Pine Ridge, Rosebud reservations receive $70 million broadband grant

The Rosebud Indian Reservation and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota will have their own broadband services after being awarded an almost $70 million federal grant that officials predict will connect 3,300 homes. The money will come from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). The funding can also be used for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. The program uses nearly $1 billion from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and $2 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). There are 20 communities on the Rosebud Reservation, and the current internet providers can't reach everybody. However, tribal officials believe that these funds will be an important step in reasserting their tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction, strengthening their community's communication capabilities in the long and short-term.