Project Title:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Funding Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program - Round 1
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program - Round 1
Project Purpose/Type:
The Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project proposes to install fiber and wireless to directly connect 927 unserved Tribal households, 35 unserved Tribal businesses, and 22 unserved Tribal community anchor institutions with a minimum of 30 Mbps/5 Mbps and up to 1 Gbps qualifying broadband service.
State(s):
Montana
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$41,572,831.55Funding Amount
The project proposes the following activities designed to improve access to, and use of, broadband services among Tribal members:
- Install 303 miles of aerial and underground fiber.
- Deploy middle mile fiber to connect 927 unserved Tribal households with a 2.5 GHz licensed LTE wireless network.
- Deploy last mile fiber network connecting 35 unserved Tribal businesses and 22 unserved Tribal community anchor institutions.
- Construct a Network Operations Center, 1 tower, and 20 remote population locations.
- Create 3 new IT jobs to maintain and service the system.
This project will:
- Provide affordable, high-speed, reliable, and future-proofed Internet access to Tribal households with a minimum speed of 30/5 Mbps, to businesses with an average speed of 100 Mbps, and to anchor institutions with an average speed of 1 Gbps.
- Open opportunities for telehealth care services, online educational opportunities, workforce development, telecommuting, broadband, use, and adoption and financial literacy.
- Provide an increased level of public safety.
- Support cultural preservation.
- Encourage Tribal residents and businesses to adopt emerging smart technologies.
- Establish a CSKT Tribe-owned broadband Internet service accessible to all Native households, businesses, and anchor institutions on the Reservation.
- Remove the affordability barrier and be 100% carrier-neutral.
The project intends to benefit Tribal residents, business owners, and anchor institutions such as schools, health care facilities, public safety facilities, and agricultural facilities.