Internet on Tribal Lands: A Joint Effort

As we move into a digital age, rural communities—especially tribal communities—are at risk of being left behind. The United States Federal Government and Tribal Leaders are doing well to prevent that possibility.

In many rural communities across America, the digital divide has yet to be bridged. Sparse (and when available, expensive) access to broadband services prevents both households and small businesses from connecting to the internet, rendering them unable to benefit from the vital economic, medical, and educational services found online. Nowhere are these gaps in access more prevalent than Native American tribal lands. In fact, according to an American Indian Policy Institute analysis of FCC data, “just 67% of tribal lands in the continental U.S. have access to broadband internet, with the majority only having access to broadband speeds considered by the FCC to be less than ‘minimally acceptable.’”

To close these gaps in internet access, the United States Federal Government and Native nations themselves must work towards building adequate infrastructure in their respective communities. Fortunately, the recently-passed Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act contains “Tribal Connectivity Technical Amendments” that award $2 billion to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. This program will then award grants for both broadband infrastructure on tribal lands as well as key services in a digital world, including but not limited to telehealth, distance learning, and digital literacy programs.

As native nations begin to receive the funding necessary to close gaps in internet access, the following question must be asked: “how are these tribes making use of federal dollars?”

In Navajo Nation, where residents face significant poverty, 60% of the population lacks even basic telephone service. To combat this issue, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority is now constructing broadband infrastructure that will cover 15,000 square miles. They also plan to connect 49 Chapter Houses to the internet, which serve as community centers for the Navajo population. Such centers will allow community leaders to bring telemedicine services, among other benefits, to this rural population.

Similarly, The Nez Perce are building a wireless microwave broadband network in their lands in northern Idaho to bring high-speed Internet service to households, businesses, and important community institutions, including public safety facilities, schools, and libraries. For example, the network will give Northwest Indian College (the only Native American higher education institution nearby) greater distance learning capabilities.

For one final example of the implementation and importance of these broadband dollars, look at the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in upstate New York. Recently, many members of the tribe lost their jobs in auto manufacturing and aluminum production. To compete in the growing digital economy, the tribe has begun to provide community members with new, digital tools. They have already opened one of five planned public computer centers; in such centers, they will offer courses in digital literacy, workforce skills, and business development in partnership with organizations and schools such as CyberLearning, Inc. and SUNY Potsdam. They just held their first digital literacy course, which was designed to train future teachers. That is, the graduates of this course will help the Saint Regis Mohawk towards its goal of providing digital literacy training to 2,700 tribe members.

Through these numerous examples of federal policy and subsequent native action, it is clear both the USFG and Native tribes themselves recognize the impact of the digital divide on Native American communities and are willing to promote and enact policy solutions to bridge it. Access to the internet has the ability to change lives for the better, and the population as a whole will be better off if historically underserved communities such as those residing on rural, tribal lands receive the infrastructure they need.

SOURCES:

https://policylab.rutgers.edu/bridging-the-digital-divide-in-native-american-communities/https://ntia.gov/blog/closing-digital-divide-focus-native-american-communities