Enhancing the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant Program

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will facilitate more work to improve broadband service on Tribal lands. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 established a $1 billion grant program at the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to support broadband connectivity on tribal lands throughout the country. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program provides grants to expand access to and adoption of broadband service on Tribal Lands or programs that promote the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offers enhancements to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program so it can better aid in the delivery of broadband to some of the areas with the worst connectivity in the country.

[Kevin Taglang is the Executive Editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]