Over $276 million has been recommended for award to 44 Tribal entities to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program’s second round of funding from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Join us in celebrating this incredible investment for Indian Country and the many Tribes who engage with NDIA’s community of practitioners through the Indigenous Digital Inclusion Working Group, the National Digital Navigator Corps, and those recently recognized as a Seven Star Community! These initiatives would be impossible without NDIA’s ongoing partnership with AMERIND Critical Infrastructure.
Congratulations to the Tribes and their representatives who are actively part of our community of practitioners:
- Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona 🌟🎉
- Bishop Paiute Tribe
- Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico 🌟🎉
- Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada
- Cherokee Nation 🎉
- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma 🌟
- Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon
- Chickahominy Indian Tribe
- Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation 🌟🎉 National Digital Navigator Corps Grantee
🌟 Seven Star Community
The award announcement provides more context on how the Tribes plan to use their award:
- Gila River Indian Community plans “to subsidize broadband service for eligible Tribal households, and establish digital skill training and technology guidance for the community”;
- Spokane Tribe will “provide digital literacy and technology equity opportunities”;
- Pueblo of Jemez will provide “culturally appropriate technical support and training to Tribal households and promote awareness of and participation in the Tribe’s affordable broadband program” and
- Cherokee Nation will “establish a digital resource center and training program to expand Cherokee-language digital media resources for remote education and online cultural preservation, as a means to build digital skills and workforce capacity.”
NTIA plans to announce additional recipients on a rolling basis, and we hope more of our colleagues will benefit from this opportunity.