Feds to grant Colville Tribes funds for high-speed internet

Under the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, USDA Rural Development is awarding a $250,000 grant to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to promote the expansion of high-speed internet in the Colville Reservation in Washington.

This is part of $9.7 million to help 24 organizations deliver or receive technical assistance to expand high-speed internet access for people in rural and Tribal communities across 17 states. 

“Gaining access to high-speed internet is essential in today’s digital economy. For far too long, many people in rural communities have been left behind,” said Helen Price Johnson, state director for USDA Rural Development in Washington State. “This is why USDA is funding this project through our Broadband Technical Assistance Program. We are excited that this will expand capacity and empower the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to help bridge that digital divide for their members and the wider four-county area.”

The Tribes will use the funding to gather stakeholder feedback and develop a comprehensive telecommunications plan to build a fiber-backed broadband network and supporting infrastructure across the Colville Reservation. 

This program is made possible by President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the U.S.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is transforming our country for the better – reaching communities in every corner of the United States, including those that have too often been left behind,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas.