The US government has announced it will make nearly USD 1 billion worth of grants available to improve high-speed broadband access on Tribal Land. The money will come from the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and comes under the American Jobs Plan. “Access to broadband is as essential as electricity to our everyday life,” Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said.
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Grants will be made available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment as well as for digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning.
NTIA said it will holding a series of webinars to inform the public about the programme. The next Tribal Broadband Connectivity webinars will be held on 16-17 June.
