Funding requests for a tribal broadband program totaled more than five times the amount of money available, according to new numbers from the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The NTIA said it received more than 280 applications for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, for a total of over $5 billion in funding requests.
That’s five times the amount of money available in the $980 million grant program. The 90-day application window closed on September 1. Grants will be made available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth, and distance learning.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought the need for affordable accessible broadband access on tribal lands into stark relief,” stated U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This program’s nearly $1 billion in funding is an important step forward in closing the digital divide for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities, but it will take an even greater investment to help fully connect every person in every community.” That’s why the country needs the historic investments proposed by President Biden and included in the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, Raimondo explained.
“The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program’s flexibility underscores our commitment to working with tribal governments and organizations to close the digital divide for all Native people,” said Acting NTIA Administrator Evelyn Remaley. “NTIA congratulates all eligible entities for their in-depth and detailed proposals aimed at meeting the broadband deployment and digital equity needs of their respective communities.”
NTIA said it will “thoroughly and objectively” review applications using a three-stage process: initial administrative and eligibility review of applications, merit review, and programmatic review. Reviewers will evaluate applications according to the criteria provided in Section E of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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