Tribal Areas Face Challenges on Broadband, but 2.5 GHz Band Can Help, Pai Says
Tribal areas still don’t have all the broadband connectivity they need, though improvements are being made, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday at the National Tribal Broadband Summit. “Bringing high-speed connectivity to rural Tribal lands can be a game-changer,” Pai…
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said: “It ... enables teleworking, job searches, and even starting an online business. It enables patients to consult with specialists without having to drive hours to the nearest hospital. And it enables students to take advanced math and science classes online, if they aren’t offered at the local school.” The Interior Department reports 73.3 percent of rural non-tribal locations have at least one broadband provider, compared with 46.6 percent of rural tribal locations. Pai emphasized tribal areas can obtain 2.5 GHz education broadband service licenses, under rules approved by commissioners in July (see 1907100054). “Before any commercial auction of this spectrum, Tribes can obtain this spectrum for free,” he said: “This is the first time in the FCC’s history that we have ever given Tribal entities what we call a ‘priority window’ to obtain spectrum for wireless broadband. ... I hope that Tribes will take advantage of it.”