The Strategy for Increasing Broadband Access in Indian Country

Increased access to broadband in Indian Country could create jobs and economic growth, and the National Broadband Plan now being developed by the Federal Communications Commission will make many recommendations to speed the process, said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.

"Broadband has the potential to help Tribal communities advance farther, faster, than any new technology in our lifetime," said Chairman Genachowski in a speech before a conference of the National Congress of American Indians. "We have to develop a meaningful plan to create jobs and economic growth in Indian Country, to unleash new waves of innovation and investment, and to improve education, health care, energy efficiency, public safety, and self-governance in Tribal lands."

Working recommendations in the National Broadband Plan include:

• Creating a separate Tribal Broadband Fund to support sustainable deployment and adoption programs in Indian Country
• Improve data-gathering on tribal lands
• Help Tribal communities acquire technical broadband skills and expertise by expanding the FCC's Indian Telecommunications Initiative
• Allow Tribal representatives to participate in the FCC University training programs at no cost