Reps Haaland, Cole, and Sen Heinrich Introduce Bill to Unleash Emergency Access to Broadband Internet in Indian Country

Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Tom Cole (R-OK), and Sen Martin Heinrich (D-NM), announced the introduction of the COVID-19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act to unleash emergency access to broadband internet in Indian Country. The bill will direct the Federal Communications Commission to grant Indian tribes emergency special temporary authority of available spectrum on tribal lands so they can immediately deploy broadband networks on tribal lands during this pandemic. The bill has more than 200 endorsements from across the country, including more than 100 Tribe and Native Hawaiian communities. Specifically, the COVID-19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act will deploy wireless networks in Indian Country by:

• Granting Tribes emergency temporary authority of available spectrum support wireless networks on tribal lands
• Creating new emergency COVID-19 tribal funding through the US Department of Agriculture's Community Facility Grant Program:
  • $297,500,00 for immediate deployment of tribal broadband networks — including repairs to existing damaged infrastructure and backhaul costs; and
  • $3,000,000 for technical assistance and training for immediate tribal broadband deployment
• Setting new 10-day FCC timeline to designate emergency spectrum authority within 10 days of receiving request
• Extending Emergency Special Temporary Authority of spectrum on tribal lands to operate for at least 6 months