Remarks Of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai At The National Tribal Broadband Summit

Since my first day in this job, I’ve said that closing the digital divide was my top priority. And as this audience knows all too well, nowhere is that divide more pronounced than on Tribal lands. One new policy I’m particularly excited about is giving Tribes priority access to spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. I’m very proud of how hard Federal Communications Commission staff worked to ensure broad awareness of this opportunity throughout Indian Country, how hard they worked to help eligible Tribes file applications, and how hard they are working now to review over 400 applications that we’ve received. Just last week, we announced that 157 applications have already passed the initial review. As required by law, the FCC is now putting these applications out for public comment before any final action is taken. Staff are continuing to review the remaining applications, and we will put them out for public comment as that review process unfolds. 

Our investments on Tribal lands have had a real impact, too. In my first three years as Chairman of the FCC, the number of unserved Americans living on Tribal lands has fallen more than 43%. I’m confident that these and other steps the FCC is taking will continue to increase broadband access on Tribal lands.