Tribal Resources Mission Statement: Facilitate access to the full benefits of broadband to all Alaskans with improved quality of service and lower costs. Introducing Melissa Kookesh Melissa M. Kookesh serves as the Tribal Liaison for the Alaska Broadband Office which is in the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Melissa was brought on to serve as the Tribal Liaison between the Alaska Broadband Office and Alaska’s 400 plus tribal entities including the 229 federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Regional Non-Profit Organizations and Tribal Consortiums as well as the ANCSA Village and Regional Corporations. In her role she is also responsible for continuity of collaboration with Tribal partners regarding Digital Equity and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment. The state recognized the importance of having a Tribal Liaison to help maintain open communication on policies and to address the concerns of those being directly impacted by the broadband projects and programs. Tribal Consultations Alaska Broadband Office further recognizes the need to hold one Tribal Consultation that is inclusive of the federally recognized tribes, regional non-profits and tribal consortiums, and village and regional corporations. Considering the perspectives of the different Native entities combined with the Alaska Native people is the right thing to do to ensure successful broadband service can be deployed to reach the unserved and underserved populations in rural Alaska. The Alaska Broadband Office has, and will continue, to hold Tribal Consultation Meetings and facilitate on-going communication to further the government-to-government relationship between the state and federally recognized tribes, the village and regional corporations, and the regional non-profits and tribal consortiums. For more information or to set up a meeting, please contact Melissa Kookesh by email at melissa.kookesh@alaska.gov or by phone (907) 465-6466 or (907) 891-3666. Tribal Consultations and Outreach The Alaska Broadband Office is hosting a Tribal Consultation to discuss the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment In-State Challenge Process in Alaska. Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 7:00PM - following the Alaska Infrastructure Development Symposium In-person, at the Dena'ina Convention Center on the Second Level in the Kahtnu Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, 600 West Seventh Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501 RSVP Here Monday, April 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM Virtual Join Here Call: 1-719-359-4580; Meeting ID: 558 228 0371; Passcode: 2256588 Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 1:30 PM Virtual Join Here Call: 1-719-359-4580; Meeting ID: 558 228 0371; Passcode: 2256588 Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 2:00 PM In-person at the Alaska Tribal Administrators Association / Alaska Native Village Corporation Association Combined Symposium 2024 Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska Join Here Call: 1-719-359-4580; Meeting ID: 558 228 0371; Passcode: 2256588 *Please note that these Tribal Consultations are intended for those who received the Dear Tribal Leader Letter sent out last month. You must be a Tribal Leader, have a signed resolution, or have been delegated authority to speak on behalf of the federally recognized tribes, regional non-profits and tribal consortiums, and village and regional corporations that you are representing.