Project Title:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Funding Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project proposes to install fiber directly connecting 102 unserved Native American households, plus the Havasupai Campground, Ranger Stations, and 33 anchor institutions with qualifying broadband service at speed of 100/20 Mbps.
State(s):
Arizona
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$7,077,145.00Funding Amount
The project proposes the following activities designed to improve access to, and use of, broadband services among Tribal members. The following will benefit Tribal members and visitors:
- One RAN site to cover the Supai Village and two additional sites to cover the canyon area. These sites will integrate Educational Broadband Spectrum (EBS) 2.5 GHz spectrum. All RAN Sites designed with microwave backhaul.
- One 35 meter tower to be deployed next to the existing one in Long Mesa. The existing tower has reached its maximum capacity and no additional equipment can be mounted. The construction of a new tower will allow the Havasupai Tribe to expand backhaul capacity in the future. One Fiber route runs from Peach Springs to the Long Mesa tower (at the Long Mesa area) and the Hualapai Hilltop (at the end of Indian Road 18) with an overall length of 140 kilometers. Deployment of a centralized evolved packet core solution at the Supai village’s server room that provides connection management and Internet connectivity to all RAN sites.
This project will:
- Bridge the digital connectivity gap.
- Bring FTTH for 102 unserved Native American households, 1 small business, and 33 anchor institutions.
- Create 4 new jobs to operate the new network.
- Enhance emergency communication.
- Offer high-speed broadband service to the 30,000 tourists that visit annually.
- Underwrite the cost of broadband service to Tribal members.
- Engage newly hired employees with training and workforce development.
- Implement a new network that is fully interoperable with 5G mobile technologies.
The project intends to benefit Tribal members, first responders, tourists, visitors, employers, and employees.