The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it has awarded seven grants totaling nearly $3.5 million to seven Tribal entities as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP).  

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these new grants bring the total of the program to more than $1.79 billion awarded to 198 Tribal entities. Record investments in high-speed Internet deployment are a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.  

This funding from President Biden’s Internet for All initiative will help directly connect Tribal households and businesses to high-speed Internet service, plan for future Internet infrastructure investments, and upgrade network equipment.

“President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is helping to close the digital divide on tribal lands,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These grants will reduce barriers to Internet access for tribal communities across five states, connecting them to the education, good-paying jobs, and health care they need to succeed in our 21st century economy.”

These awards are part of the Biden Administration’s commitment to nation-to-nation engagement and an effort to help connect everyone in America, including Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.

Last month, NTIA announced a second Notice of Funding Opportunity that will make up to approximately $980 million in funding from the TBCP program. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on January 23, 2024. 

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a nearly $3 billion grant program and part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative. The funds are made available from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($2 billion) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ($980 million). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $65 billion in funding to connect everyone in America. 

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