The Cherokee Nation is investing $45 million to bring cell phone and broadband internet service to rural communities in Oklahoma Territory, impacting over 6,000 households. This initiative combines federal grant funding, tribal revenue, and private investment to address longstanding communication gaps within the region. The goal is to have 15 new cell phone towers operational within 18 months, according to KOTV-DT in Tulsa.
Cherokee Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. emphasized that without this initiative, the private sector would not have prioritized building the infrastructure. He highlighted the broader national effort to improve rural connectivity but noted that local progress had been stalled without government intervention. Once the Cherokee Nation constructs the towers, the Chief said, private companies will step in to provide service to individual customers, creating new opportunities for residents to stay connected.
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