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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $74.4 Million in Internet for All Grants to Tribal Lands

For Immediate Release
September 27, 2023

News Media Contact: 
NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, press@ntia.gov

Awards fulfill NTIA’s equitable distribution commitment to Tribal governments

WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded 28 grants totaling $74,424,986.73 to 28 Tribal entities as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).  

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these new grants bring the total of the program to more than $1.86 billion awarded to 226 Tribal entities. Record investments in high-speed Internet deployment are a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.  

This funding from President Biden’s Internet for All initiative will help directly connect Tribal households and businesses to high-speed Internet service, plan for future Internet infrastructure investments, and upgrade network equipment.  

“Internet access allow us to attend medical appointments, sell products and services across the globe, and further our education. But too many members of Tribal communities are cut off from this essential service,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These grants will bring us closer to closing the digital divide and ensure that Tribal communities are connected to the Internet and everything it has to offer.” 

“In today’s world, the digital economy is the economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson. “In order for Tribal communities to thrive, they must have access to reliable high-speed Internet service. These grants will invest in communities to bring more Internet access and build the base for future infrastructure projects.”

These awards are part of the Biden Administration’s commitment to nation-to-nation engagement and an effort to connect everyone in America, including Native Americans and Alaska Natives, to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.

In July, NTIA announced a second Notice of Funding Opportunity for an additional $970 million in funding from the TBCP program. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on January 23, 2024.

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a nearly $3 billion grant program and part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative. The funds are made available from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($2 billion) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ($980 million). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $65 billion in funding to connect everyone in America.

These grants fulfill the TBCP’s equitable distribution requirement. This process, laid out in statute and in NTIA’s first TBCP Notice of Funding Opportunity, is intended to ensure that program funding is available to all eligible federally recognized Tribal governments who had a qualifying application. The grants listed below allow for Tribal communities to move forward in planning for future high-speed Internet infrastructure projects or promoting Internet use and adoption.

 

Alaska

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Knik Tribe AK

$500,000.00

This project proposes to expand broadband use and adoption within the Tribal service area and address the specific broadband needs of approximately 15,000 Tribal members through the completion of a “barrier to access study” and needs assessment to gain insight into current broadband availability and understand how Tribal members currently use broadband. It additionally provides information on what programs the Tribe offers or will offer that could increase adoption. The project will also fund a feasibility study and pre-construction planning towards the establishment of a broadband network access control (NAC) training center to serve as a broadband business incubator for entrepreneurs and Tribal business expansion.

Igiugig Village AK

$8,000,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will serve 16 Alaska Native Villages and complete in-depth feasibility studies, last-mile design, and construction cost estimates. Throughout the feasibility and design process, expert community planners and facilitators will gather stakeholder input to inform the plan and future grant applications.

Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska AK

$500,000.00

This dual Use and Adoption & Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability project proposes to bridge the digital gap experienced by community members by providing access to broadband-enabled equipment; subsidize broadband service; and implement digital skills training. Additionally, the project will allow the Tribe to plan for future infrastructure projects.

Aleut Community of St. Paul Island AK

$499,334.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will solve the limitations of current backhaul options to the Pribilofs, providing a scalable, ‘future proof’ solution that is cost effective, commercially scalable and provides 100% Qualifying Broadband Service, consistently, to the community of St. Paul Island.

Kawerak, Inc. AK

$1,000,000.00

This dual Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Planning project will serve two Alaska Native Villages and will consist of Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies which will also include equipment purchases to be used in future projects.

Tanana Chiefs Conference Dena'Nena' Henash d.b.a AK

$4,500,000.00

This dual Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will serve nine Alaska Native Villages and is aimed to complete engineering and CAD drawings for five Alask native Villages. The Infrastructure Deployment project will connect 432 Alaskan Native homes across five Alaska Native Villages via fiber to the premise.

Alaska Tribal Spectrum AK

$29,500,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project serves 59 Alaska Native Villages and proposes to install a wireless network using a Tribally-controlled 2.5Ghz spectrum and/or subsidize satellite broadband service as an interim solution to directly connect a total of 2,569 unserved Tribal households, 125 unserved Tribal businesses, and 89 Tribal community anchor institutions with qualified broadband speeds.

Alaska Village Initiatives AK

$7,000,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will serve 14 Alaska Native Villages and will plan, design, and construct last mile wireless deployment infrastructure in 13 of the Alaska Native Villages in the Consortium by utilizing 2.5Ghz licensed spectrum. Additionally, the project will also deploy fiber to the premise in one Alaska Native Village.

Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor AK

$500,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project will upgrade equipment in the current system in order to deliver qualifying broadband service to 72 unserved Tribal households.

Benhti Economic Development Corporation AK

$999,997.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will serve two Alaska Native Villages and focus on the pre-construction planning, engineering, design, and permitting of last mile network services. The project will create a shovel ready project to build broadband networks in the Native Village of Minto and of the Manley Hot Springs Village.

Chugachmiut AK

$991,974.00

This Broadband Use and Adoption project serves two Alaska Native Villages and will subsidize satellite broadband service as an interim solution for the Native Village of Nanwalek and the Native Village of Port Graham.

Huna Totem Corporation AK

$2,467,546.00

This Broadband Use and Adoption project will provide minimal upgrades to network and customer equipment in addition to providing Native households with three years of subsidies service.

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tribal Broadband AK

$4,500,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project will serve nine Alaska Native Villages and purchase and install Starlink to 1,410 homes and 9 community anchor institutions as an interim broadband solution.

Arizona

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Tohono O’odham Utility Authority, Inc. AZ

$499,997.06

This proposal for a Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project and includes purchasing inside and outside fiber optic cable and equipment that are in short supply or present supply chain challenges.

California

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

California Rural Indian Health Board CA

$500,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will complete environmental technical studies and compliance documents, as well as design and engineering to support future deployment of middle mile fiber and last mile fiber to the premise within the Fort Bidwell Indian Community.

Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association CA

$4,500,000.00

This dual Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Broadband Use and Adoption project will serve 9 Tribal Governments and proposes to upgrade fiber network equipment and install wireless infrastructure directly connecting a total of 212 unserved Tribal households and 5 unserved Tribal community anchor institutions with Qualifying Broadband Service. Additionally, the project will support a feasibility study, create a Digital Equity Training Center, disseminate telehealth monitoring devices, distribute community member devices, and provide pre-payment of broadband services.

Michigan

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians MI

$500,000.00

This dual Adoption and Use and Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability project will enable the awardee to purchase supplies and equipment for telehealth services in addition to completing planning activities such as penetration and other security-related audits for the existing limited network.

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians MI

$500,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project will construct approximately 5 miles of fiber that will connect 84 unserved tribal households.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community MI

$500,000.00

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project involves construction work extending nearby mainline existing fiber optic cable infrastructure to the premises and making additions to the network electronics at the nearest locations to serve the premises with FTTP technology.

Nevada

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe NV

$498,075.00

This broadband infrastructure deployment project will purchase and place equipment on an existing tower and provide 110 Tribal homes with customer premise equipment allowing them to connect to high-speed Internet.

North Dakota

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Three Affiliate Tribes ND

$500,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will complete the design of a future wireless network with two RAN sites. Additionally, this project will complete an Infrastructure Survey and an NEPA environmental assessment and will identify partners and all needed permitting so that the Tribe has a shovel-ready broadband deployment plan.

Oklahoma

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Inter-Tribal Council Inc. OK

$2,500,000.00

This dual Broadband Infrastructure Deployment and Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will serve five Tribal governments and is aimed to complete environmental technical studies and compliance documents, as well as design and engineering to support future deployment of a future fixed wireless solution. The Infrastructure Deployment project will connect Native American households, Tribal businesses, and Tribal Community Anchor Institutions within three Tribal communities using an existing network of fixed wireless towers.

Oregon

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

The Klamath Tribes OR

$500,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability project will fund environmental technical studies and compliance documents, as well as network design and engineering to support the future deployment of a fixed wireless backhaul and last mile fiberoptic network.

Utah

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Shivwits Band of Paiutes UT

$500,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will support a 10G copper design project intended for deployment in 2023. The Scope of Work for the Shivwits connectivity project encompasses the design of a fully connected broadband Internet system, servicing the Shivwits Reservation through the integration of Single-mode fiber connection of all residential Tribal housing and major buildings of the Tribal complex, and multiple wireless mesh networks to provide broadband service to outdoor areas including the RV park, Shivwits Park, and the recreation area at the lake by the Kaiva/Essentia Team.

Washington

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe WA

$500,000.00

The Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project proposes to install two communication shelters and complete site preparation work for future installment of two towers to prepare for broadband deployment to eventually serve 268 unserved Tribal households.

Nooksack Indian Tribe WA

$468,063.67

This Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project proposes to purchase equipment that will be used for the construction and maintenance of a future fiber network and to train Nooksack staff in the use and handling of fiber installation equipment and network equipment.

Skokomish Indian Tribe WA

$500,000.00

The Broadband Infrastructure Deployment project proposes to install an antenna to provide 2.5 GHz Fixed Wireless Coverage, purchase equipment to construct an additional wireless tower and antenna and install a short hop wireless link antenna and microwave radio to connect 15 unserved Tribal households, 2 community anchor institutions, and 3 tribal businesses.

Wisconsin

Applicant

State

Amount

Description

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians WI

$500,000.00

This Planning, Engineering, Feasibility, and Sustainability Studies project will complete architectural and engineering plans, as well as make purchases of equipment that will be used in the future for broadband infrastructure.

 

Internet for All and Investing in America

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in communities across the U.S. NTIA recently launched a series of new grant programs funded by the law that will build high-speed Internet infrastructure across the country, create more low-cost high-speed Internet service options, and address the digital equity and inclusion needs in our communities.

Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward Internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal Lands. Visit GetInternet.Gov to sign-up.

For more information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s high-speed Internet programs, please visit InternetforAll.gov.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and his vision for growing the economy from the middle out and bottom up – Bidenomics – is creating opportunity across the country. Already, as a result of legislation passed by President Biden, the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $260 billion in funding for 35,000 infrastructure projects across the country. Companies have announced over $500 billion in investments in the United States since President Biden took office, and the Administration has helped over 20 million households save money on their Internet costs.

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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.