Thank you, Margaret, for that kind introduction and for your leadership.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how wide the digital divide truly is for America’s indigenous communities when it comes to broadband access.
In the 21st century economy, broadband access and affordability isn’t a luxury – it’s essential to everyday life.
Yet, too often tribal lands lack basic cell service. And only half of your residents have fixed-home internet service.
Clearly, the high-speed broadband that many of us take for granted is still out of reach for many Americans − disproportionally those who are non-white and low-income.
That’s why President Biden proposed $100 billion in the American Jobs Plan to close the digital divide across the nation.
Vice President Harris and Secretary Raimondo recently announced that we’re taking critical steps forward to achieve that goal by providing nearly $1 billion in grants to expand broadband to unserved and underserved tribal lands.
These grants are part of our Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and will help your communities participate more fully in today’s modern economy. The grants are flexible and cover a range of issues − from broadband deployment to digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning.
Our team at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, will ensure the funds are distributed equitably so that no tribe is left out. I strongly encourage all 574 tribes to apply and tap into the funding we’ve set aside for your communities. The application is open and ready for you.
We’re also working closely with our partner agencies across the federal government to rollout more funding opportunities for you in the weeks ahead.
This is just the beginning. Federal resources are a critical part of closing the digital divide. But partnerships are critical, too.
In April, the Department of Commerce hosted a Tribal Consultation with more than 100 participants to learn how we can further tribal self-determination and sovereignty.
And we’re going to continue to our engagement with all of you through more consultations, roundtables, phone calls and webinars like this one.
Because a healthy and successful Indian Country economy is at the heart of a prosperous American economy.
As Vice President Harris said, “when people are cut off from high speed internet, they are also cut off from opportunity.” And at the Department of Commerce, our mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity – for all Americans.
With that, I’ll turn it over now to our Associate Administrator for the Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications at NTIA, Douglas Kinkoph.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
