Project Title:
The NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Pre-Construction Planning and Preparation Project
Funding Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Project Purpose/Type:
This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability project will focus on the pre-construction planning of a broadband network which will ultimately allow the Tribe to provide a service level above 25/3 Mbps and under 100 ms latency for all 574 households, 55 businesses, and 27 anchor institutions on the Bishop Paiute Reservation. The project consists of planning, mapping, and engineering in preparation for deployment of a broadband network comprising a Fiber to the Home (FTTH) solution covering 50% of households and a cost-effective LTE network site operating in the 2.5 GHz EBS spectrum band covering 50% of households. The network will provide services focused on residential, business, and institutional users. Future broadband services of 50/10 through LTE and 100/20 over fiber will be offered.
State(s):
-
$499,935.50Funding Amount
The project proposes the following activities designed to improve access to, and use of, broadband services among Tribal members:
- Design a network through a combination of FTTH and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technologies.
- Produce GIS Base Mapping, Assessment Base Maps, Land Use/Land Cover Mapping, and Environmental Planning standard mapping of in-ground assets and rights of way.
- Precision aerial mapping using Aerial Lidar.
- Hire a Broadband Project Manager to oversee the deliverables of the project.
- Regional project coordination consisting of online weekly meetings with regional Tribal consortium officials for the purposes of collective bargaining, determining local contracting and cost sharing, and best practices collaboration.
- Participating in a Master Fiber Optic Technician training for initial Tribal support staff to oversee and assist with the planned projects in the field.
The project will:
- Complete design for future broadband connection for 574 households, including 110 unserved households and 161 households below the 150% poverty line, 55 businesses, and 27 community anchor institutions with broadband services of 50/10 through LTE and 100/20 over fiber.
- Establish a project plan for the design, procurement, implementation, and long-term operation of the broadband network.
- Support remote education, telehealth, and remote working activities for Native American households.
- Improve safety and monitoring of locations of interest, public housing, and facilities.
- Train Tribal support staff, which will contribute to the knowledge of Tribal staff, reduce the need for outside contractors, and provide the capability to repair and replace fiber optic assets as needed.
The project intends to benefit all 574 households, 55 businesses, and 27 community anchor institutions, including a Tribal Office, a Community Development building, and one Education Center on the Bishop Paiute Reservation by preparing for future broadband deployment.