WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $162 million to four Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption.
The funding from the nearly $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative. These grants are from the second round of funding, which made nearly $1 billion available for the deployment of Internet infrastructure on Tribal Lands, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives. Awards will be issued following budget review and processing.
"Access to affordable, reliable Internet is not a luxury – it's a necessity," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "That's why this historic investment to connect Tribal communities is so important. These awards will ensure that residents of Tribal lands have the Internet connections they need to take advantage of digital opportunities for work, education, health care, and other essential services.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving meaningful, universal Internet access. That’s especially true on Tribal lands,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. “Each grant we announce today reflects a Tribe’s own novel approach to bridging the digital divide in their community.”
The $162,165,109 will support Internet infrastructure deployment on Tribal lands.
“High-speed internet is crucial in today’s world, powering everything from telehealth to education. It's necessary that rural and Tribal communities have equal access to broadband, and I’ve been proud to champion these investments on the Commerce and Indian Affairs Committees,” said U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján. “That's why I’m proud to welcome this broadband funding for Taos and Cochiti Pueblos. This investment will help bridge the digital divide and ensure that Tribal communities have the connectivity they need to succeed.”
The funding for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ($980 million) and the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($2 billion). Additional grants will be announced on a rolling basis. Projects funded by the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program are complete or are now under construction in 27 Tribal communities, and more than 4,600 households have received access to free or low-cost high-speed Internet service.
| Applicant | Location | Project Description |
| Old Harbor Native Corporation | AK | This infrastructure project will provide access to high-speed Internet to approximately 570 households via fiber to the home (FTTH) technology across and on the Old Harbor area and install a middle mile subsea fiber optic cable network from Homer to Kodiak Island. |
| Kawerak, Inc. | AK | This infrastructure project will provide access to high-speed Internet to approximately 410 households via fiber to the home (FTTH) technology and install a middle mile subsea fiber optic cable network from Nome to St. Lawrence Island. |
| Pueblo de Cochiti | NM | This infrastructure project will provide access to high-speed Internet to approximately 320 households via fiber to the home (FTTH) technology on and/or near the Pueblo de Cochiti. |
| Taos Pueblo | NM | This infrastructure project will provide access to high-speed Internet to approximately 370 households via a combination of fiber to the home (FTTH) and fixed wireless technology on and near the Taos Pueblo. |
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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.