Congress, Tribes Again Expresses Concern with FCC’s EBS Tribal Window Rollout

It has been over 4 months since the Federal Communications Commission voted to overhaul the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) spectrum band (2.5 GHz) and prepare it for commercial auction. As EBS licensees, Voqal strongly opposed the FCC’s decision because it was an enormous missed opportunity not only to strengthen educational benefits but also to close the homework gap and digital divide in rural areas. One of the few bright spots of the Report & Order was the FCC’s decision to create a Tribal Priority Filing Window, which will allow rural tribes to apply for new EBS spectrum licenses over their land for free. But Tribal nations have consistently criticized the FCC’s handling of the Tribal Window and called for more education and time. Without a serious commitment to educating tribes and making this opportunity real, this opportunity will ultimately fail.