AMERIND Critical Infrastructure Tribes Bringing Tribes Broadband Great
AMERIND Critical Infrastructure Tribes Bringing Tribes Broadband Great Lakes Indian Housing Association Meeting November 28, 2017 www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Current State of Broadband on Tribal Lands • • Today, less than 32% of Tribes have access to high-speed Internet, also known as “broadband” Service providers, such as Century. Link, have chosen not to build out their networks to the high cost and sparse populations in Indian Country The result: High prices for slow Internet Why does the Tribal digital divide persist? • Tribes lack the capacity and experience in managing the massive federal subsidies that have greatly reduced the digital divide in other parts of rural America • Tribes lack access to capital to match federal subsidies www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Why Broadband? www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
FCC Subsidy Programs Annual Program Budgets $2. 25 B $4. 5 B $3. 9 B $400 M * The FCC is proposing to reduce this amount and impose a funding cap * www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Community Broadband • Planning – Identify anchor institutions – Engage the stakeholders – Community assessment – Connectivity goals www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
E-rate Connecting the Community • High-speed broadband to schools and libraries at discounts of up to 90% – Service to and within schools and libraries – Discount based on poverty (eligibility for the free and reduced price lunch program) – Opportunity to leverage those connections to other anchor institutions and the community at large www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Understanding E-rate • Eligibility: Schools, libraries, and some Head Starts • Category 1: Internet (service to the school/library) • Category 2: Managed wireless, network equipment (service within the school/library) • New! E-rate supports special fiber construction www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Building Networks • Backbone – E-rate subsidizes fiber optic backbone (special fiber construction) – Applicants (schools or libraries) pay undiscounted portion (match) Example: - 90% school or library - Requirement: 10% match - Match-on-the-Match: If 5% comes from Tribal, state, or federal source, E-rate will pay an additional 5% 100% discount for school/library www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community • Anchor Institutions – Eligible extra capacity • Additional fiber strands • Additional conduit – Applicants (schools or libraries or Tribes) pay out-of-pocket for extra capacity – Can be used to connect anchor institutions or anything else www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community • Homes – Last mile connections (wired or wireless) – Low-income households on “rural” Tribal lands can receive Lifeline phone and broadband discounts www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community • Health Care – Telemedicine – Rural Health Care Program discounts broadband access for clinics – Healthcare Connect Fund fiber construction discounts www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Leveraging Fiber for the Whole Community • Economic Development – Tribal radio • Fiber to the tower • Streaming online • Valuable economic asset for Tribes – Job creation • Bringing and keeping jobs in the community www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Rural Health Care Increased Access Leading to Better Health • High-speed connectivity to Tribal hospitals and clinics – Health care provided directly to Tribal homes and communities via telemedicine – Benefits – personal and financial – of staying in the community – Improved quality of health care to Tribal communities www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Rural Health Care New Opportunities Healthcare Connect Fund provides subsidies for broadband infrastructure to Tribal hospitals and clinics – 65% discount for rural health care facilities – 35% match required from applicant – Includes community mental health centers, mobile clinics, and skilled nursing facilities (2017) www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Lifeline Connecting People More affordable telephone and broadband service for low-income households on “rural” Tribal lands – Monthly discount of up to $34. 25 off the cost of telephone and Internet bills – Household qualification based on participation in certain social service programs (BIA General Assistance, Tribal TANF, FDPIR, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. ) – The FCC recently re-defined Tribal lands for the purposes of Lifeline eligibility – without consulting with Tribes – and limits Tribal Lifeline to areas it defines as “rural” www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Lifeline Connecting People • Become an Eligible Telecommunications Provider (ETC) – Tribes provide broadband to their own communities – Ensure that eligible households qualify, sign up, and maintain service – Keep dollars circulating in Indian Country www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Economic Development Full-Power Commercial Radio • Benefits of Tribal ownership – – Public safety Culture and language preservation Job creation Valuable economic asset www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
Economic Development New Opportunities • Radio Tribal Priority – – – Tribal ownership Tribal lands coverage Tribal community Tribal first service Obtain construction permits without competition from non-qualified applicants www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
How can AMERIND Critical Infrastructure (ACI) Help Tribes Bring Tribes Broadband? • Strategic planning for sovereign Tribal broadband deployment • Broadband subsidy, grant, and loan application management • Regulatory management and compliance • Social impact funding www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
ACI Assists Tribes in Building Tribal Economies • The creation and continued growth of Tribally owned and operated telecom and broadband providers spurs Tribal economies • Tribal ownership brings enhanced broadband services to the community • The result: – Better broadband choices and services for homes, businesses, and Tribal anchor institutions – Profit stays local and improves economic wellwww. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com being in Indian Country
ACI Helps Tribes Bring and Keep Dollars in Indian Country • Broadband subsidy, grant, and loan programs bring federal dollars to Tribal communities • ACI’s social impact funding helps Tribal applicants meet federal matching requirements and supplies another source of infrastructure financing • The result: – Broadband investment in Tribal communities brings improved education, health care, and community development www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
ACI Supports Tribes In Advancing Tribal Voices • Tribally owned and operated broadcast radio stations and online media enhance preservation of Native culture and language • Tribal radio enhances public safety by ensuring that local Tribal news and content is broadcast • The result: – Stronger, safer Tribal communities www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
AMERIND Critical Infrastructure: Broadband Builds Tribal Communities www. Tribes. Protecting. Tribes. com
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