Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, and Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the launch of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The program consists of $1 billion in grants from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and will be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration(NTIA). Grants under this program can be used for broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning.

• .Applications are due September 1, 2021 at 11:59pm PDT.

• Eligible entities must submit a single application by the application deadline to be eligible for program funding.

• The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is not a formula or block grant program and a single application for funding must be timely submitted by an eligible entity to receive funding consideration from NTIA.

• Eligible entities include Tribal Governments, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Tribal Organizations, some entities will require Tribal government resolutions.

• Awards for broadband Infrastructure projects are expected to range $1,000,000 - $50,000,000.

• Awards for broadband adoption and use projects are expected to range $50,000 - $2,500,000.

• Period of performance is one year, but can be extended for broadband infrastructure projects.

• NTIA will not require matching funds for awards under this grant.

Please view the Announcement Fact Sheet and the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information on the program and application requirements. Please continue to follow AIPI’s Tribal Broadband Resources page for more information on other broadband initiatives including spectrum sovereignty and Tribal broadband research.