The Cherokee Nation has launched a $45 million initiative to install 15 new cellular towers across rural areas of its reservation, aiming to eliminate long-standing gaps in cell service and internet access. The project, part of the Cherokee Connect Broadband Initiative, is expected to be completed by summer 2026 and will serve thousands of households, according to Cherokee Phoenix.
“Our rural Cherokee communities can’t thrive without modern connectivity,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We now have the resources to fix this—and we’re not waiting.”
The new towers will reach communities like Bell, Christie, Oaks, and Proctor—places where reliable service has long been out of reach. The expansion follows a successful pilot in Kenwood, OK installed in 2023, which proved to be a model for bridging digital gaps.
Local leaders celebrated the move, calling it a game-changer. “Now our people won’t have to travel just to make a call,” said Joe “Mouse” Chewey, chairman of the CC Camp Community Organization.
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