Congressional appropriations for FY2021 include new sources of tribal broadband funding. Lawmakers hope to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic that are exacerbating the digital divide across tribal land.
To accomplish this, the NTIA initiated the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. Congress directed the NTIA to make grants available to eligible entities within short time frames, says Douglas Kinkoph, associate administrator Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications.
In a letter to tribes, Kinkoph writes: “NTIA is committed to holding consultation sessions expeditiously to ensure that your input informs the new grant program prior to the application process.” He invited various tribal entities to participate in a virtual tribal consultation to provide advice and insights as NTIA staff work through the details of the program. There’s a tribal consultation today and Friday, according to the letter.
The $1 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program provides funding for the following:
- Broadband infrastructure deployment, including support for the establishment of carrier neutral submarine cable landing stations
- Affordable broadband programs, including:
- providing free or reduced-cost broadband service
- preventing disconnection of existing broadband service
- distance learning
- Telehealth
- digital inclusion efforts
- broadband adoption activities
Congress dictated that a grant shall be awarded to an eligible entity after consultation with the FCC to prevent duplication of funding. NTIA is seeking input on implementing a program with such broad eligibility, specifically how to ensure that the priorities of tribal nations are represented.
NTIA asks tribal entities about an equitable funding formula with appropriate criteria. Are existing formulas used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services or other federal services available?
“Should eligible entities receive an allocation of funding for planning, and the balance of the grant funds allocated for deployment and implementation?” asks the NTIA. “For example, plans approved by the FCC for 2.5 GHz licenses, funded by BIA planning grants issued in Summer 2020, or plans developed via State programs such as Washington state?”
NTIA is also soliciting advice on how to address historic preservation and environmental assessments.
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