Sen King Calls For Improved Broadband In Tribal Areas

On May 31, Sen Angus King (I-ME) has joined a group of colleagues in calling for the Federal Communications Commission to make it easier for tribal communities to get access to broadband internet. The lawmakers said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai should extend the period for tribal governments to complete applications for wireless broadband and increased mobile coverage. Sen King and the other senators said the window should be extended by 180 days, and that extending the window is the right thing to do because tribal communities around the country have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and many need more time. He and the other senators wrote that “rural tribal communities represent some of the least connected people in America” and they need access to better service.

[On June 1, the FCC announced it would issue a temporary wavier (until Aug 31, 2020) to allow Lifeline carriers to begin providing Lifeline service to consumers in rural Tribal areas.]