WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded a total of $500,000 through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) to the Three Affiliated Tribes.
This grant will go towards a planning, engineering, feasibility, and sustainability studies project to complete the design of a future wireless network with two Radio Access Network sites. Additionally, this project will complete an Infrastructure Survey, an environmental assessment, and will identify partners and all needed permitting to establish a broadband deployment plan for the Tribe.
“Not only does the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act help repair physical infrastructure like roads and bridges, it also makes critical investments to increase internet connectivity across our state. This award will get the ball rolling toward deploying broadband across Fort Berthold and will provide a roadmap for implementation,” said Senator Cramer.
Background:
The TBCP is a nearly $3 billion grant program offering grants to eligible Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian entities for high-speed internet deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth, and distance learning. The funds are made available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act.