Supporting Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Grantees

The National Telecommunications Information Administration's (NTIA) $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) aims to expand access to and adoption of broadband service on tribal land. NTIA is distributing these funds through two rounds of grant funding; NTIA finished announcing awards for the first round of funding in September of 2023, and the application period for the second funding round closed in March 2024. TBCP as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Tribes and other eligible entities to close the digital divide. By law, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must review, every six months until funds are expended, the grants awarded under this program in the prior six months and provide, if any, recommendations to address waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO has released its fifth such report, focusing specifically on NTIA's implementation of the first round of Tribal Broadband Connectivity funding. In its report, the GAO seeks to answer four questions about Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program implementation. The following is a summary of the agency's findings for each subject area addressed in its report.