Federal Communications Commission

1st Congressional District Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick sent a letter Monday to the Federal Communications Commission, in an attempt to intercede on behalf of the Navajo Nation to prevent its emergency operations Internet access from being shut off.

The letter, penned with Peterson Zah, past president of the Navajo Nation, read:

"We are writing to request that you take immediate action to prevent the imminent suspension of internet services for the Navajo Nation, scheduled to occur as early as Tuesday, July 22, 2008. Such a scenario would jeopardize the safety and security of the Navajo people by effectively shutting down the Nation's entire public safety network and crippling the ability of police and emergency response units to do their jobs. This dire situation has the potential to endanger the lives of every man, woman, and child of the Navajo Nation and requires your urgent intervention.