Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Adds $1 Billion in Funding from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Alan Davidson announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has added $1 billion from President Biden’s Infrastructure investment and Jobs Act to the current Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program funding period, which closes September 1, 2022. NTIA already received more than 300 applications during the application window for over $5 billion in funding requests. Given the volume of requests and the significant need to quickly expand high-speed internet service on Tribal lands, NTIA has allocated $1 billion toward the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announced in June 2021. The total available for high-speed internet grants as part of that notice is now $1.98 billion. There is no action required for Tribal entities who applied to the June 2021 funding opportunity. NTIA will continue to announce additional awards on a rolling basis as they move through NTIA’s review process. An additional NOFO will be released this fall to solicit applications for the remaining Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program funding allocated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This will allow Tribes who missed out on the first application process a second chance to get involved. NTIA will soon host Tribal consultations to hear from Tribes directly prior to releasing the next funding opportunity.