Project Title:
Broadband Use and Adoption
Funding Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The Broadband Use and Adoption project will provide affordable broadband services through payment assistance programming as well as provide citizens in need with laptops. These services will be provided to improve tribal citizens’ access to telehealth, tele-education, and other modern economic development activities that promote job growth and household connectivity for the Upper Mattaponi community.
State(s):
-
$473,349.80Funding Amount
The project proposes the following activities designed to improve access to, and use of, broadband services among Tribal members:
- Providing new laptops for 200 Tribal members. This will enable students to engage in much needed distance learning support and provide low-income elders with telehealth access. Additionally, other low-income Tribal members in receipt of equipment will be able to better communicate with the Tribal government.
- Provision of payment assistance support to provide affordable broadband services to 55 low-income households, particularly rural tribal members, who are currently forced to rely on more expensive satellite broadband services.
- Provide project management services through the use of a part-time Project Coordinator who is tasked with conducting citizen outreach and application processing, completing targeted training to better serve citizens, provisioning equipment and serving as the liaison with broadband providers.
Promote broadband adoption activities, telehealth, distance learning, digital inclusion efforts, and the expansion of affordable broadband programs.
The proposed project services are intended to cover the entire geographically diverse tribe and provide direct assistance to the approximately one half of Community members.