Northern Arizona University scientist Vigil-Hayes is developing broadband solutions for tribal communities

Expanding broadband to tribal communities is not just a technical challenge, it’s a social and political one. Morgan Vigil-Hayes, a computer scientist at Northern Arizona University, has participated in several projects aimed at addressing the challenges of tribal connectivity since 2018. It is Vigil-Hayes' personal research passion dating back to her dissertation, and a topic that became even more pressing during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The computer scientist's projects include attempting to extend network reach using television white space, frequencies within the radio broadcast spectrum that are unused particularly since television moved to more digital formats. Unlike Wi-Fi, Vigil-Hayes said, TV white space is a promising means to extend connectivity to remote areas because it can cover long distances and navigate around obstacles such as trees. It is also less costly than installing fiber-optic cables to homes in areas without infrastructure. In all her broadband work, Vigil-Hayes strives to bring in community input as much as possible because residents are the experts in where digital divides exist and can provide the best indication of specific connectivity needs.