$1 Billion for Broadband Infrastructure on Tribal Lands

On June 3, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the availability of nearly $1 billion in National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grants to expand broadband access and adoption on Tribal lands. "Indigenous communities have shaped our nation throughout our history," said Vice President Harris. "And yet, we know that disparities—deep disparities—persist in Tribal communities." The Vice President noted that one in three Americans who live in rural areas and on Tribal lands lack access to high-speed internet. With the heightened awareness of the importance of broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Here we briefly recap the NTIA's Notice of Funding Opportunity.