National Broadband Plan aims to bring broadband to tribal lands

The National Broadband Plan - set to be released later this month - will specifically outline a strategy for increasing broadband access in Indian Country.

Less than ten percent of tribal lands residents are estimated to have broadband access, according to an FCC press release.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski spoke in front of the National Congress of American Indians on March 2:

"Put simply, bringing faster, affordable broadband service to people in Monument Valley is a lot harder than bringing it to people in Silicon Valley. I get that. I also get that these challenges mean that we're just going to need to work harder. Because for all the challenges we face in bringing high-speed Internet to Indian Country, the potential benefits are even greater."

Working recommendations in the National Broadband plan that address tribal lands include:

• Creating a separate Tribal Broadband Fund to support sustainable deployment and adoption programs in Indian Country;
• Improve data-gathering on tribal lands;
• Help Tribal communities acquire technical broadband skills and expertise by expanding the FCC's Indian Telecommunications Initiative; and,
• Allow Tribal representatives to participate in the FCC University training programs at no cost.

The FCC believes that bringing broadband access to Indian Country will result in job creation and economic growth.

Chairman Genachowski highlights strategy for increasing broadband access in Indian Country (FCC)

Prepared Remarks of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski - National Congress of American Indians (FCC)