadband Project Updates: Rick Perrier, Frank Freeman, James Lightfoot – Osage/DOT Agreement complete
    2. ON IT fiber project Update. (Tentative) Mark Kirk
    3. CARES Act Funding Update (Tentative) Mark Kirk
    4. Water Utility Management/Leadership Training; January 14, 2021.  Good turnout.  Angela Pratt, Alice Goodfox, Jodie Revard, Myron Red Eagle, Gary Burd, Paul Bemore, Scott Bighorse, Pam Shaw.  Also good discussion regarding Osage project progress, ONUA activity, planning, communications, expectations related to management and leadership.
  8. New Business
    1. Robert Odawi Porter, legal firm contract for Osage broadband
    2. FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program  https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-roundtable-emergency-broadband-benefit-program.  In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress appropriated $3.2 billion for a new program that will enable eligible households to receive a discount on the cost of broadband service and certain connected devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.  On Tribal lands, the discount may be up to $75.00 per month.
    3. Tribal Training on the Lifeline and E-Rate Programs.  The Lifeline program offers a monthly discount of up to $9.25 off the price of phone or Internet services for eligible consumers and up to $34.25 for those living on eligible Tribal lands.  Additionally, certain residents of Tribal lands can receive a discount for the full cost of starting service with certain phone or Internet companies at their primary residence, up to $100, through Lifeline’s Tribal Link Up program.  Link: https://www.usac.org/e-rate/learn/tribal-training.
    4. Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grants Program Consultations Announced. The program provides $1 billion in federal grants funding to tribal governments, tribal colleges and universities, tribal organizations, ANCs, and the Department of Hawaiian homelands to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the digital divide across Indian Country. H.R. 133 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
    5. OKIE811.  Made application on behalf of Osage Nation, Osage LLC and ONUA.  Provided info to ACRS for mapping files submission.
  9. Announcements
    1. COVID19 Vaccinations
  10. Executive Session.
  11. Next Meeting Schedule: March
  12. Adjourn