Bringing Economic Equity and Opportunity to America’s Tribal Communities

The Commerce Department remains committed to economic growth and support for America’s Tribal communities because of President Biden’s leadership in addressing historic inequities. Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to closing the digital divide in Native communities and significant investments have been made in high-speed internet for Tribal communities across America. Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to closing the digital divide in Native communities and significant investments have been made in high-speed internet for Tribal communities across America. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) remains the largest investment ever in high-speed Internet service on Tribal lands. NTIA’s first funding notice resulted in awards totaling $1.86 billion to 226 Tribal entities. These projects have already connected or lowered Internet costs for more than 4,500 Tribal homes, with many more to come. In 2023, NTIA launched a second funding notice, making up to $980 million available for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities for the deployment of Internet infrastructure on Tribal Lands, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives. Recently, $72 million to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands was announced as the first reward to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption in Native Hawaiian households.

Read more to learn how NTIA and Native communities are working together – and see the impacts of digital equity in these communities.