NTIA Awards First Grants to Tribal Groups Seeking to Expand Broadband

The US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded the first three grants as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. These initial awards, totaling nearly $1.4 million, are being made to the Taos Pueblo (NM), the Upper Mattaponi Tribe (VA), and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community (WI). Two of the grants will support the provision of broadband services, computers, and digital skills training to tribal members and one will fund a tribal broadband planning project. NTIA is continuing to review the more than 280 remaining applications received during the application window, which closed on September 1, 2021. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, which was funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, makes $980 million available for grants to eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth, and distance learning. The recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides an additional $2 billion in funding for this program. NTIA anticipates issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity for the additional funds.