Five Native nations in Washington were awarded grants from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to expand high-speed internet or create digital literacy and technology equity opportunities.
The Tulalip, Swinomish Indian, Lower Elwha and Makah tribes plan to use their awards to provide high-speed internet to households throughout their tribal lands. The Spokane tribes plan to use its award for creating digital literacy and technology equity opportunities for its citizens. The tribes were awarded the following amounts:
- Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation: $1,158,920
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community: $8,463,607
- Tulalip Tribes of Washington: $10,491,390
- Lower Elwha Tribal Community: $6,052,974
- Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation: $6,166,003
This funding comes from the Biden-Harris administration’s Internet for All Initiative. The program falls under the $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. This program is funded from the $980 million Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the $2 billion Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More than 40 Native nations across the United States will receive $276 million in the second round of funding of the federal program. The first round made available $1 billion to develop internet infrastructure, affordability programs, telehealth and distance learning initiatives on tribal lands.
