Tribal communities across America are working hard to close the digital divide.
According to Davida Delmar, a Navajo serving as Digital Inclusion Manager at AMERIND Critical Infrastructure, “There is a gap in Indian Country that prevents communities from fully participating online. This gap, or problem, is the digital divide.” She’s right.
The US Census Bureau affirms that American Indian and Alaska natives in tribal areas have less broadband access than their urbanized counterparts. This limits potential for civic participation, health care, education, and prosperity.
Why do Tribes Want Digital Equity?
Most tribes really want better internet service. They want everyone in their communities to benefit from information technology. But some negative experiences make it hard for them to trust service providers, especially where outside providers have “won” the right to build over tribal lands without consent from the tribes themselves.
Tribal nations understandably want to participate fully in provider selection and network deployment, to ensure fair pricing and protect their stake in the benefits. They want their people to enjoy a better quality of life, stronger community bonds, and economic prosperity from new businesses and jobs. They want to protect cultural sites and the environment.
For many, this comes down to self-owning and operating their broadband service. Davida Delmar refers to this as “digital sovereignty” for tribes.
Navigating the Path to Tribal Broadband
To succeed and minimize risk, tribes may seek a business partner to provide the expertise needed and get things moving along efficiently. Working with a carefully chosen broadband solution provider can smooth the way through a complex process.
Expertise and multivendor integration, gradual transfer of operations, and commitment to the tribe’s best interests are crucial.
Digital Sovereignty Means Thinking Long-Term
We’ve deployed broadband in underserved areas across the US, helping local organizations improve connectivity in their communities. We’re actively engaged with multiple tribal customers who want to explore or who are in the process of deploying broadband.
One of the key differentiators is how much the outcomes matter to us – not just on day one, but over time – because networks have long lifespans. So, we stay invested as long as each customer needs.
We use funds wisely, think long-term, and most of all, listen thoughtfully to our customers’ needs and respond with the best options we can find.
Closing the digital Divide
Tribes investigating broadband have good, impartial sources of support and guidance – Broadband Nation, FPA, NTIA, and NTTA are a few. Reach out to us if you want to explore broadband options further.
We provide a wide spectrum of services and business or partnership models to help close the digital divide, and we’re always honored to engage with tribes on their broadband journey.
