Fiber Ecosystem

“The ecosystem for Tribal broadband development includes more than 20 federal agencies; hundreds of local and national internet service providers; State, local, and Tribal governments; libraries and cultural centers; banks; community financial development institutions; advocacy groups; and many others. The lack of coordination and communication among these disparate entities, or even solely within the Federal Government, has been cited as a critical barrier to success for Tribal broadband projects. We aim to build on the success of the ABI in coordinating efforts to drive rural broadband development by bringing a specific focus on Tribal needs. Achieving this vision will require a whole-of-government response, strategically bringing several federal agencies together with Tribal, State, and local governments, and the private sector. Within the Federal Government, the primary agencies involved in broadband deployment and adoption activities for tribes include: Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Commerce (USDOC), Department of Education (ED), Department of the Interior (DOI), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).” ( National Tribal Broadband Strategy Developed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs 2020)

For more information, you can find the National Broadband Strategy developed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs here.

For information on the fiber ecosystem and the new infrastructure bill, click here.