The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded grants totaling $4.5 million to 9 tribes as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).
These grants from President Biden’s Internet for All initiative will help reduce monthly Internet service costs, plan for future Internet infrastructure investments, upgrade network equipment, and purchase devices.
Here’s what they are saying about today’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grants:
California
Applicants |
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| Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake |
Sherry Treppa, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Chairperson “The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake is pleased to receive much needed funding for broadband services on our reservation. “Access to high-speed Internet is a critical component in our modern society to access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. “The Tribe is appreciative of NTIA's efforts to include the needs of smaller tribes, as it is much harder to get corporate third parties to invest funding into infrastructure for smaller, remote populations, making the need for this type of funding much greater for smaller tribes.” |
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Karuk Tribe |
Eric Cutright, Karuk Tribe, CIO and Broadband Manager “The Karuk Tribe thanks NTIA for this opportunity. The Tribal Reserve for every federally recognized tribe that was included in the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is one of the best and most needed support structures for tribes across the nation to bridge the digital divide, which is wider in Indian Country. The Karuk Tribe plans to use this reserve to plan a fiber to the home project to serve a currently unserved remote rural community.” |
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Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation |
Daryl Yarak, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Information Services Director “Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation looks forward to using the Tribal Broadband Connectivity award to plan the much-needed improvements in infrastructure on the reservation and region, in order to ensure all citizens have access to broadband Internet. “This work is vital in enabling Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation to achieve its ultimate goal of constructing and implementing the Tolowa Broadband Project to improve Internet access and public safety, distance learning, and telehealth on the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Indian Reservation.” |
Nebraska
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| Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska |
Jim Pillen, Governor, Nebraska “This grant will help provide accessible and dependable high-speed broadband to the Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska – a necessity for continued growth in our 21st century economy. “As access to broadband expands, so do opportunities for improved workforce participation, education, telehealth, and future business investment for local communities." Alonzo Denney, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Chairman “Today it was announced that Santee Sioux Nation of Santee Nebraska has received funding from NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) in the amount of 500K to aid our continued efforts to become a self-sustaining and solely owned Indian Internet Service Provider for our tribal community. “Covid 19 demonstrated the digital divide our people, families and business have encountered because of underserved and unserved areas of our tribal lands for everyday broadband needs. The lack of digital services demonstrated the urgent need to rely on our own people and its resolve to expeditiously move to action to seek ways to provide reliable and cost-effective services to our community. These dollars represent a portion of our financial needs to build a quick efficient wireless and fiber business plan for our Tribal People. “We now have a financial start to our business goals and are grateful for the efforts of NTIA and their team that assisted us in achieving these important funds. We will continue to seek out additional funding opportunities to find complete resolution to our digital needs for our tribal community.” |
North Carolina
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Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians |
Roy Cooper, Governor, North Carolina “All North Carolinians need high-speed Internet service for work, education and health care. “This Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grant will help connect the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to crucial high-speed Internet infrastructure so more people can take advantage of online resources and opportunities.” Chuck Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives, NC-11 “I was happy to support this project to spark broadband development for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Reliable Internet access is critical for our rural areas, and I’m glad to hear Western North Carolina has been selected to receive a grant that will start the process of improving and expanding Internet access for our tribal community.” |
Oklahoma
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Fort Sill Apache Tribe |
Lori Gooday Ware, Fort Sill Apache Tribe, Chairwoman “The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is proud to be a recipient of the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) award. ‘This award opens the door for many of our people to have Internet access to help engage them in telework, remote learning, and telehealth, and other economic opportunities at a reasonable cost. ‘The Fort Sill Apache Tribe looks forward to accomplishing the objectives of this award to help better serve our people.” |
Oregon
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| Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon |
Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator, Oregon “Quality rural broadband is essential to quality of life, and that infrastructure priority must include Tribal communities. I’m gratified the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde have earned these federal resources, and I’ll keep battling to ensure all Tribal communities in Oregon have similar access that connects families to health care, children to online resources that help with school, and workers to good-paying job opportunities.” Cheryle A. Kennedy, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, Tribal Council Chairwoman "Broadband connectivity is often a significant challenge for many native communities. With this grant from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), we will be able to bring high-speed Internet to 200 tribal households in Grand Ronde. We’re grateful to the TBCP for making resources available and helping us meet the needs of our community." |
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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.